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Sunday 5 April 2020

Pixie's Snippets Playground - Challenge #375

Hi there folks - here's hoping everyone is safe and managing to cope in the current lock down all over the World.  It's been OK here, we're managing to get on line grocery orders fulfilled and thankfully Dudley has only ever needed one walk per day. The rest of his exercise has always been plenty of playtime in the house or garden when he wants it.

It seems that the worst of the panic buying is over, although I did have a wry smile at a photo someone posted on Facebook - bare shelves in the home hair colouring section of a supermarket!

Speaking of hair, I still haven't clipped Dudley - a few of you have been wondering. It's going to be a two-person job and meanwhile I'm keeping his face trimmed until the inevitable - which will be soon I imagine lest it grows too long. 

In general people around here are keeping to the self-isolation 'rules'. But, you always get exceptions of course. I really don't know which part of ONE exercise per day they don't understand ........ and this is only the end of the second week. However, it seems there is no cure for stupid and I guess it's no good stressing over those with intentions of being prime candidates for the Darwin award - so long as they don't infect others along the way, which unfortunately is very possible.

I became quite concerned about our lovely Alice of ScrAPamondo in Italy - she hadn't posted since mid-February. However, I had a lovely long email from her this morning (Saturday) letting me know that all is well. She's a teacher as most of you will know and has been even busier than when the schools were open - with on line school work. She may have already emailed some of you but I just wanted to update you as Italy is having such a tough time right now. We all send our love to you Alice - and also to Kate in Spain who's in the thick of it as well, she's also fine thank goodness.

OK, enough about Coronavirus, it is what it is and hopefully we'll get through this in one piece!

Here's my snippets card for this fortnight, a bit of a different one for me - and it also includes a matching envelope, which is totally different for me:
I used:

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

- snippet of green striped paper (by SU) from the snippets folder, slightly trimmed to cover the card front leaving a narrow margin of white - then glued in place

- snippet of plain white card and the large stamp from Concord & 9th's 'Woven Plaid Background' stamp set - stamped using SU's 'Tangelo Twist' ink pad and a Misti

- trimmed the stamped panel to quarter of an inch smaller all round than the green layer and glued it in place

- stamped 'Hello You' onto a snippet of white card, using a stamp from Woodware's 'Celebrating You' set of stamps and Memento 'Tuxedo Black ink

- punched the sentiment out using SU's 'Decorative Label' punch then popped it onto the card front using thin sticky pads

- the envelope is a USA branded one (bought through Amazon) to fit USA A2 cards. It has a straight flap at the back, rather than our more usual UK 'pointed' flaps

- so I used the second stamp in the Woodware set, which is a 1" wide strip and the same 'Tangelo Twist' ink to stamp a border across the envelope flap edge. Little tip, I was using the Misti and to stamp with the envelope closed I just popped a scrap of paper underneath the flap before stamping - so that the plaid pattern was right up to the edge and any slight overhang didn't impinge on the rest of the back of the envelope

- then spotted a narrow strip of the green striped paper lying on the desk and added that across the flap, trimmed it down from the back - and called the job done!

Excuse the slightly washed out colours - the black is a really solid jet black in real life. I took the photo in sunshine here!

I loved making this card and matching envelope - and it was quick as well as easy. I must confess to spoiling my first attempt at stamping the large plaid panel for the card front. I stamped it once then as a couple of spots were a bit pale/spotty (operator error totally) I re-inked the stamp and added more ink, far too much, then applied too much pressure when stamping as well. The resulting plaid pattern was quite thick and I'd begun to lose the fine white lines in the pattern. So, I flipped the snippet of card over and re-stamped on the back - totally successfully.

I might make a run of them to include with prizes, if my mojo ever properly returns. And of course, they would be great for Christmas - how about a black or grey plaid background topped with a die cut poinsettia for example? And you can also use the 1" wide strip stamp to add a lovely edge down the spine side of a card as another idea. This is yet another stamp set I've had for ages, along with the sentiment set - totally unused.

Which means I can enter this into a challenge which the lovely Darnell used to run and has resurrected, with the help of our sweet friend Loll - yup, it's 'the return of NBUS' where you can join in to play along right HERE. I always quietly mourned the closing down of NBUS (Never Before Used Schtuff) as it really encouraged me to rummage through the 'holding' box I pop my new goodies into and to use them much sooner than I would otherwise have done. However, be warned, it also facilitated/encouraged me to buy even more new stuff after seeing all the entries!

