Sunday Snippets - quick Christmas card

Still recovering here so took another dive into the snippets basket on my desk and came up with a stamped and coloured baby deer image, a pre-cut and scored card, a panel of white card which was already die-cut using a pretty outline die and some snippets of green and muted gold card. This the result: 

I used: 

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

- added a pre-cut white card panel just slightly smaller - die-cut using a Penny Black set of dies called 'zig-zag stackers', found in my snippets basket!

- trimmed the image which I'd coloured using Pro Markers eons ago - the stamped image was sent to me by a blogging friend so I don't know the manufacturer but it has the look of Lawn Fawn perhaps?

- then backed the image using trimmed snippets of Tonic Pearlescent 'Majestic Gold' card and (possibly SU 'Certainly Celery') green found in the snippets basket

- used my Altenew mini die cutting machine to die cut my favourite Christmas sentiment (sadly discontinued) twice, from another snippet of 'Majestic Gold' card - double layered

- then adhered the image and the sentiment in place- used thin sticky pads for the image panel and a glue pen for the sentiment

Dudley Pupdate: it was my Birthday during the week - and Dudley was in ecstasy with packages and cards being opened whilst I was still in bed. Of course, everything had to have his critical eye cast over it - along with a nose bop of approval. Thank you so much for all of your lovely cards - it's a bit like Christmas here! We've also had a few heavy downpours and at times Dudley's been playing the 'towel-down drying game' with Len. Once released, he does zoomies around downstairs and then races upstairs like a little 'pocket rocketI' to find Honka and tell him all about it! 

Progress is slow but sure on recovery after my tumbling act' back in mid-August and every day brings another step forward. Using the mini die cutting machine is one example - being extremely right handed is a bit of a drawback when it's been injured so I was delighted to find I could use it comfortably once again!

We have a new Challenge #515 being run by our lovely Sarn, over HERE. I'm still taking it easy in the Staff Room under strict instructions from Sarn - but that doesn't mean I don't have my little undercover 'spy in a white fluffy coat' reporting back to me! I just wish he wouldn't insist on wearing a pair of my sunglasses in the hope of disguising who he really is as he saunters around!

Love from myself and Dudley, 

 

Sunday Snippets - Van Gogh washi tape

Still struggling here but, as luck would have it, I found a panel of 'Van Gogh' washi tape strips already made up onto a snippet of card - languishing in a basket on my desk, yay!

I used:

- 6.25" x 3.25" slimline card blank, tent style

- a snippet of white card which I'd covered in strips of 'Van Gogh's World' washi tape a good while ago. They came from the IEBEE company, based in China, in a set of 36 tapes

- trimmed the washi panel to 5.25" x 2.25"

- a snippet of Tonic satin mirror 'Soft Amethyst' card in my snippets basket - what a stroke of luck

- then trimmed said snippet down and added it as a 'frame' to the back of the scenic panel

- at that point I knew how much room there was to play with on the front of the card blank and so added seven embossed lines down the left hand side, so that I could add the scenic panel offset to one side. Thanks again Darnell for the technique!

- added the whole completed scenic panel to the card base using thin foam tape pads - and a glue stick swiped over the pads to allow some 'wriggle room' when setting it in place

- finally, added a 'Happy Birthday' sentiment to the bottom right hand side of the card - thankfully already snipped up in the packet of Creative Expressions 'Wordies Birthday Sentiments' 

A simple offering but, being unable to do quite a few of the things we take for granted when crafting, it made me happy to get this far! For example, on the domestic front am still drinking using a straw as I can't properly hold a mug or cup by the handle - YET!

If you squint at the scene you can almost see countryside in the front, lavender fields behind a barrier of lush tripocal trees - and then hills beyond with the sun setting over them! Told you, SQUINT!

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges: 

- Allsorts Challenge #831 HERE - the current challenge is 'Birthdays'

Dudley Pupdate: The takeover of the shower room off our bedroom continues - it's Dudley's 'safe and quiet place' as well as his office. Yesterday, given the drop in temperatures here, I switched on the heated towel rail a little while before having a shower and closed the door so that the room would heat up a bit. The upshot was Dudley lying like a sheepskin rug with his nose pressed against the door in protest against being denied entry. I was hard pressed not to chuckle at the regular glares I was given over his shoulder! When I emerged after my shower he was practically leaning against a wardrobe tapping his claws!

