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Sunday 10 June 2018

Pixie's Snippets Playground - Challenge #328

Phew, time for yet another challenge in the Snippets Playground, and this time it's a much smaller prize than the previous fortnight's. Still a 'good 'un' though I think!

Here's my snippets card for this week - made for Bradley (Len's great-nephew) when he had a Birthday yesterday. I used a brown snippet for the backing plus a white snippet to stamp the 'block' design onto, so they aren't small snippets but still came from my snippets/scraps folder which means I can play along - snort:
I used:

- 5.5" x 4" white card blank, side opening

- a snippet of white card onto which I stamped the image using an Altenew 'Galactic Stream' ink pad and a fabulous and very bold stamp from Uniko called 'Block Party Birthday'

- then backed the panel with a piece of slightly bigger brown card from the snippets folder

- glued the image and its backing to the card front and called it done!

I've had the stamp in the Playground toy box (along with my own identical stamp of course) for months now. I needed to make a card quickly and this came to the rescue - male cards really do give me issues. Mind you, this would also make a great girly card of course - and my next try will be white on black which I bet could look very impressive! I've also seen it with parts coloured in and that really looks super, great for kids perhaps? That one grabs me the most for variation for sure. Possibilities, possibilities!

Here's some of the lowdown on my 'adventures' whilst making this card. I started off with my one and only full set of four Altenew ('Sweet Dreams') ink pads and the intention of making the card graduate in shades (ombre). But time was against me and when I hit issues (despite covering parts up with paper as I went) I just reverted to a single colour - the darkest one in the set - using the Misti of course.

I love Uniko stamps (and in fact have a gift voucher in front of me that a lovely blogger friend sent me earlier this year - still to spend, wahoo!). But, like many polymer stamps, they seem to have a sort of icky and almost oily film on them when new, which makes the ink quite patchy if you don't clean them before using them for a first time. It's possibly ink dependent as well (am sure Kathy K once put me on the right track) but I think the secret is to perhaps wash them in soapy water, rinse and let them dry naturally - but of course, I was in a rush wasn't I?!

Anyhow, I got there in the end - but Dumbo hadn't thought about the pad being 'dye' ink had she?! So, I ended up with blue finger tips 'cos I was using a sponge to apply the ink to the stamp. Just behind me, on a cupboard shelf there's a huge pack of disposable gloves, but of course it was too late when I realised. And I mean DEEP blue hands!

I love brown and teal together so the brown backing card was an easy choice when it jumped up out of the snippets folder!

And here's this week's Snippets Playground prize - no surprise at all:

It's a Uniko 'Block Party Birthday' stamp of course - and I do generally buy Uniko stamps in DVD sized cases for easy storage, like I did with this one.

Sadly I can't get hold of a single Altenew ink pad the same as the one I used as it's a really lovely colour - so this time we have a smaller prize than we've had lately. It's still one I think you really would have fun with if you read the options for use I mused upon above here. It was a fluke that Tara from Seven Hills Crafts had the single pink stamps she sent me - all UK companies seem to just stock them in sets.

And of course, I hope numbers will still be up as (with luck) you come to play for the fun as much as anything!

As always, the Snippets Challenge will run for two weeks and the Playground gates will close at 11am UK time on Saturday 23rd June. The gates will open again at midnight UK time on the same day.

It's a maximum of ONE entry and please say in a comment if you wish to play and be a possible winner of the prize. Please also link back to the Playground in your blog post to be eligible for the draw.

Remember, if you link into the Playground and don't say clearly that you're wanting to be in the draw in a comment on here, then you will be bypassed if your name comes out of Mr Linky. I'm sure you all know I ask for a positive 'yes' on the blog post - just in case you're playing only for fun - otherwise I ignore you on my little list..

Mr Linky is below - please let me know if you have any problems linking, it's easy for me to sort out so don't struggle on alone :)

Be sure to call back next week to see the winner of last fortnight's bumper of Concord & 9th 'Everyday Tintables', a Concord & 9th 'Fabulous Phrases set of five dies and an Altenew 'Puffy Pink' ink pad.

The hedgies contine to vist - Len (so sweet) has been saying they're 'fighting' a bit. Ha! Just wait until the patter of little prickles :) Perhaps I need to tell him about the birds and the bees! In fact, we had three of them prancing around the garden the other night! So funny, despite two feeding stations, they were patiently queued up waiting for their turn at the main one. We caught it on CCTV but were fast asleep ourselves at the time.