I know that a good few of you are already playing along already. Of course a lot of people seem to have taken the opportunity to tidy and or re-organise their craft stuff or are producing more beautiful makes than ever - but I certainly fall into neither category and am very grateful for the kick start!

And here is the prize for this fortnight:
Concord & 9th's 'Woven Plaid Background' stamp set plus a Woodware 'Celebrating You' set of sentiment stamps (which includes a cute little heart image as well).

As always, the Snippets Challenge will run for two weeks and the Playground gates will close at 11am UK time on Saturday 18th April. The gates will open again at midnight UK time on the same day.

It's a maximum of ONE entry, 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 want 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 itself - just in case you're only playing for fun - otherwise I don't add you to my little list.

I'm still struggling with commenting as punctually as I ought to in the Playground at the moment, plus I owe many of you emails. Huge apologies and I'll be there ASAP, I promise! It's as if my 'get up and go' has 'got up and gone'- which is not good at all.

Instead of crafting I've turned to doing more elaborate meals a lot of the time and some baking as well. Crafting would be better for the waist line though :)

Stay safe my lovely friends.

Lots of love from us all - Parsnip, Dudley and of course me,


63 comments:

  1. Great card, Di. I love the plaid stamp, I thought at first you'd used patterned paper, but what a brilliant stamp for being able to chose the colour of plaid you want. I love how you've decorated the envelope too. I'll be a Yes Please for the prize.

    I ventured out to the supermarket today and many shelves were bare. There wasn't one roll of loo paper, not one! Just how many rolls do people think they have to stockpile! Just as well it wasn't on my shopping list this week. I've been baking a lot too, a banana and walnut loaf yesterday. I guess a slice of that counts as one of my five a day. 😉

    Keep safe. xx

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  2. This is a different look for you, Di, but you've done it proud! I love the look and fancy matching envie! I enjoyed your post reading about life over there, much like here. I need to check next week with Nellie's grooming place; not sure if they are open right now, but I'm crossing my fingers!

    Thank you for sharing at NBUS and for the very kind shoutout! I figured if I was finally turning back to my NBUS with conviction in order to give myself a kick in the butt, then it might work for others, too! I'm sorry you had trouble with just using your name. I'm perplexed because I see that others have been able to do that. Do you think it could be a letter minimum for Di not to work? If it happens next time, let me know and I shoot off an email to them to ask. Love and hugs to the whole gang! Take care and be safe, Darnell

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  3. Super looking card with matching envelope mate.

    Happy Sunday.
    Hugs, Sarn xxx

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  4. This is somewhat different but so effective especially with the matching envelope and of course any colour can be chosen for the stamping rather than being restricted to the colours in printed papers.

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  5. Love the card. Have to have a rummage and see what I can do this week.... sign I'm better!!!!

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  6. I love your card Di and matching envelope love that background stamp too and the colour which of course you can change when used again so perfect- hopefully not too long now before Dudley gets his trim but if your keeping his hair clear his eyes the other doesn’t matter too much one walk is enough as you write he can get plenty of exercise in the garden and around the house stay safe xx

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  7. Just playing for fun stay safe x

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  8. Cute card. I thought that plaid was also paper so it's nice to see that you can make whatever color you want. Hooray for the NBUS. I was a big fan, too.

    You know you could put Dudley's fur up in a bunch of pony tails when you brush him out. It might look awesome. Then again maybe not.

    I'm in please for the prize. Thank you. [Bunny]

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  9. Gorgeous card, Di! I know what you mean about the crafty mojo, but I've realised I just constantly cycle between creative endeavours - sometimes it's papercraft and sometimes it's cooking. My soap making for business is a different animal from soap making for fun. It's all like the waxing and waning of the moon, I think. I can reject crafty things for literally years and then return to them!
    Yes please to lovely draw. Sending you hugs, April xx

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  10. I must say I have seen that plaid stamp and thought what a great idea for a background and you have made a beautiful card with it, and the added larger script sentiment looks great too. Thank you for this wonderful prize and if I manage to get my act together I am a 'yes please'. I'm sorry to say that I have just not been feeling creative recently, with all this going on, but will try to get back on track. I do have birthdays coming up on the calendar so must try to concentrate and get my head round it better. x

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  11. Such a lovely card! I LOVE that plaid background stamp! And the envelope. I was in the store today... not bad... just doing one in one out... so only about 15 people are in the store at a time. Still job searching since I lost my personal training business and fitness instructing because of this nightmare. I will be playing along! Thanks!

