Pixies Crafty Snippets Playground - Week 63

First of all - Happy Mothering Sunday to all you Mums! My extra big snippets card for this week (the image was partly finished and lying on on my desk on WOYWW) should be with my step-mum up in Northumberland by now:

I used:

- Craftwork cards 8" x 8" white scalloped card stock

- image is a Penny Black stamp called 'Butterfly suite'. Stamped using Memento 'London Fog' ink, coloured with Pro Markers. Then die cut using Nesties Labels Eight, and I used Mary H's trick of tickling the edges with ink before removing from the die using TH 'Milled Lavender'. A second layer of butterflies were added, after being tickled with 'Iridescent Violet' Twinkling H2Os, popped up on little strips of sticky pad and lavender pearls were added to the hydrangea and white ones to the butterfly bodies

- snippets of SU's 'Wisteria Wonder' card

- patterned paper from the snippets folder

- a strip of white self-adhesive ribbon from Hobbycraft - already had the little diamantes on

- Couture Creations 'Tied Together' embossing folder, a snippet of white card and a lorra white pearls :)

- sentiment is a pre-loved SU stamp, stamped using Brilliance 'Pearlescent Lavender'. punched with SU's 'Decorative Label' and mounted onto another 'Wisteria Wonder' snippet which was punched with the same punch and split in half, trimmed a bit and stuck behind the sentiment

- the very last snippet of lavender silk ribbon to my name, from The Ribbon Girl,  tied in a bow and then a little dragonfly charm added using an iridescent cord bow

Of course I then had to wrap the card in tissue paper and make a box for it - to protect it from the vagaries of Royal Mail  :(

I'd like to enter this card into the current challenge over at the Penny Black Saturday Challenge for March - the theme is Spring into Spring. Well, I saw a butterfly the other day,  buds on the hydrangea in the garden and of course this card is for Mothering Sunday. So, I hope it qualifies despite not having bunnies, chicks etc on.

BTW, the embossing folder I used is now as rare as hen's teeth. They sell on eBay for stupid money and thinking I'd never be able to buy one at those prices I actually bought some pre-embossed packs of 'Tied Together' card, which I was more than happy with. Then, by an absolute fluke, I did manage to obtain a pre-loved folder - stroke of luck there - and great for larger cards 'cos you can move it about and match the repeating pattern easily. A little tip - if you find a Couture Creations embossing folder that you really love, don't just write it on your wish list for a potential future purchase as they regularly revamp their range and discontinue even bestsellers. Totally crazy to my way of thinking :(

Onto last week's lovely snippets makes, loads of inspiration there:

Sam's been painting this week - using chipboard snippets, and what a result!

Lynne made this fabulous 17th Birthday card, and the flag is all made up from carefully cut and positioned snippets.

Kath brought a wonderful splash of Spring with her with this card - fantastic stamping too.

And Bubbles has been upcycling a mirror, with this amazing result.

I could go on and on of course, but remember that you can see all of last weeks lovely creations by going to Mr Linky here.

And now for Mr Random number thingy to do his work - and the winner of the funky stamp set is.............................

MARY MAC

Well done Mary! 

Some weeks my own snippets card features the coming week's prize - not every week though so don't be fooled :) As often happens though - when I bought the Penny Black 'Butterfly Suite' stamp I used today, an extra one for the Playground hopped into the basket before I checked out:

Sadly, I know some of you do already have this particular stamp. But even if you don't want to be in the draw it would be great if you still come and play - snippets are the main reason for the Playground, not just prizes.

The Playground is open all of this coming week but it will close on Saturday 16th March at noon, UK time and Mr Linky is below as usual. Just enter a snippets make into the Playground this week and I'll do a draw after the Playground closes next Saturday. But, as usual I am asking for a snippets make please, maximum of three entries and please say 'No thank you' in a comment if you wish to still play but not be a winner of this lovely stamp. 

Enjoy today and have a lovely week!

 

Di

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Eggstra special Easter

We don't send many Easter cards but the other day I rustled up four, all the same:

I used:

- 4.75" x  4.75" white card stock with the bottom corners rounded

- stamped image (using Memento 'London Fog') is a Stampendous Calendar Chicks stamp (bought for a song in a bargain box) called 'Chick Eats', coloured with Pro Markers then die cut with a Nesties oval die

- SU 'Pumpkin Pie' card, die cut with a scalloped oval Nestie

- sentiment is from a Crafty Impressions set called 'Eggstra' - stamped using Memento 'London Fog'

- tiny flower punched from a snippet of lemon paper and topped with a little orange pearly gem

- green ribbon from Hobbycraft

Had a real little card production line going here - and am now in the throes of the next production line, my old school newsletters, sigh. 600+ of those little perishers plus two flyers in each envelope to label, stamp, package and post. Still, this is almost the end of my stint at doing them - one more issue to go and then it's someone else's problem turn :))

Have a great weekend!