And then, on Friday evening Len went out late to check the hedgies and there, right in the centre of the garden, sat a smallish hedgie. As Len approached, it looked up at him so trustingly with such a sweet little face and made no attempt to curl up or run away. An enchanting moment to treasure - and of course he didn't have the camera to hand, sigh. But - sometimes it's what goes into our memories that is more important - although I would have loved a photo to share with you of course.

And we have another visitor but one that would be really hard to capture on camera. For a couple of years now we've thought we had a little wren living in the honeysuckle-clad arbour at the end of the PG/garden. These evenings it's becoming more bold and what a delight to see as we sit watching the comings and goings before dinner. But, wrens are very shy and also very fast as well so only time will tell.

And, the little blue tits fledged and flew away when we weren't around. They were totally ready to go earlier in the week and it's really odd having their little nest box so silent.

Happy days!

Love from Parsnip and of course from me,


57 comments:

  1. Lovely to see all the birthday sentiment at one place!

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  2. Striking card Di - and I know what you mean about a quiet nesting box after the babies fledge - I have a starling box, and the back yard gets quite noisy while they are there, and then it's suddenly quiet....
    Blessings
    Maxine

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  3. That certainly looks to be a handy stamp if a card is needed at the last minute and a reminder to use disposable gloves to stop fingers changing colour too - something I never think of in time. Love the 'nature tales' too and I'd certainly prefer gentle hedgehogs to the badgers who take delight in ploughing up my lawn leaving hazardous potholes. I will post a card later but will be playing for fun this time around.

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  4. Morning Di, Simply and quick but how effective is your card and l just love all the wording on the stamp the is gorgeous what a quick way to make a batch of b'day cards and using up your snippets your so creative l just love and use lots of your ideas hope you don't mind this ....lol l am wondering if l have hedgies in my garden cutting the grass the other day l noticed some very flat patches on the edges me thinking something has been laying there me wonders!! nice that you still have yours they have been coming for many a year/s and nice they stayed still when Len approached them on the lawn it's soooo cool!! hope you have an enjoyable day .....only playing for fun xx

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    1. It could well be one or more hedges Sandra! The skirt around the edges of gardens, which is why Len was surprised to see one sitting in the centre of the lawn. The real giveaway is, ahem, smallish very dark calling cards. X

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  5. Oh, I say that a large snippet qualifies twice as much as a small snippet, especially when you end up with card as wonderful as this one. Masculine cards are often hard for many of us but this card, done in teal and brown,couldn't be more perfect. Yes please to this great text based stamp. We never have hedgies running wild around here so I love hearing about their shenanigans in the garden!

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  6. Sippets boxes are always full with small, medium and large pieces... So well done for using one snippet for your fabulous card!!! :D
    I have much more snippets (any size)than whole paper pads, and it's for this fact that now I immediately cut them with dies and punches after crafting works and put them in my organizer...: too many pieces all around the room! LOL :D
    Love so very much this Uniko stamp, just perfect for masculne cards and the color you choose matches very well with the brown base!
    You are so lucky to have a lot of hedgies in your garden! Surely later Len will be able to take a shot of that smallest one for memory the meeting :)
    Hugs!

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  7. Great Birthday Text sentiment card in cool color with sweet occasion elements too! So many possibilities with this stamp set. I love it! Yes please!!!

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  8. Saw a mummy and a baby hedgie out walking the other day and unusually had my camera with me so managed to take a couple of photos. They were in a ditch and scuttled off as soon as they knew they were being photographed. I hate having to do male cards . Always a struggle but you have nailed this one.
    Hugs Mrs A.

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  9. Lovely card. I really like Uniko stamps too! I missed out on joining in the last challenge - just ran out of time - so I'm glad I was able to get in early this time. Yes please to the prize!

