Pixie's Snippets Playground - Challenge #329

Hi there - and welcome to a new Snippets Playground Challenge fortnight!

The Carnival last weekend was absolutely freezing! Blowing a gale and we were only thankful the heavens didn't open as an extra treat! Numbers of stalls seemed to be down this year - and we got off to a slow start on the 'Archery Have A Go', which was a bit demoralising. The parade was such fun - little ones in costume from a handful of schools as characters from children's and we had Harry Potters, Tinkerbells, St. Trinian's which reminded me of school days and various other groups of 'book characters' tripping along wearing the cutest outfits (and little blue noses, bless them).

However, things really picked up as the afternoon went on and we had our best takings ever I believe! Wahoo - happy dance that all the trying to keep warm wasn't for nothing. And yes, we were well wrapped up and also under shelter - but try telling that to a determined wind! Thank goodness, my back didn't kick off either - wahoo!

The real highlight for me was the treat of being given a ride in an Austin 7 vintage car - magic! Sorry no photo - it all happened very quickly - but they really are tiny inside! Hood was down but still so cute and cosy - AND it had a form of cruise control, well that did surprise me I admit. Mind you, the tangle of legs and arms getting out was a sight to behold for sure :)

You'll need your sun glasses for this fortnight's snippets card - every snippet was from my stash of white ones:

 I used:

- 5.5" x 4.25" white card blank, side opening

- Sizzix Flowers #6 stamp and dies set - very kindly donated to the toy box by Viv, and of course I loved it so much I went and bought one for me too! I stamped it onto a snippet of white card using a Memento 'Tuxedo Black' ink pad then repeated it on two more snippets of white card so I could do some layering

- then coloured the main image in using a selection of bright Pro markers and then just the large flowers and leaves on the two extra pieces of card ready for die cutting

- trimmed the image panel to suit and set it to one side

- then I die cut the flowers and their centres (the set of dies is 10 in all!) plus the leaves. A confession here - I was in a hurry and in the end I fussy cut most of the elements (using the dies as a guide for which parts would be best to layer)

- set the cut out flowers and leaves to one side in a little plastic lid so they didn't get lost

- then used a Memory Box 'Sketchbook Imagine' die to die cut the word. Did it three times using white card which I'd coloured with the turquoise Pro marker and then backed with Stick-It before doing the die cutting

- layered all three 'imagine' words on top of one another and then added them to the image panel

- at this point I ran the whole panel through the Cuttlebug using embossing plates and a folder to add the right thickness. A little hint here - Stick-It will move very, very slightly so I recommend you use glue to add the layers together if you intend using the Cuttlebug to squish it down firmly (lesson learned there for me). It wouldn't be a real issue with just one layer of card, but when you've carefully lined up three layers it's a nuisance - OCD strikes again!

- then I cut another snippet of white card to a reasonable amount larger then the image panel and coloured all round it using the same orange Pro marker (best way to get a perfect match of course. Then trimmed it to just slightly bigger than the image panel, glued them together and added them to the card front

- finally, I layered the cut out flowers and their centres plus the larger leaves onto the image - using little snips of thin sticky pads

I really had great fun making this card - the stamps and dies are a delight to work with. And of course, you don't need to add layers - or you could just colour and cut out a few flowers and leaves to add to the corner of a card rather than have the whole panel. Choices, choices!

And here's this week's Snippets Playground prize:

First of all, it's a Sizzix 'Flowers #6' stamp and die set, just like I used for my card today - thank you again Viv!

And, I also just managed to get hold of a Memory Box 'Sketchbook Imagine' die from me to add.

This was a bit of a mistake really as I did think I had the die sitting in the toy box - but once the card was finished I went to find it to take a photo - and in fact I'd only managed to buy the one for myself some time back (they're really hard to get hold of here in the UK).

However, undeterred, I searched on line and eventually found one at Aldridge Crafts (here in the UK) - the very last one they had in stock! Phew. And, Jane who runs the business made sure I got it in double quick time ready for the challenge - and even popped the really sweet set of four hearts die in to add to the prize  - it's sitting below the Memory Box die! How lovely was that?!

Do hop over and take a peek at her shop HERE - it's now on my list of places to visit of course :)

I had other similar word dies in the toy box which would have done almost as well. BUT, I do like the word 'imagine' along with the psychedelic flowers - reminds me of John Lennon's era. Ah, I'm sure I had dresses just as bright and flowery as this card - and, of course the essential white boots!

As always, the Snippets Challenge will run for two weeks and the Playground gates will close at 11am UK time on Saturday 7th July. 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.

I've thought long and hard but have decided that the prize will not be split at all. As I've previously said, don't be afraid to play along and then if you do win, feel free to give anything away to a friend. It saves me keeping two lists and also saves on postage of course. Besides, I think all three items would work beautifully together.

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 Uniko ''Block Party Birthday' stamp.

The hedgies continue to visit - I posted a photo of three of them queuing for a turn at one of the feeding bowls on Wednesday. Mind you, I subsequently found out that mayhem broke out a little while later and there was quite a brawl! Len hadn't wanted to disillusion me - bless him :)

One last thing, I do still have some names on the GD list, and thankfully have a lovely playmate lined up for next week - but, can I please ask you to email me (address on sidebar) if you're happy to be a GD in the coming weeks. My big failing is the inability to plan well ahead and, although I do have about four names 'on hold' they're all wanting lots of notice. Which I do understand of course - otherwise I think we may dispense with GDs and just plunge into fortnightly picks instead.

Edit: Initial feedback and some more thinking since this post was published has more or less convinced me that you'd be happy just with the weekly picks and the prize draw result every other week. So, after our next Guest Designer's spot in a week's time, we'll take a little break from it being a regular inclusion.

Very busy here right now but I'll do my best to come and see your entries as soon as possible!

Love from Parsnip and of course from me,