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Sunday 28 August 2022

'Tis the Season to be jolly .........

Here's my  card for ScrappyMo's Rudolph Days Challenge for August:

I used:

- white DL card blank, tent style

- first of all I coloured the pre-stamped Penny Black 'Snow Family' image using Polychromos pencils and Sansodor blending fluid - matching the colouring to the background paper 'scene' I'd selected to use

- die cut the image using Penny Black's 'Snow Family' set of dies and tickled the pale grey fluffy pom poms on their hats using Clear Wink of Stella

- used a piece of SU 'Wisteria Wonder' card for the main backing - die cut using a die from Phill Martin's Slender Collection set called 'Elegant Eyelets' and glued onto the card front

- the background paper is from Whimsy's 'Frozen' Slimline paper pack - LOVE this set of papers so much! Trimmed the paper to nicely sit on top of the die cut backing card - just a sliver from the top and sightly over 3/4" from one side

- stamped a sentiment onto the bottom left of the 'scenic' panel using the Misti, Memento 'Tuxedo Black' ink and a stamp from Clearly Besotted's 'Simply Said Christmas' set of sentiments 

- glued the 'scenic' panel onto the card front so that the 'Wisteria Wonder' layer formed a frame 

- then added the die cut 'Snow Family' using thin sticky pads to add a little dimension (but still keeping it under the limit for standard postage letters) 

- the 'Snow Family' die comes with some lovely snowflake dies and I used the three smallest ones to die cut a selection of flakes from the leftover card that the main image had been stamped onto, then tickled them with Clear Wink of Stella on a scrap of paper and left them to dry

- finishing touch was to add a scattering of said snowflakes using a glue pen to 'lift' the background

In real life the colours are a little more vibrant and of course, just to make life easier when the Christmas panic sets in, I made two exactly the same. Partly as I found two ready stamped images and couldn't bear not to use both of them. I suspect that a sweet friend sent me the stamped images ages ago. Before I bought the same 'pre-loved' stamp several years later ............. then I followed it up with the matching set of dies, probably within the last 12 months or so. Funny what you come across when looking through boxes of stuff you've almost forgotten about. ☺

Another Christmas Challenge that I love is 'Peace on Earth' - it's always 'Anything Goes' but their mood board does have a snowman on it. So I'd like to play along with their current Peace on Earth Challenge #22.   

And, I just found 'Christmas with the Cuties' Challenge #62. Anything cute and Christmas, with an optional theme of 'Frosty the Snowman, was a jolly happy soul'. I just had to join in as my sentiment includes the word 'jolly' - as all snowmen should be! I think it's my first time playing over there - but there's at least one familiar DT name! Hi Sarah. ☺

As both the 'eyelets' DL dies as well as the Penny Black 'Snow Family' die set are NBUS - I'd like to join in with Darnell's NBUS Challenge #41

The results of Challenge #434 are over at the Snippets Playground HERE

Dudley alternates between being very solemn and then running round like a crazy dog! On Thursday evening Len sneaked up the 'bedtime treat chalk bone' as Dudley was snoozing in the hallway. Swiftly, Len popped it onto my desk and whispered 'Hide it' - and we reckon it truly could have been done in one massive bound from downstairs - there was Dudley beside me waiting, paws up on my desk chair, tongue out with a cheeky smile, literally as I reached out to pick up the treat! He's a total scamp!

Then there are the times he looks at life through the serious end of the telescope and spends time almost meditating with some of his most loved toys, and of course his 'bestie' Honka Duck. On Friday, whilst taking a piccie of today's card by placing it on our bed (hunting for light!), I looked up and Dudley was steadily watching me, from his position surrounded by toys on the bed! Usually he would move, but this time he didn't and I managed a quick and sneaky photo:

I really love this 'spur of the moment' photo of him. Dudley isn't a dog who poses nicely when asked - you have to take 'pot luck'. He has one paw on top of, and protecting 'Honka',peeping from behind him is a cheeky chick toy and beside him are an upside down flying squirrel .......... plus a much loved hedgehog, sent by his much loved 'God-dog Mum' when he arrived here almost four years ago now. Yup, he still has it and uses it as a little pillow often during the night, so cute. Version 2 is on my desk, 'awaiting Mama's surgery' as it's got a  split seam (ouch!), but let's not tell him that!

The thing that really gets me is the depth, wisdom, and even a tinge of sadness in the look in his eyes, talk about 'Let me look right into your soul Mama'!

Or, to look on the bright side, most likely, 'Hey Mama, where you gonna try and hide the next treat?'!! Let me try my pensive look on you - ha!'.

He (Dudley) knows I'm typing about him as he just popped out from under my desk to say 'a big hello, from your Friendly Security Guard'. His timing always cracks me up!

