Pixie's Snippets Playground - Challenge #409 - results

Summer is still 'puttering on' here but who knows for how long? As a September baby, my favourite Season is Autumn/Fall. They do say your favourite season is the one you were born in. I know it's sad to see Summer disappear - but my favourite childhood memories of England are of scuffling through Autumn leaves, collecting conkers, curling up with a book in front of a beautiful fire, hot chocolate or similar before bed, baked potatoes at Halloween, warming casseroles for dinner - and of course the impending arrival of the Christmas Season and maybe even some snow!

It's probably slightly crazy but I'm trying to take up knitting again. I think the point is looming where I'll need cataracts sorted out and that could well curtail crafting/screen time for a while. I used to knit a lot and found it to be something relaxing to do and easy on the eyes as a lot of the time you don't need to really look at your work. Watch this space as they say!

First of all, the picks:

It's been a while since we had a *Gold Star* pick, but this card, made by Charlotte just jumped out as being a real stunner and so worthy of a gold star.  Do please take the time to hop over to Charlotte's blog and see how she made this wonderful snippets creation - with the aid of 'Press 'n' Seal'. I love how Charlotte always explains clearly each step of a design she makes. Please feel free to help yourself to the *Gold Star* badge on my right hand sidebar - if you so wish of course Charlotte.

I love this card, made by Suzanne H. Such a lovely layout/design and a wonderful way to use up lots of complementing patterned snippets!  This is a great example of why it's worth while saving snippets from the same paper pad together. I stick a pouch inside the back cover of my paper pads - made from a suitably sized envelope, sealed and then sliced in half - like this, you get two 'pouches' from one envelope - result!:

Rainbows in every form are so popular in card making right now. Some manufacturers have brought out quite highly arched, slightly funky, sets of rainbow dies that I've resisted buying as this place is awash with rainbow papers and dies. However, clever Karen (Ladd) came up with this brilliant idea - use a set of oval dies! A great card and yet another super idea for you to try - also a snippets buster of course! ☺ 

As often seems to happen, this card was made by one of our prize winners - it's a great idea and a lovely design for using up patterned paper snippets. Made by Katrina and certainly one to inspire us!

One new Playmate this time:

Elle-jeanne

What a gorgeous card - do come back and play again soon Elle-jeane!

That's my picks from Challenge 409 in the Playground and I've stuck to the three picks limit, plus our *Gold Star* and of course a new Playmate.  We had 40 entries.

Now for the prize draw which is a Stamping Bella 'Oddball Easter Bunny' stamp - and there are three of these. Here are the winners:

Carol L

 

 Katrina

 

Jeanne H

Congratulations ladies!

Please send me your addresses, even if you know that I know them already, with your full name at the top as well so it can be can be copied and pasted for speed and ease. It's also confirmation that you still would like the prize of course.  Please put Playground Winner or similar in the subject line of your email in case it drops into my junk mail. Email address is on RH sidebar as always.

As soon as I have all addresses, I'll do one outing to post the prizes together. We're still being cautious here and avoiding any unnecessary mingling.

Remember folks, there's still almost one more week to run on the current Challenge 410 which you can find HERE. The prize is a really fun Clearly Besotted 'Egyptian Feline' set of stamps.

Yesterday was time for Dudley's quarterly dose of worming treatment, purely as a preventative measure. Ever since he came to rule live with us it's always been a nightmare dosing him. We started off with a liquid formula when he was a puppy, as advised by the breeder, and he was an expert at spitting that right out. Visions of Wild West films and spittoons in bars used to come to mind! Then we moved onto pills as less messy and he never ceases to amaze us at how he convincingly 'swallows' - yet as soon as he's released - 'ping' - out comes said pill from the side of his mouth. Len brought one of his very favourite treats to show him yesterday, with the pill in his pocket - and the little tinker resolutely remained firmly under my desk, out of reach and feigning sleep! However, after his walk, he did his usual spinning trick for the treat he'd seen earlier, then without too much of a fuss Len managed to pop the pill into Dudley's mouth whilst cuddling him and holding his mouth closed - success! Phew, we now have three months respite until the next time.

Stay cool if you can - and also safe!

Love from Parsnip, myself and the usual happy 'high-five' and woof from Dudley.

Pixie's Snippets Playground - Challenge #410

Welcome to a new Snippets Playground Challenge. 

The weather is still pleasantly warm down here in Hampshire, although we've noticed that the nights are cutting in, so it's getting dark earlier already. 

 

And for this challenge we have another lovely Guest Designer. This time it's Bonnie Lynn:

Bonnie will tell you all about how she made her lovely card when you hop over to her blog, link above. I think it's absolutely beautiful - and a good few snippets used - even the pyramids look to be paper pieced using paper/card very much like textured co-ordinations, very clever touch and really brings those pyramids to life. Super clever use of a different die set as well for the foliage - it's a really imaginative scene. And I do so love the sentiment - very true!

 

The prize this fortnight is:

A Clearly Besotted 'Egyptian Feline' set of stamps from me - thought it was time for a prize featuring cats. This really is the sweetest set of stamps, sadly Clearly Besotted have stopped selling matching dies for their stamps but just look back at how beautifully Bonnie fussy cut all the elements in the gorgeous little scene.

As always, the Snippets Challenge will run for two weeks and the Playground gates will close at 11am UK time on Saturday 4th September. 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.