Di
x

Meece in the florists?

Am making some Birthday cards for Rach, a bloggy friend. Her son Dan raises funds for the RNLI and Rach is selling cards to help out, through her hairdresser:

I used:

- 6" x 6" square white card stock

- image (pre-coloured) by LOTV from their 'Mice are Nice' set. The detail on these little images is so cute when you look closely, love the little mouse wearing a flower head as a hat! I have a couple of LOTV stamps the same size and just can't trust myself to have a go at stamping and colouring all the detail. One day though :)

- green backing card is SU's 'Wild Wasabi' and the pink backing card came from the snippets folder

- main patterned paper is from the lovely selection that Kay recently sent to me, the other is a little snippet of SU card from the snippets folder

- sentiment by Craftwork Cards, backed with a circle of pink card which was punched using a SU circular punch

- lemon ribbon from Hobbycraft and a little matching bow tied round the ribbon strip

Another one for the box Rach :)

Di
x

Does this hat look OK?

The current challenge over at Craftyhazelnuts Christmas Challenge is to use at least one ribbon on your card - never a problem for me as I use ribbons a LOT:

I used:

- creamy white hammered card, scored and folded to A5

- an upcycled Christmas card from last year. It was already glittered so just a case of cutting to size

- red linen effect backing card

- Kanban's 'Merry Christmas - Gold' backing card

- gingham ribbon bought in NM last year

- Josy Rose brown nail heads

- no sentiment 'cos I thought the Kanban backing card says enough

Am also entering this into Craftyhazelnuts Christmas Challenge Extra - I was lucky enough to win February's challenge :) Thank you Hazel!

Di
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WOYWW 196

Incredible - the sun shone here yesterday! This was my desk before I reluctantly tootled off to do some ironing yesterday afternoon, it's so lovely to be able to craft in decent light for a change:

Ha! It looks suspiciously tidy dontcha think? Good job you couldn't see the piles of stuff heaped on our bed - but at least the coffee cup had already been taken into the kitchen.The rationale behind piling stuff onto our bed BTW is that it forces me to clear it all away at the end of the day so we can sleep - and in the process do a little more tidying as well.

This is what I was playing with:

Twinkling H2Os just to tickle a second layer of butterfly wings for the image I'd been colouring with Pro Markers.

OCD to the fore again - before ruining touching the butterflies with H2Os I was trying a little patch to the bottom right on the card I'd stamped on and scribbled some Pro Marker on. The stamp is Penny Black's 'Butterfly Suite' BTW.

The Pro Marker storage rack has been in residence here for ages. Sadly, it was a prototype, and production of a new line never happened due to manufacturing problems. But, of course Crafter's Companion now have their super stackable marker pen storage - which is versatile for all shapes and sizes. But, me still loves my rack and it's just such a shame it never materialised as a viable product for big manufacturing runs.

That's my WOYWW for this week - and we did have a bed to sleep in :)

To see what everyone else is playing with on their desks this week just hop over to Julia's (The Queen of WOYWW) and join in the fun and frolics. See you there!

Quick edit: Julia is totally right, the storage rack is mahoosive large. It lives on a shelf behind the desk and, as it's in effect one piece of cleverly shaped and drilled perspex, just lifts to where I need it. Either in front of me, or to the side - depending on surrounding mess :)

Di
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May your day be filled with flowers

Preferably Spring ones although today's card is more soft shades of Summer:

I used:

- 6" x 6" square white card stock

- pre-coloured image by LOTV from their 'Friends and Flowers set - cut with a Nestie and mounted onto pink backing card, just by pencilling round the outside of the same die and then cutting by hand

- pink backing card for the patterned card and the sentiment

- patterned paper by Wild Rose Studio, from the 'Vintage Rose' paper pack

- sentiment by Elzybells, having its very first outing (bad girl!), stamped using VersaMagic 'Pink Petunia'

- a strip of pale green ribbon and a bow

- a glossy hand made shrink plastic butterfly

- Josy Rose nail heads

This card is now winging its way to a friend - made specially with her in mind :)

Di
x

Pink and black with love

This was a really super fast card to make, once I'd thought of what I wanted to do of course:

I used:

- A6 white card stock

- a snippet of pearly pink card

- a snippet of white card

- all lower right hand corners were rounded using Fiskars 'Corner Edger' scissors. They work 'OK' but I'd love to know if anyone can recommend a corner rounder punch, I have a small one but for this type of card I think it isn't big enough - any ideas ladies?

- little piece of 1.5" wide 'cobwebby' pink ribbon from Hobbycraft. I've used their white and cream colours before, but when browsing for Easter ribbons the other week I found two shades of pink - so it was a 'no brainer' of course! The ribbon is just tied together in the centre with a little piece of thread, which was later hidden by the feather and flower

- a single black feather, from a pack bought ages ago in Hobbycraft - popped on with a little bit of hot glue. Do you KNOW how far little wisps of feathers fly when you rootle through a packet? Ha, to make it worse, I sneezed when the wisps tickled - yup, feathers all over the place!