Remember, the results from Sarn's Challenge #515 are now published in the Snippets Playground HERE.

It looks rather like Autumn is on the way - but all the more reason to find time to play with your snippets. No doubt Sarn will be running tasting sessions for her Halloween cocktails and nibbles! And nope - no bonfires allowed Missy! Bobbing for apples is permitted though.

Love as always, Dudley and yours truly,

Sunday Snippets - Santa Claus

I'm baaaack! Am still recovering but every day brings an improvement in movement, less swelling and pain plus the spectacular bruising is fading nicely. I can type reasonably well at last and even managed to use a guillotine for my snippets card by leaning on the blade with my left hand - tricky but do-able!

My snippets card for this week was made using an already assembled decoupage Santa, a matching sentiment, a snippet/surround of red satin mirror card and a white card blank: 

I used: 

- 7" x 5" white linen card blank, side opening

- an already assembled decoupage 'Santa Claus' image by Katy Sue - it's the last of the ones I assembled last Christmas

- trimmed a snippet of Tonic satin mirror card ('Scarlet Organza') and glued it to the back of the decoupaged image 

- added the ready trimmed sentiment to the top right hand corner of the image panel - once again with Katy Sue decoupage there are a couple of extras included which are small matching Santas for the back of the card plus the envelope

- finally added the image panel to the card front using glue - finished!

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenge:

- Rudolph Days August Challenge HERE

Remember, I've just kicked off a new challenge over in the Snippets Playground HERE. 

Dudley Pupdate: I'm still not out of the woods here and Dudley is a constant companion, if not beside me then mostly in his little office - aka the shower room off our bedroom! I think we need to set up a 'hot desking' rota! 

Hope to see you on the swings in the Snippets Playground! I'm gonna sit in the corner just watching and will be wearing a Mr Blobby suit for protection............. just in case of any further tumbles!!

Very fetching, innit?! 

Love as always, Dudley Dog and me

Sunday Snippets - missing in action

Hi folks

A very short post from me this week - and sadly, no snippets card either. Sarn has sorted out my results post over in the Snippets playground - huge thanks Sarn. xx

I hope to be back playing as soon as possible, as soon as I'm more recovered from a fall. Right hand in particular being out of action is a slight drawback ....... understatement of the year!

Dudley is fine and is never far from my side needless to say!

With love, from Dudley and myself

xxx

Sunday Snippets - Polar bear family

It's been far too hot to spend time crafting in my little 'oven' - so this card was a bit of a last minute make! Sorry, the light bounced and sort of bleached the image:

Inside the card with sentiment - plus a little image at the front for the envelope

I used: 

- 7" x 5" white card blank, side opening chopped down from a 8" x 8" white card blank

- the decoupaged image of a Mama polar bear and two her little ones is by Katy Sue and was already assembled last Christmas then put aside

- dug through my snippets and found a piece of Tonic 'Navy Dazzle' card just the right size. The pale blue card, also Tonic, is from a whole sheet called 'Blue Cashmere' - both are pearlescent card by the way

- just glued the image onto the trimmed pale blue and navy layers and then onto the card front - simples!

- I wanted the card front to speak for itself with no sentiment, so I glued a sentiment strip from the same decoupage set across the inside of the card

- there's one little square image on the second photo and that will be added to the envelope when I'm writing Christmas cards later in the year

I love these Katy Sue decoupage sheets - they're fun to assemble and cards can then be as simple or elaborate as you wish to make them. Only one snippet from me this time folks!

Because this card is so simple I wasn't going to add it into any challenges - but at the last minute decided to share it after all:

Allsorts Challenge #830 HERE - 'B is for............ bears, branches and berries' 

Darnell's NBUS Challenge #77 HERE- the Katy Sue image is unique - you only get one of each design in the assorted pack I bought!