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  10. A lovely card and the brown complements the blue beautifully, and the perfect coloured ink for a masculine card Di, also a useful stamp to have for a last minute card so I am a 'yes please'. x

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  11. Oh my, did I miss another playground!! Well, me and bunny are in this time!!! Yes please, I would like to play for this stamp cos I was going to buy it but they are out of stock at the moment. A beautiful background and a lovely card Di. Say hi to Parsnip from me. Hugz

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  12. Fantastic QCAS card as Darnell would say Di, and it makes a great card for the boys, so yes please to be in the running for the prize. Love your hedgie tales, they sound adorable! We had a family of wallabies in our front yard this morning, baby was poking it's head out of Mum's pouch! They're going for any green grass in the yard as winter has browned everything off. Have a great week Di, Cathy x

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  13. This time I entered early LOL :D Yes for the fabulous Uniko stamp :)
    Hugs

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  14. Wow, what a beautiful card. Ombre would work but this is just as pretty. Best intentions and all that! It is a good male card but would work for anyone, young or older. How sweet the hedgie stayed right there when Len approached. They are getting used to you and that is nice that they are trusting you.

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  15. A fabulous card Di and it's also perfect for those difficult male cards! I'll be in the playground soon and would love a chance to win please. Thanks too for the hedgie update!
    Kath x

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  16. Love the card Di, a super stamp and a great choice of colour, tip top for a male card but also super for any gender or age.
    How lucky is Len to have been close up and personal to the Hedgie.

    Kath x

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  17. Your card is my kind of card Di, because I don't have a lot of time to color in images and fussy cut. I love the clean look of this stamped card front and it's perfect for a guy! Yes please to the draw.

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  18. SUPER make, fab colour choice - just playing for fun this challenge - thanks

    Kathyk

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  19. Hi Di...just saying hello from Majorca, catch up next week!!!xxx

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  20. Fabulous card & a great stamp. Brilliant for a masculine card.

    Fancy Len being outside playing with hedgies. Bless!

    Happy Monday.

    Hugs, Sarn xxx

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  21. A fabulous stamp Di, you’ve made into a great card! You really don’t need anything else on it and the possibilities would be endless!
    I would love to have my name added to the draw please, thanks.
    Janice x

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  22. I love my Uniko block party Christmas stamp so I would love to go into the hat for its cousin please! It looks so stylish in the restrained colour scheme you have used - I fear I tend to throw far too much colour at mine (although that's OK because it's a Christmas one after all!)
    Our nesting box ended up uninhabited this year, after an ownership dispute between blue tits and great tits. However both families must have settled nearby because they have both been brining the young into the garden for feeding and flying lessons - and no doubt both sets of parents pointed out our nesting box and said to their young "Now make sure you get in first and lay a claim to that one next year!"

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  23. Beautiful card and story too. And it's an advance yes from me, please, because I'm sure I'll be back at some point to enter xoxo

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  24. Hi Di your card is gorgeous. I am here just for fun this week. Take care. Hugs Jackie

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  25. I'd love to play for the stamp, Di, pretty please. I've posted my link.

    Love this idea - I use LOADS of scraps/snippets!

    Cath x

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  26. Hey Di, just walking past the playground and decided to drop off a Hello card. The inside reminds us to 'Grab life by the horns' .. Have a good week. Yes I would love to be in the draw to win this wonderful prize. Till later, Hugs.

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  27. Love the cheery blue on your card, Di! Looks great with the brown matting. I think this is a fabulous prize offering and would love to be in the drawing...yes, please!
    Thank you for another super-fun challenge and also for the charming updates on your garden fauna...always a delight to read.
    <3 J

    jwoolbright at gmail dot com
    HerPeacefulGarden.blogspot.com

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  28. I'm still playing catch-up with my blog visiting after a short break away. I think we missed our lttlle blue tits flying for the first time too. The nesting box seems rather quiet.

    What a great stamp, perfect for a quick card and I love the colour you've used. I'd love to win this stamp, so I'm a Yes Please for the draw this week. xx

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  29. Hi Miss Di, a very spectacular card for a gent, love the colours you chose to use and the stamp is brilliant. Yes please this fortnight if my name comes out of the winners barrel. Have a wonderful week... Megan

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  30. Wonderful quick and easy card, Di! I love that stamp. While I generally play along when there's a die in the prize, this stamp is so delightful that I'm going to throw my hat into the prize ring this time. :-D

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  31. That's a very quick and simple birthday card to put together when you have a great stamp like this, and I really like the teal and brown together too! I sneaked in with just 2 tiny snippets this week too, so you and I are flying by the seat of our pants this week LOL I'm playing just for fun this time around :)

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  32. Love your card, Di! I know all about the blue fingers, although it has the advantage over red ink of not looking as though you have just murdered someone! Yes please to lovely stamp. Big hugs to you and Parsnip xx

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  33. Lovely card Di, and what a great stamp, it's a yes please if I'm allowed as not been here to play much :(......loving your hedgie stories, and just love watching nature busy all around xxx

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  34. Awesome card and beautiful color. Yes to the uniko stamp prize!