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  12. A fabulous card and envelope Di and I would love a chance to win the prize please. I've got a few Woodware stamps as my local craft shop (now sadly closed) used to be a Woodware stockist - I love the quality of them.

    Good luck to you and Dudley when the clipping time arrives. I must admit Steve has done a good job of cutting my hair today - although he was very nervous and it took over an hour!

    Take care
    Kath x

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  13. Oh... I love your card and love the plaid background stamp so count me in!
    Also, we are watching the Hollywood Dog Shows on TV right now, and the little Havanese pup was almost as cute as Dudley. Almost!

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  14. Great card, love the snippets on the envelope.
    Yes please for the prise.
    Hugs, Chantal S

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  15. This is definitely different for you Di and a really super card. Wonderful plaid stamp and I love your choice of colours, and the matching envelope looks fabulous too. Only playing for fun this week.

    Had to chuckle the other day when someone told me they'd seen a person trying to return some toilet rolls for a refund and the shop refused them. Ha ha serves them right xx

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  16. So glad I'm not the only one who's get up & go got up & went! Time on the computer is especially hard--can't concentrate very well. Not a lot of mojo, but making cards still makes me happy, thank goodness! I love your card & matching envelope, Di! Please put my name in the drawing this time. So glad you're getting what you need & that Dudley is doing well. Stay safe, my sweet friend. Hugs, Greta

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  17. I am glad you are still safe and well! In these days it's great that we have our papercraft hobby and I am busy making Easter items now (which I don't in other years). I will show the later!
    Wishing the best to you, hubby and Dudley!
    Lia xx

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  18. Here with my offering this time - just playing for fun

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  19. Such a lovely card Di and yes it would work really well as a Christmas design too. We have had such a sad week. Not a lot else I can really say, the house is so quiet without Bear. I will link up with my card but I'll just play for fun. Thanks as always and take great care. Hugs xxx

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  20. This is so beautiful card. Love the plaid stamp. Yes for the prize please.
    Stay safe!
    Hugs, Valerija

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  21. Love that plaid stamp -- I first thought you had used dp on your creation and thought maybe just the word stamps (or the die) is for prize. YES PLEASE from me for the stamp sets.

    Hugs,
    Eemeli

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  22. Hi Di your card and matching envelope is gorgeous. I love them. I am here just for fun this time. Take care. Hugs Jackie

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  23. A lovely card Di and the plaid would come in handy when you get stuck for the right paper/colour. I have been making moe "proper" meals since the lockdown too. I think the way things are you have to be more organised with your meals so have been trying to plan more than I normally do. Have a good week, lovely weather here the past days. I will be a "yes please" for the draw, thank you x

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  24. Beautiful card...I am playing for these lovely goodies...

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  25. Hello Di. It's been awhile! Just dropping in for some fun. Love your plaid with the stripes and that color combo! Great job on the envelope! Stay well, my friend.

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  26. I love the card you made, that plaid stamp is fab. So I am saying a definite yes to the prize please.
    I see online people sharing how to cut your own hair, maybe someone will do one for dogs.

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  27. I'm a sucker for plaid every time!! I love not only the card, but the clever and one-of-a-kind matching envelope too! Great job on this. I will definitely throw my name into the drawing for such a fun set of stamps, thanks so much for your generosity. I hope you have good luck with Dudley and learn to trim his fur yourself over time. My grands painted their guinea pig's toenails a bright pink color the other day while home from school, so I guess animal grooming will all be done from home for the time being. LOL Take care and have a good week ahead!

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  28. Hello Di
    Fabulous card. I am dreaming of how this stamp would look stamped in black on red card. I think it would create that backwoods/mountain man look for a Christmas card! Will be back later with a card to enter as like you I am trying to make a NBUS cards. I started marking my stamps with a red dot on the package indicating which have been used, must did not start that right away. Sometimes it is a bit of a pickle to remember which are unused!

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  29. I'd say best NOT to clip the lovely Dudders - he may never forgive you!!! We used to clip the fur around our beardies eyes and tail and leave the rest to the professionals!