Dudley Pupdate: We have a much happier little Dudley now that the temperature has reduced here - sighs of relief all round really. He's been a little trouper and has done his best to keep cool - happily accepting regular sprays of cool water. His favourite spot, as I've previously written here, is our shower room - cool tiles are his idea of bliss! Recently, I've noticed that our bedcovers become rumpled after I've left the bed looking neat - and the other morning I caught the culprit in the act. Dudley, very carefully hooking a paw underneath the top sheet to flip that and the thin fleece to one side - so that he can make a nice cool comfy nest for himself! Little monkey.

No wonder this amused Len and myself today - Saturday. It came from a friend:

So very true and I would know a Havanese happy smile anywhere!

We have a new Challenge #513 being run by our lovely Sarn, over HERE. Hopefully, the little spell of cooler weather might entice many of you to use your snippets then .come and play.

Love from myself and Dudley, 

Sunday Snippets - Thinking of you

I made a Sympathy card for a blogging friend who has just lost her husband. They often took their dogs to the beach so I chose to make a seashore themed card:

I used:

- 4.75" x 4.75" square white card blank, side opening

- a snippet of white card - from my snippets basket, die cut to  4.5" x 4.5" for the top layer, using a square stitched die by Heffy Doodle

- then used an unbranded 'Seagulls' die (NBUS) to cut an aperture into the top layer. It was slightly tricky as it's a solid die but I solved that by running a strip of low-tack tape right across the die where it splits into parallel cutout lines to make sure it sat level on the card

- then added a piece of patterned paper to the back of the aperture, slightly trimmed from full size, so it's not a snippet, using a glue pen. It's from a lovely paper pack called 'Sea Wave' from Amazon. Just ask if you would like the link folks!

- next came the silver sentiment, which came from my little stock of ready-foiled sentiments. I made a few using the laminator, WOW Fab foil and sentiments from Julie Hickeys 'Assorted Sentiments #2 Die Cut Foilables' set (116 in the set!) 

- added the whole completed scenic panel to the card base using narrow strips of self-adhesive foam - finis!

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges: 

- Allsorts Challenge #829 HERE - the current challenge is 'Animals'

- Darnell's NBUS Challenge #77 HERE - the seagulls die was having a first outing

Dudley Pupdate: I did my usual 'ten rounds in the ring' with Dudley the other afternoon - also known as a grooming session. Trimmed around his eyes - his blonde eyelashes are so pretty - gave him a really good brush and comb from nose to tail and his coat looks so fluffy and white, especially lovely right now. Quick spritz of doggie freshner and he was good to go! 

Remember, the results from Sarn's Challenge #511 are now published in the Snippets Playground HERE.

Do come and play with us in the Playground - refreshments will depend on the weather over here in England. They do say the temperatures will soar this coming week - out with the paddling pool again! Summer isn't done with roasting us yet it seems!

Love as always, Dudley and yours truly,

Sunday Snippets - Penny Black Christmas

Here's my snippets card for today! Penny Black Masterpieces to the fore - and I actually made four cards in the same design but all different images and switched the plain card snippets that I used for the frames and sentiments to pick out colours in the images:

I used: 

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

- a Penny Black Masterpiece image from one of their Christmas themed sets - I still have a bunch of images left to use even after making four cards

- die cut the image using a die from Hunkydory's 'Extended Hexagons' then backed it with a die cut layer using the next size up  hexagon die, in pearlescent pale blue - cut from a snippet

- die cut the sentiment (double layered) using my favourite Christmas sentiment die - Tonic's Mini 'Merry Christmas' (sadly it seems to be discontinued)

 

- then thought -'hmm, the white card blank is gonna look too plain' and so I used a neat little trick that I recently spotted over on Darnell's blog and added a few embossed lines down one side. I don't know how Darnell did hers but here's what I did - flipped the card open and on the inside of the card front I added two strips of half inch wide coloured washi tape along the top and bottom edges. I could have drawn fine pencil lines instead but the washi tape left no sticky behind and no need to use an eraser of course as the inside of the card is visible to the recipient. Then used a scoring board and tool to add score lines, using the edge of the washi tape as my 'stop' markers. I do love the effect - thanks so much for the idea Darnell! lt really made such a difference

- finally added the image panel to the card front using narrow foam strips and glued the little die cut sentiment in place - finished!