 

Please also remember that I only allow a total of nine other challenges, which makes 10 in total, when you enter a snippets make into the Playground.

 

Yesterday was bathtub day for Dudley. At times it can be like a mini tsunami, if we take our eye off the ball (aka Dudley) and don't immediately wrap him up like a little burrito as he's lifted out onto a very large bath towel on my lap. Now and then, in between baths, Dudley will pop his paws up onto the bathtub just to have a little peep inside. We have no idea what he's looking for - he's just naturally a very inquisitive little dog. 

 

He does look like a white fluffy ball right now - and we're at the point of deciding whether to let his coat keep on growing (whilst keeping his eyes trimmed) or to give him a full trim back into a puppy cut - which is much less likely to matt, meaning an easier life for all of us! The jury is still out here, pondering that decision. I have a feeling that practicality might win over aesthetics, plus he does look so cute with a puppy cut!

 

EDIT! I originally had a reminder here that it would be 'Rudolph Days Challenge' over at ScrappyMo's from 25th August to the end of the month. Please note that Mo has had to cancel the challenge for this month due to family illness and also a very painful injury to her elbow. Get well soon Mo - love from all of us.xx

Stay safe and be kind.

 

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

Pixie's Snippets Playground - Challenge #408 - results

Kath

Many of you are now already aware that Kath, of My Plain and Simple blog, passed away last Sunday. Kath was one of our Playmates, a very good friend to so many of us, with a particularly dry sense of humour and a really kind heart  She was extremely talented and made such beautiful cards. Thoughts are with her family, as well as with Brenda of Floral Fantasies who was such a true friend during those final few weeks. Dearest Kath, gone but not forgotten - we will miss you so very much. RIP our dear friend.

Let's move gently onto the picks:

I think this is so adorable! A perfectly designed and executed Christmas card, made by Val, using lots of beautifully co-ordinating paper snippets and such sweet images!

This wonderful card, made by Helen F, is worthy of a photo of the inside of the card as well:

Isn't is great?! Super use of plenty of snippets and I can just imagine the delight on the recipient's face upon opening it!

 

 

This is a really a sweet card, made by Becca. Such a lovely layout and a perfect reminder of another way to use up your snippet strips to create a really interesting background. Love it!

And finally, we had one new Playmate joining us for the first time:

Let's welcome Dottie - who brought this lovely card to share with us. Hedgehogs always are such fun on cards and this little guy is so cute! Come back and play with us soon please Dottie!

That's my picks from Challenge 408 in the Playground and I've stuck to the three picks limit. We had 41 entries (hooray!) and one new Playmate.

Now for the prize draw, which is a 'Peaceful Roses Mini' stamp set by Gina K, kindly donated for Ruby's Memory  Challenge by by Brenda (Lawrence). Thank you once again Brenda!  And the winner is:

 Karen (Letchworth)

Congratulations Karen! Not so long since you won a previous prize - so extra well done. I'm sure you will come back to share a lovely card using your prize.

Please send me your address, even if you know that I know it already, with your full name at the top as well so it can be can be copied and pasted for speed and ease. It's also confirmation that you still would like the prize of course.  Please put Playground Winner or similar in the subject line of your email in case it drops into my junk mail. Email address is on RH sidebar as always.

Brenda lives in the USA and will post your prize directly to you once I let her have your address. Do bear in mind that she recovering from a fractured knee (ouch!) and will probably need to rely on one of her sons to post the prize. Just looked at your blog and am pleased to see it's getting better Brenda - don't overdo things though!

Remember folks, there's still almost one more week to run on the current Challenge 409 which you can find HERE. The prize is a Stamping Bella 'Oddball Easter Bunny' stamp - and there are three on offer - so you have a better chance than usual to be a winner!

Challenge #408 was in aid of Ruby's Memory and I just sent off a further donation to USPCA, the rescue charity who saved Ruby and gave her the chance of the wonderful life she had with Lynne and Greg.

We've had to hide Dudley's absolutely gross Stinky Monkey for good - it's a health hazard - to him and also to us! It's still in the house in a secret place and so far Dudley hasn't worked out exactly where it is. However, I have a little suspicion he could be on track as he never ever goes into the shower room yet I've found the door nudged open twice lately. It's hidden in a cupboard behind some cleaning stuff! Now and then, when he's otherwise occupied, I rub the brand new Stinky Monkey with the old one, not too much - just enough to hopefully transfer a bit of pong aroma. It does seem to be slowly working although not as much as the previous one which went absolutely everywhere with him. I feel like a mother who has taken her baby's dummy away!

Dudley continues to be such a little sweetheart. I did try to capture him on a little video clip doing his sighing, moaning and groaning when he gets enclosed with me during grocery deliveries. Trust Dudley, he wasn't going through his repertoire of sounds very well so I'll have another try when the next delivery comes.

Here's a photo of the little chap cupped in Len's hands the day we went to first meet him - aged just under six weeks old. He was teething (his baby teeth) hence the tear stains under his eyes. Speaking of eyes - aren't they gorgeous and almost wise, even at that young age. His black button nose was still patchy pink as well! 

He's just this minute, as I'm typing this, hurtled in from the garden having done several circuits of 'zoomies' - bringing in a load of grass etc. needless to say! Little tinker!

 

Love from Parsnip, myself and the usual happy 'high-five' and woof from Dudley.