    YES please to an entry in the draw

    Happy Wednesday - stay well

    Kathyk

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  30. Love that plaid stamp - your card would be a great one for Christmas. Would love to be in the hat *bribes with sausage rolls*
    Hope you are all keeping well and Dudley isn't getting cabin fever too badly.

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  31. Beautiful card and envelope, like that plaid background. I always enjoy reading your posts. Please include me in the drawing. Take care and be safe.

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  32. What a great card!!! The matching envelope just adds to the special-ness of it :) I'm a yes please for the prize. Glad you're staying safe, and doing what you have to to get through this. I'm working from home and have a friend picking up whatever groceries I need, then depositing them in my car, to retrieve later. Zero direct human contact for this chick, as I'm high risk, and really don't want to do battle with this bug!!! Take care, and stay safe <3
    Susan

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  33. What a fun card!! Plaid is always such a great decorative item and being able to make it in your own color combo is fabulous!! Love your little matching envelope, too; so fun!! I will be playing just for fun this week, though, thanks. (I just got a plaid/tartan making set, I guess I don't "need" two.)

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  34. I love plaid!! I love how you used it on your envelope as well. I always try to incorporate my scraps either on the envie or the inside of the card if I can. Your cute card would be great to mass produce for any occasion!
    So glad to hear you're all doing well. Us, too, tho I miss being with my family - this month in particular - we have eight birthdays to celebrate ... and can't. Plus Easter! And we're a tight knit family ... and live within 7 miles of each other. BUT we're healthy. That's really what matters right now so enough of my sad pooh-poohing. lol I'd love to play for this wonderful prize! Here is my link that failed me once again: https://www.flickr.com/photos/133625822@N05/49750392171/in/dateposted-public/
    I sure appreciate you, Di! hugs, Becca

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  35. As many others have said, I thought that you had used plaid paper when I first saw your card, and now that I know it's a plaid stamp I'm even more impressed. What a dream that would be to be able to make plaids in any color combos my heart desired! YES PLEASE to this wonderful prize package. I've just been so disorganized with all that is going on, and only just made my Easter cards. Fortunately, all of my cards always use snippets and scraps and I don't know that I would even know how to use a whole sheet of paper! Stay safe and healthy Di.

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  36. Love your card...I love plaid so YES I would like to be in your draw. Glad you are staying at home safe. Hi to Dudley! Hugs

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  37. Hi Di! I am joining in the challenge with 4 Easterbuckets which I made for my grandchildren. I used empty joghurt buckets and a lot of paper snippets for the details.
    I wish you a healthy and nice eastertime. Stay safe!!
    And I say Yes to the great prize. I like the tartan stamp very much.
    Lia xx

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  38. I love the background stamp Di, I thought it was a designer paper when I first looked. What a lovely card you've turned it into. I'd love to be entered into the draw please, thank you.
    Good to hear you're doing well as I hope everyone is too. Stay safe.
    Janice x

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  39. I absolutely love your gorgeous card and matching envelope Di - anything checked attracts me like a bee to honey! It's a yes please from me to enter the draw.

    One thing this virus has done has given me a dislike of runners and cyclists who don't seem to think any rules apply to them :/ I try to walk Eva as early as possible to avoid them but they're everywhere! Really pleased Alice and Kate are safe and well - thanks for sharing that. I know just what you mean about your get up and go having got up and gone. I think a lot of us have felt the same - my recycle bin is full of failed projects!

    Hope you and yours have a lovely Easter weekend Di.

    Hugs, Vicky xx

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  40. I'm trundling about Darnell's NBUS blog and commenting (as per her instructions) and thought I'd stop by again to admire your fab plaid NBUS project!

    Happy Easter - stay well

    Kathyk

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  41. I'm totally crazy about that plaid stamp, Di, and your card is fabulous! However, I think I'll play along just for fun this week. I'm running out of storage room and am trying not to acquire any new stamps - only new dies. If I have to store something, it's gonna be dies. :-D

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  42. Hi Miss Di

    Have actually made it to the playground!! Yay!!!

    Loving your card and the matching envelope very much. A great set for lots of occasions.

    Hope all is OK at your end and you are keeping safe.