I confess that I forgot to save my snippets! And I ain't going hunting for them as I know they were very small and were thrown out.

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenge:

- Allsorts Challenge #829 HERE -  the current theme is 'Animals'

Remember, I've just kicked off a new challenge over in the Snippets Playground HERE. 

Dudley Pupdate: over the week we've had lowering temperatures and Dudley in particular is pleased about it! Heavy rain is forecast, although right now it looks as if we'll skip it in the South of England. I hope it misses us as we need a jemmy to lever Dudley into the garden when it's damp as he hates getting his paws wet! What a big girl's blouse he is, but adorable of course!

Hope to see you on the swings in the Snippets Playground!

Love as always, Dudley Dog and me

xxxxx

Rudolph Days - July 2025

Here's a Christmas card using pre-printed images from Etsy:

I used:

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

- the pre-printed images on white linen card from Etsy caught my eye and the Craft Addiction Square slatted dies from a lovely crafting pal popped straight into my mind

- the images come in a pack of 10, two of each design on with each die cut into a neat stitched square - stay with me though, there is a hitch 

- lined up the top layers of each image BUT also carefully checked edges to edges to see how precisely the images were printed, and some were not aligned 'bang on' for my plan - gasp, shock and horror! 

- and so, small adjustments were made, leaving two total wrecks behind - but I did end up with three decent slatted layered images at least - memo to self,  print your own images/downloads in future! I would have expected total precision - without which, the effect of the slatted image is totally spoiled

- having die cut the 'slotted' top layers, I then glued them onto the bottom layers to form what Len calls a 'Venetian Blind effect' - nice turn of phrase there!

- then dug out snippets of Tonic Mirror 'Inca Gold' card to trim a slightly larger frame for the image - only an eighth of an inch on all sides and then glued them together

- at this point I thought the image was intricate enough so added the whole image panel onto the card front using glue

- the sentiment is from a much loved Uniko set of Christmas sentiments called 'Simply Said Blocks - Christmas' - stamped using VersaFine Clair 'Nocturne' black ink

- then covered the uncut stamped sentiment with self adhesive 'laminating film' to add some shine, before trimming it down and running a black Tombow brush pen around the edges - I have a few in my little snippets pot

- added the sentiment to the card front using a glue pen and called it a wrap!

I made three, almost the same, to boost our 2025 Christmas card numbers, hobbling along like a three legged donkey here - yee-haw! 

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenge:

- Rudolph Days July 2025 HERE

Phew - almost missed the end of July deadline for Rudolph Days Challenge - squeaked in by a gnat's whisker.

Hugs

Di xxx

Sunday Snippets - 'Peace Love and Belly Rubs'

We celebrated Dudley's 7th Birthday with him during the week - and this is the card I made from Len and myself for the little pickle:

I used:

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

- snippet of the same brand of white card for the image panel - trimmed to 5" x 3.75"

- stamped the image of puppy and parrot onto the panel using a VersaFine Clair 'Nocturne' ink pad  and coloured it using polychromos pencils before writing a 7! x onto the balloon. The stamp is from a long discontinued SU 'Bella and Friends' stamp set - SO Dudley!

- then die cut the sentiment twice using a NBUS fun die by Poppystamps called (naturally) 'Peace, Love and Belly Rubs' - using a snippet of paper from the Altenew 'Enchanting Washes' paper pack

- when time came to double layer the sentiment, it was going to be very tricky to totally line up the two layers - so I just glued one layer onto the image panel. It's such a detailed die cut but the design thankfully keeps its shape well

- then popped the fallout from the heart shapes in both die cuts above the sentiment

- glued the image panel onto a 5.25" x 4" snippet of plain toning blue card

- finally, added the completed panel to the card blank using narrow foam strips

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Darnell's NBUS Challenge #76 - HERE. The sentiment die was havibg its first outing!