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  35. Wonderful card and wonderful stamp. Yes for the prize please.
    Valerija xx

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  36. What a perfect CAS card with a big impact!! I can imagine how awesome it would look with different parts of the sentiments colored in various ways. I think I would like to play for the prize this time, thanks!

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  37. Hi Miss Di

    Here at last after what feel like a lifetime .. .. things are settling down here slowly so I am at last having chance to catch up a little with the blogging world! Yay!!

    Great card from you here .. .. there is just about every sentiment you could wish for on that fabby stamp.

    Just playing for fun here.

    Hope all is well.

    Love and hugs
    Jules xx

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  38. Lovely post, Di. Your card would be a great standby to have tucked away - that stamp suits everyone. Enjoyed your Springwatch tales - that's quite some wildlife reserve you are living in. We have a pait of wrens living quietly down in the woodland area of the garden - spotted them when I was sitting quietly taking in how peaceful it was down there. Sadly, our titbox hasn't been occupied again this year but we'll leave it up and hope for next year. Hugs, xx

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    1. We discovered that the trick is to clean any old nest material out early in the year before thoughts turn to having chicks! Apparently, blue tits like to begin with a clear home and do their own decorating! How that happens in the wild I have NO idea though! But - it certainly worked well this year. x

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  39. That card is beautiful! Yes please for the prize Di, I don't own any Uniko so this would be a lovely chance to get one of their stamps. Loving the photo's of Spike you are sharing with us too! Thank you for inspiring me to keep using those snippets too xx

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  40. So gorgeous ...Such a lovely stamp too ...do count me in. So glad I could enter a project after ages...used snippets of paper, fabric and even clay on this one. Do count me in for the prize!!
    Cheers
    Dr Sonia

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  41. Love the theme of useing all the odd snippets up. Yes please love to play along.

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  42. That is an amazing stamp! Please put my name in the drawing, Ms Di! Ah yes--the gloves there but not used--I can relate!

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  43. Hi Di just had a problem with Mr Linky it kept taking me round in circles and didn’t appear to be working but obviously was as I’ve now got multiple entries. Perhaps you can delete the extras! Playing just for fun as I already have the stamp!

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  44. A very useful stamp, makes a lovely quick card. Yes please for me in the draw xx

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  45. One cannot have too many birthday stamps and dies. Right? Yes, please put me in the draw. Thanks!

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  46. Love this HBDay stamp. Thanks for your generosity each challenge! (And yes please!)

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  47. Hey, Di, sorry I've been away so long. Seems like it gets busier and busier or I'm getting slower! What a fun birthday card you made! That stamp says it all very well! Just playing for fun and a chance to say hello.

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  48. Great card Di! Gorgeous colour too.
    Playing just for fun this time :)

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  49. Fab card Di - what an awesome stamp! Love the colour you chose too!
    I'm a 'yes please' for the prize draw :0)
    Helen x

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  50. So happy to have found your lovely challenge and yes please to that amazing stamp prize. Hugs Suzi x

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  51. Hi Di! Sneaking in again. Great masculine card for Bradley... and great stamp. Yes please. xx

    ps. I don’t know how long it takes for packages to arrive to Canada from the UK, but I still haven’t received my prize yet... I don’t suppose there’s tracking(?).

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    1. Oh no! That would be a first Trina in all these years. It posted it to you on 25th May so, to be honest, there's still time for it to arrive. Please let me know as soon as it gets there - or give me a prompt in a couple of weeks time. It was well packaged and properly addressed, with customs declaration etc. And my address on the front for return in case of non delivery. I only have a certificate of posting - that actually does cover delivery within the uk but not overseas. x

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    2. Thanks, Di. I’ve had an overseas order that took 2 months! Fingers crossed 🤞 this is not the case. xx

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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.