Love from both of us - Dudley and of course me,



24 comments:

  1. ohh, those snow people are just the cutest and I really like these unique colors for a Christmas card! That's a great pic of Dudley too, and his eyes are quite expressive and warm! He almost looks like he's smiling too :)

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    1. Yup Carol, i do think that's the glimmer of a smile on Dudley's face! x

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  2. Such a fun snow family Christmas design, Di, and I love the coloring. Of course the star of the post is Sir Dudley! You did a great job of capturing the stare, which I am familiar with here, too, but what always amazes me is how human his eyes look. Am I the only one who has ever mentioned that? He certainly loves his abundant toys which is just the cutest! I was thinking about emailing you when you popped into NBUS (thank you!). We need to catch up; it's been too long. Maybe a Zoom soon? Hugs, Darnell

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  3. LOVE the colors that you used for your sweet snow family card design, and I'm envious of your work with the colored pencils because I'm just terrible with them. I think I'd better try some of the blending solution and see if I get anywhere with that.
    Of course, I am just utterly charmed by Dudley and his toys. His little paw on Honka Duck, and that adorably goofy hedgehog toy that he uses as a pillow, just make this pose even more wonderful. His eyes though, are the real draw. I would say that he looks almost human, but then Dudley might be offended, because we all know that dogs are even better than we humans, right?!

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  4. What a lovely card Di - love how you have put the snow family on a horizontal slimline card.
    As for Dudley, to me he looks as if he wants to say - "what are you doing now, disturbing me like that - surely you could have waited!!"
    Blessings
    Maxine

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  5. FAB-u-LOUS card, love the snowie family. What a delightful tale (or is that TALE) of Dudders too - keep 'em coming!

    Happy Sunday

    Kathyk

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  6. Wow, I simply adore this beautiful snow family Christmas card. Love the colours and that background paper and the card shape.

    Such a sweet picture of Dudley too. His eyes are amazing. Great sneaky shot of him & Honka Duck.

    He’s clearly very advanced in knowing when there’s a treat to be had! Little scamp! Xxx

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  7. Fabulous card Di, I love your little snowman family and the colours are beautiful. Visiting your blog today with my Guest Designer hat on. Thank you for sharing your beautiful card over in the NBUS Challenge this month.

    Lovely photo of Dudley with his toys……which got me thinking…… what happened to Monkey? xx

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  8. These snow people are such fun and perfectly teamed with the gorgeous background. Great photo of Dudley with his many 'friends', love reading his ongoing story.

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  9. I love the snow people stamps. I think mine need another airing! Love the colours you’ve used too! Off to have a look for the papers - I need some retail therapy! xx

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    1. I got my papers from Dies to Die for - they're out of stock currently but there's an option to be notified when new stocks arrive. And Tracey is usually pretty good at replenishing out of stock items. xx

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  10. An adorably cute cute snowman scene!! Your Dudley certainly does have soulful eyes as does MY Mack, can look right into the soul, love that!!
    Thank you for joining our challenge at Peace on Earth!!!
    Diane POE Co-Owner
    {Nellies Nest}
    {Peace On Earth}

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  11. Awwww that is so cute! Love the colours, and adorable pic of Dudley, he really does have a lot of depth in his eyes, if only they could talk! Xxx

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  12. A lovely card Di - the snowmen are so cute. A lovely photo of Dudley too!
    Kath x

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  13. Such a sweet and cute post, Di!!! :) Love so much the card, it's an adorable scene with that background and the matching colours of the snowmen, you coloured them so well with pencils!!
    But the star is always him, Dudley!! :D You managed to take a fabulous photo and to capture the thoughts in his head by the eyes!!!
    Hugs to you and lot of cuddles to him!

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  14. Adorable scene! Thank you for sharing with us at Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge.

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  15. The snow family with their pink scarves and hats are so cute and the background paper coordinates beautifully Di, and love the PM die cut frame with the pretty ornate edge. Dudley does look very serious in this photo, and I think has his paw firmly on his favourite Honka Duck just in case someone should try to remove it or him..lol. x

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  16. Hello Di (waving furiously!!) I am beyond thrilled that you have found The Cutie Pies Christmas Challenge and this fab PB Snowy, and family, card is perfect. Such a great colour and super design. thank you for joining in. A wonderful candid camera capture of Dudley, he has such a lovely smile!! Our two are nightmares to get a good picture of, especially together xx

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    1. Waving right back Sarah! Many thanks for your lovely comment! x

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  17. Love the snow family & that background paper was made to go with them! It's amazing how puppydogs hear & smell things! That is just the cutest picture!

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  18. Such cute and cheerful snowmen! And all the lovely pink too, it's a gorgeous card. Dudley is so cute guarding his toy like that. You can't get anything past him, it seems. x

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  19. Your card is gorgeous Di! And so is Dudley!

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  20. l love your snow family scene and your snow family are just so adorable greatly coloured too .....Dudley makes me smile he is just the cutes of all dogs and protective with his toys xx

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  21. Super sweet and lovely background. Great Dudley photo too.

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