Allsorts Challenge #828 - HERE. Under 'Anything Goes'

Dudley Pupdate: Dudley Dog had a lovely Birthday - many thanks for the good wishes, cards and even some doggie treats! As usual he's been keeping us, mostly Len, on our toes. I slept right through the performance but during Friday night Dudley was very restless and eventually climbed on top of Len in bed and stared right into his face. Once shooed away he apparently then insisted on standing on his hind legs beside Len's bedside and tapping at him for attention. He'd just been out into the garden but off they went outside again - just in case. Eventually he settled down - and then this morning Len found one of Dudley's favourite bedtime treats laying on the top of his bedside cabinet. It seems he'd forgotten to give it to Dudley - but that little guy knew fine well it was there waiting for him!!

Very importantly, the results of Challenge #508 are now published HERE. 

Do please come and play in Sarn's current challenge over in the Snippets Playground - just scroll down - there's a lovely prize bundle! 

Love from myself and Dudley, xxx

Sunday Snippets - 'Simple Floral Bundle'

It was serendipity when I chose to make a floral card as my Sunday Snippets card - Allsorts challenge, I'm on my way!

I used: 

- 5.25" x 4.25" white card blank, side opening - odd size due to the PB die not being A2 compatible/balanced

- die cut a snippet of white card, using a die by Penny Black from the 'posted cut out' set of outline die and set it to one side

- next  used a snippet of white card and a Poppystamps die called 'Simple Floral Bundle' to die cut all the elements for the arrangement in one go - thanks to the die shapes all being on just one very neat plate. I might have spotted this being used by one of you lovely girls and rushed off to buy it not so long ago! 

- used my Zig pens to colour the die cut foliage and flowers - so quick and esy to use!

- then glued the floral bundle onto the white panel front and left it overnight to have more of a 'think'

- next day, I backed the white panel with a trimmed snippet of Tonic Matt satin effect 'Soft Amethyst' card and also set that aside

- now I knew where the sentiment needed to be stamped so I did that step using VersaFine Clair 'Morning Mist' ink and a stamp from my very elderly and much loved let of sentiment stamps by Stampendous. called 'Happy Messages'. Plus the Misti of course! I just looked at the stamps packet and it was made in 2011 - still a favourite, and I think I originally copied Sarn when she used the set

- glued the 'stamp' shaped panel onto the amethyst background 

 Finally, added the whole floral panel onto the card front, using narrow foam tape for dimension

Sorry, what few snippets were left did end up in the bin. Little tip when using a stamping platform such as the Misti to stamp something right into a corner. You can buy a set of 'corner extenders; or just use the little trick of turning your platform and the card the other way up, position your stamp (I always use a clear marked plastic grid for alignment). That  means you will be stamping in the middle of the platform and keeps you away from fighting corners!

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Allsorts Challenge #828 HERE - my entry is for the current challenge of 'Pretty Flowers' 

Darnell's NBUS Challenge #76 HERE- the Poppystamps 'Simple Floral Bundle' die was having a first outing

Dudley Pupdate: Once again, it was changeover time for Dudley's beloved Honka Duck - never easy to see his anxiety when he can't find the rancid old one - even when a new one is right beside him.However he is now fully settled with 'new' Honks and all is well in his little world. All the more so as he's discovered that the back garden door is generally left open in the current heat - and he can quietly play peek a boo around the door ........... before diving across the garden to 'meet and greet' one local bird killer cat in particular. Said cat is way too fast and appears to be in training for the pole vault event at the next Kitty Olympics - over a six foot high fence in one leap, from a crouching position AND without a pole. Impressive!! Dudley just sighs and comes back indoors to flop down and cool off ................. until the next inkling of Killer Kat! 

Dudley is seven years young on Tuesday - how time flies! We have small plans for the day depending on the weather. He will have some cheese and bacon flavoured treats, a card and a new Birthday Boy Bandana. Plus some cards from wondeful friends as well! He has a whole ton of toys, many of which he just ignores, so a new toy would possibly be like me giving my Mum a new tea towel on Mothering Sunday. I didn't KNOW and didn't stop to even think, OK?