    Love and hugs
    Jules xx

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  43. I found it hard to imagine that was a stamp! Beautifully done Di!
    Yes please for the prize

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  44. love the card and the Prize Yes please to the prize, What out Dudley is near the terrible two's lol

    Stay safe Di and all,

    Lilian B

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  45. This is a great card Di, I really love that stamp so yes please for the prize. Please don't stress about how long it takes to get round all the commenting. sometimes i find I spend so long looking and commenting that I don't have time to craft! Again it seems to be a while since i have joined you - so sorry about that. Take care and enjoy the peace and quiet of home xx

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  46. Love your card Di and catching up on the news, finally got round to adding my card but playing just for fun. I am doing more now working from home then in the office as work in education and our qualification are taken all over the world. I am trying to find the time to play not just work in my craftroom but its been difficult. Hopefully things will calm down, I am very lucky as 2mins from my house is open country side so every morning Stanley and me do 5miles walking and running and normally all I see if the farmer doing his early morning sheep checks. Mind you I am out at 5.30am each morning lol. Hope you and your family stay safe in these strange times love to you Nicky x

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  47. Finally back with my entry!
    Happy Belated Easter, my dear. I cooked a ham and did up all the trimmings and we sat, just the two of us and had Easter Dinner! Seemed weird and I wanted to drop off Easter supper for my kids, but was unsure if it is safe to do so...decided it was not!

    Would love to win your prize!

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  48. Fab mix of colours on this one, it's always fun to try new styles. So glad to hear all the playmates are still safe in their countries. Hope you had a lovely Easter weekend!

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  49. This is a great guy card!! I love the plaid! The prize is great...I’d love to be in 9n the prize!

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  50. Hi Di, love your card. That plaid background is so cool. Please add me to the draw. Hugz

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  51. Love me some plaid, and you did such an amazing job with this stamp. I can barely manage to make a card most days so a decorated envelope is totally beyond me. Yes please to this fun stamp set, and I'm hoping I find my mojo sometime soon too. All of this staying at home is keeping me busier than when I had a million errands to run, eek!

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  52. Fab card Di - the plaid background looks amazing...love the matching envelope too!
    Helen x

    PS - I'm a 'yes please' for the prize draw.

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  53. I love reading about life in the UK at the moment, it is quite the same here.
    great design of your card, I like it because I love plaid.
    yes for the prize, please.
    crafty hugs xx

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  54. Hello Di! Your card design is so stunning!
    Thank you for wonderful chance!
    Have a wonderful day!

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  55. WOnderful card, Di! I am glad you are doing well and Dudley and Parsnip - this is a crazy time upon us! Your card design with the fun plaid is just lovely - big hugs to you!

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  56. Oh Di, I’m a sucker for tartan, adore that set, and such lovely greetings set so yesss please.. what a really wonderful card you’ve demoed for us thanks so much. When take in sunshine I just goes into photo setting and turn down exposure a bit, sometimes it helps but sometimes no!
    Am glad you’re keeping on prizes and waiting till you can mail out, I do like that better, I’m a kid at heart, ie like prize being on offer, and growed up enough to wait a bit if need be!!

    Praying for your country and also many others in Europe and also US, so much heartache.
    Thankfully Oz ok thus far, sometimes an island small population and loooong away away has its benefits!

    Will pray all our playmates be kept well, re comments, I’m wayyyyy behind too. No worries re emails either.. I haven’t replied to yours on computer and Linux, put it in too hard basket yet AGAIN! Think it’s full to overflowing!

    Thanks for being a blessing, and may God bless you too, especially in these troubled times, may we look up in faith! Praying you’re all kept well too!
    Hugs, Shaz in Oz.x 😊

    {Wonderful Words of Life - Shaz in Oz}
    {Calligraphy Cards - Shaz in Oz}

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  57. Love your card and reading your post, just discovered you via a friend who send me your link! I'd love to be considered for the prize. thanks so much!

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  58. Hi Di - I trust you, Dudley, Parsnip and Mr are all well, and sane!
    I would love to say yes please to that fabulous prize!
    Stay safe
    Blessings
    Maxine

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  59. Fab card colours and design. Sorry not played for a while. Hope your keeping safe. Would love to be included in the draw

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  60. Hi sorry about the mix up when I made the card I just kept think i must put into the challenge and didnt realise. thanks for your kind words

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Thank you so much if you take the time to comment!

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.