We have a new Challenge #511 being run by our lovely Sarn, over HERE. We did spend ages cleaning and refilling the paddling pool to beat the hosepipe bans- only to see that rain is meant to be on the way!

Love from myself and Dudley, 

Sunday Snippets - 'Happy, Joyous & Free'

It's been like living in an oven here and my snippets card took a few goes - I wanted to stamp the background but literally, no sooner did I stamp the background, the VersaFine ink dried before I could even utter the words 'embossing powder'! And so, in the interests of my sanity, you have a background paper to the rescue:

Hooray - I remembered my snippets this time!

I used:

- 5.75" x 5.75" square white card blank, side opening

- a piece  of the same card stock, trimmed to 5.5" x 5.5" for the top layer

- then used a 'The Works' (discontinued) 'oval stitched die' to cut an oval aperture into the top layer

- added a piece of patterned paper, slightly trimmed from full size. so not a snippet, behind the oval aperture using a glue pen - it's from a lovely pack called 'Sea Wave' from Amazon

- die cut the unbranded 'sailing boat' using snippets of brown, red and white card and then glued the sailing boat and sails in place

- added three white seagulls using a Gummiapan 'Seagulls' die then a glue pen - I love this set of dies!

- next came the Clarity sentiment sticker, which I particularly love. I stuck a sliver of card underneath the part of the sticker that overlapped onto the oval aperture to keep it level

- added the whole completed scenic panel to the card base using narrow strips of foam pad - finis!

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges: 

- Allsorts Challenge #827 HERE - under 'Anything Goes' 

- Darnell's NBUS Challenge #76 HERE - the backing paper and sailboat were having a first outing

Dudley Pupdate: It's super hot here and we're all suffering. Len took on board an idea from one of you lovely playmates and sprayed Dudley with a fine mist from what was my ironing water spray bottle. We half thought he would freak out and the first time sent him back into the house like a whirling dervish! However, over time he's actually begun to enjoy his 'spritz sessions ' and still racing around for a short time before flopping with a huge smile in front of the closest fan! My new nickname for him - 'Little Pocket Rocket!! 

Remember, the results from Sarn's Challenge #509 are now published in the Snippets Playground HERE.

Do come and play with us in the Playground - plenty of cold drinks and ice lollies are available - it's meltingly HOT here right now! Don't be surprised if Dudley takes a flying leap into the paddling pool with you girls! He'll be naked as a Jay Bird! Oopsie, I didn't get time to knit his cossie!!

Love as always, Dudley and yours truly,

Sunday Snippets - Tiny Tag Trio

Here's my snippets card for today! It could well be a row of three bookmarks - although the dies are called 'Tiny Tags'. Duplicates of the tag dies and the sentiment die that I used are part of the prize bundle in our new Snippets Playground challenge:

I used: 

- A6 white card blank, side opening

- snippets of pale green, pink and blue card, which were die cut using dies from the Heffy Doodle' 'Tiny Tag Trio' die set (sadly Heffy Doodle are no longer trading). I cut the tags to three different lengths by usung the same die as I'd used per tag and just moving it a few stitches before carefully cutting off one tag end to suit

- added the ribbon slots using each of the three 'slots' dies which are included in the set

- then thought -'hmm, they're gonna look too plain' and so I dug out a NBUS Stampendous Andy Skinner set of background stamps called 'Industrial' plus VersaFine's Clair 'Nocturne' ink pad. I found the easiest/quickest way to use the stamps, which are thick cling rubber ones, was to lay them flat on my glass mat, face upwards, ink them and then pop the tags on top and then run over them over with a mini brayer - result! 

- then I dug out a selection of snippets of ribbon to thread through the slots and tie with very narrow black ribbon

- next, I die cut the sentiment from a single snippet of black matt card using a Creative Expressions die called 'Be Unique' and glued it in the bottom right hand corner of the card

- finally glued the tags in place - finished!

I carefully saved my snippets then promptly threw them out whilst tidying my desk! Edit! I found them late on Sunday, carefully tucked underneath my new glass cutting mat to ensure they didn't get thrown out - what a Dopey Di I am!

I'd like to enter my card into the following challenges:

- Allsorts Challenge #827 HERE - 'Anything Goes' 

- Darnell's NBUS Challenge #76 HERE - all of the dies and the set of stamps were having a first outing

Remember, I've just kicked off a new challenge over in the Snippets Playground HERE. 

Dudley Pupdate: the intensely high temperatures for much of the week here made seeing Dudley amble from one tiled area to another so hard to watch. At one point he totally did a tummy flop whilst following me along the tiled hall and that scared me - but he was up and checking on the progress of me making his evening meal as soon as he heard food prep. sounds! 

Hope to see you on the swings and, for now at least, the scorching hot weather has cooled to a bearable temperature. Apparently the respite won't last but it's certainly very welcome right now!

Love as always, Dudley Dog and me

xxxxx

Sunday Snippets - red nosed baby reindeer!

This started off as a single card for Sunday Snippets - I've subsequently used up the remainder of the pack of tri-fold aperture cards and made a further nine of the same design to add to the box of 2025 Christmas cards:

I used:

- 5.5" x 5.5" Papermania White Tri-fold aperture card blank

- snippet of Tonic pearlised 'Blue Cashmere' card which I stuck behind the aperture

- then assembled the card by flipping one inner part behind the aperture part and gluing it in place. Hint, when opening up these card blanks it does pay to mark a little cross on the section which will be glued to the back of the card front panel. There is a tiny difference in measurements between the inner fold and what ends up as the back of the card - thankfully I remembered that from using Tri-fold cards previously!

- then die cut the reindeer using a snippet of light brown card and a (NBUS) unbranded reindeer die 

- I realised that the die leaves holes in the little reindeer for its eye and also the spots on its back - and pale blue would just look silly! So, I sat and covered the panel of spots from behind with a teeny snippet of white paper - also did the same for the eye using the rest of the snippet, coloured black with a Tom Bow brush pen

- popped an enamel dot onto the reindeer's nose - Marianne 'Duotone Red' also NBUS

- then die cut a snowflake using a die from 'The Works' and a snippet of white sparkly card 

- at the point I glued the snowflake and the reindeer onto the pale blue panel

- stamped using a Uniko set of Christmas sentiments called 'Simply Said Blocks - Christmas' using VersaFine Clair 'Nocturne' black ink - then covered the uncut ;Merry & Bright' sentiment with self adhesive 'laminating film' to add some shine .... which doesn't show up in the photo needless to say, sigh

- trimmed the sentiment down and ran a black tombow pen around the edge before gluing it in place

What attracted me to the inexpensive little die in the first place is the HUGE nose - without a word of a lie, the red enamel dot only just covers the die cut nose! I think it's quite cute - stand well back if the little guy sneezes though!

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Darnell's NBUS Challenge #75 - HERE. The reindeer die and the red enamel dots were NBUS items

Allsorts Challenge #826 - HERE. Under 'Anything Goes'

Rudolph Days June Challenge - HERE 

Christmas Kickstart Challenge #99 - HERE. The theme is 'Christmas Critters' 

Dudley Pupdate: After the debacle four weeks ago, Peter, the stairlift engineer had to return about an issue that had popped up. Len had grimly told me that Dudley would be 'behind bars' for the whole visit and indeed he was! We have moveable barriers and we noticed that Dudley was much calmer behind one. He was pretty calm and almost resigned to no repeat 'performance down Peter's leg', although he did sigh very loudly several times! 😧 

Very importantly, the results of Challenge #508 are now published HERE. 

Do please come and play in Sarn's current challenge over in the Snippets Playground - just scroll down. Even higher temperatures are forecast in the Playground  but Sarn is all geared up for that with plentiful cold drinks and ice lollies, plus we've topped on sunlotion.

Love from myself and Dudley, xxx

Sunday Snippets - 'Butterflies'

My snippets card for today was made in next to no time, plus I used three never been used (NBUS) items: 

I used: 

- 5.5" x 4.45" white card blank, side opening

- die cut and assembled the butterflies, using a snippet of paper from Altenew's 'Enchanting Washes' paper pack and some small black snippets for the bodies. The die I used is by Memory Box, called 'Exquisite Butterflies' - then set them aside for the now

- next  used a snippet of white card and Penny Black's 'Row of Stitches' cutting die to make the band to go across the card. The die doesn't cut right through the card but does add a very pretty pattern

- trimmed the upper and lower parts of the band then edged along them using a gold calligraphy pen for definition - and then trimmed the band, with heart in mouth, to fit widthways perfectly - result!

- before gluing everthing to the card front I used the die cuts to work out just where to stamp the sentiment

 - then, using a Misti, I stamped the sentiment, from a set of stamps by Hunkydory called 'Butterfly Wishes' and a Memento teardrop ink pad called 'Danube Blue'

- the final step was to glue the band and then the butterflies in place - finished! 

Sorry, what few snippets were left did end up in the bin.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Allsorts Challenge #826 HERE - my entry is under the 'Anything Goes' option but the new theme for the current challenge is 'Seaside' - how appropriate, given the current heatwave! 

Darnell's NBUS Challenge #75 HERE- everything on my card was NBUS - the butterfly dies, the Penny Black stitching die (the dies have been waiting for quite a while) and the set of Hunkydory stamps!

Dudley Pupdate: As can be expected, Dudley is really feeling the heat and trails from one spot to another in the house until he then moves to a different place in the hope of being cooler. The coolest place is just inside the kitchen door leading into the garden once the sun has moved around a bit, so he's in the shade but can catch any breeze - but he just hasn't fully worked that one out yet.

We have a new Challenge #509 being run by our lovely Sarn, over HERE. I've had a chuckle at her account of our Playground Antics this past week. The slide and the paddling pool combination are a great success - you have to go and read all about it for yourself though. Have a lovely week and remember to drink plenty of water! We watched Dudley gulp almost a full bowl of fresh water down on Friday afternoon - and he'd been doing nothing out of the ordinary to create such a thirst. The pavements are too hot for his little paws during the day but he's never been a dog to get super excited about walkies at the best of times!

Love from myself and Dudley, 

Sunday Snippets 'Amazing'

One of the great joys of crafting is to share ideas, swop stuff - and sometimes there's 'Extra Happy Mail' as well! I was recently gifted a Craft Addiction set of square slatted dies by a lovely friend and this is my first result - love them!

I used:

- 5.75" x 5.75" square white card blank, side opening

- snippet of the same card stock, die cut with three nested slatted square dies in one go, from Craft Addiction

- a snippet of pink card, die cut using the outer die from the nested cut used above to form an equally sized outer square

- glued the pink square and the white slatted square together using Collall All Purpose Glue 

- glued the slatted square panel just above the centre of the card - to make the sentiment look more 'balanced'

- then added the decoupaged grey and silver rose (Kan Ban and I've had it sitting here ready assembled for ages) using snipped up thin foam pads

- finally - added the sentiment using more snipped up thin foam pads and a Pinkfresh ready foiled sentiment 

Managed to capture some of the lovely silver foil shine on the sentiment although the rose decoupage fine foiling doesn't show too well, sigh. I have future and more ambitious plans for the slatted squares - watch this space!

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges: 

- Allsorts Challenge # 825 HERE - under 'What makes you happy' - flowers in my case!

- Darnell's NBUS Challenge #75 HERE - the beautiful set of slatted square dies was having a first outing 

Dudley Pupdate: It's hot here and Dudley is very restless, moving from one cool place to another. Houses in the UK don't come with air con. so we rely on umpteen fans around the house - which do help somewhat but aren't a patch on a proper cooling system. Shame he doesn't like water as I would love to treat him to a doggie paddling pool! Plus a little stripey Edwardian style knitted bathing suit - complete with shoulder straps - and perhaps a straw boater hat to complete the look! 😀

Remember, the results from Sarn's Challenge #507 are now published in the Snippets Playground HERE.

Do come and play with us in the Playground - plenty of cold drinks and ice lollies are available - it's HOT here right - now as I already said!

Love as always, Dudley and yours truly,