- the black organza rose is from 'Mei Flower' - again added using a little bit of hot glue on a cocktail stick from the glue gun (that tip from Jules works brilliantly, I thank you nicely Jules!)

- the word 'love' from SU's 'Wonderful Words' set was stamped in Memento 'Tuxedo Black' - before I actually did anything to the card - lest I spoilt it at the final hurdle

- matching pink pearls were then added, three underneath the sentiment and one in the centre of the black organza flower


Di
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Pixies Crafty Snippets Playground - Week 62

Well, it's been another busy week in the Playground - with 40 little visits to 'show and tell', and some new playmates joining us too. Welcome to you - and I hope the girls played nicely!

This is my super fast 'show and tell' for the week - aka my snippets card:

It's also for Seize the Birthday's current challenge, which is to make a masculine card using this sketch:

 

And also for Penny Black and More @Allsorts Challenge - where the them is 'One for the boys' :)
 
I used:

- 6" x 6" square white card stock

- SU's 'Sail Away' stamp, stamped onto a white snippet of card using SU's 'Pacific Point' ink pad. Before stamping, I tickled the background using Tim Holtz 'Tumbled Glass' DI, a duster brush and a template which is just a die cut scalloped circle which you move about when 'tickling' to create the effect of clouds :) Then, I stamped directly onto the background before also stamping again onto a snippet of white paper, cutting the sails out and paper piecing them on top of the image. The result was then die cut with a Nestie circle die - the choice of circles was deliberate (bit like portholes) - the alignment of the curve of the sail with the curve of the circle was one of those happy strokes of luck!

- all backing card is a mix of some snippets and a bigger piece of card, also in SU's 'Pacific Point'

- the papers were in the snippets folder - I'm almost sure they're from a Papermania Capsule Collection pad - the main backing paper reminds me of the sea - barf!

- a snippet of 'tickled' background was left after the circle was die cut so I used a LOTV 'Small Greetings' stamp and 'Pacific Point' ink pad to stamp Happy Birthday before punching it out and layering onto a die cut circle of more 'Pacific Point' card

- baker's twine was tied over the striped band across the card and then an anchor charm was just knotted on - grin, I did use a reef knot

- hmmmm, then I sat gawping at the result just knowing that something wasn't quite right (to my eyes anyhow). There was a big blank patch of blue in the pattern in the top right corner - so out came the small birds Clarity stamp, 'Pacific Point' ink and hey presto, a little flock of birdies to pull it all together and also fill in that annoying blank patch

Job done!

So, this week's little showtime first:

Oh my golly gosh - this is sooooo difficult. Each and every one of you brought such beautiful work to wave in the Playground, as always. So, please don't feel despondent if I don't pick your card or snippets make to show - remember that last week's post, here, has all the little thumbnails and if you can find time to go and visit it would be lovely.

These are the ones I picked this week:

 

Amy paid us her first visit with this fabulous card - I totally LOVE the idea of adhering papers to backing card before embossing, love it Amy!

I've searched back through previous weeks in the Playground to try and find who first brought a similar idea to the Playground (covering the whole background with circles) as I forgot to show you it in the weekly roundup. Please do remind me...........'cos it too was gorgeous.

Amanda brought this great card - so 'Breakfast at Tiffanys' :)

This card, made by Rach, is soooo cute - and very cleverly done using SU's owl punch and snippets, especially the little hat :)

 

Sue H brought all these cards, made to be given with LillyBo quilts - what a star you are Sue!

OK, time for Mr Random number thingy to play - and the winner of the LOTV Stitches stamp set and the door hanger is:

RACH
 

Well done Rach - I only had to run Mr Random once 'cos you certainly said in a comment you like the door hanger, and the Stitches Stamps come with it! Can you please drop me an email with your address - thanks!

Just to show how 'real time' this is - I do literally run away to Mr Random number thingy in mid flow when writing this post - so Rach gets two mentions this week!

And  for this coming week we have a PaperArtsy stamp plate:

The Playground is open all of this coming week but it will close on Saturday 9th March at noon, UK time and Mr Linky is below as usual. Just enter a snippets make into the Playground this week and I'll do a draw after the Playground closes next Saturday. But, as usual I am asking for a snippets make please, maximum of three entries and please say 'No thank you' in a comment if you wish to still play but not be a winner of this funky chook set. I might even enter myself :)

Have a lovely week!

Di

x

Alfonse Mucha style - take 2

This is the second decoupage from a sheet I bought  a couple of weeks ago:

I used:

- 5" x 7" white card stock

- the decoupage sheet that was bought, nameless, from The Range

- matching green and peachy apricot card, from a pad that might well have been almost the very first one I ever bought! It's by K & Co and I love that it's good quality card and printed on both sides so you can co-ordinate well. Why am I typing this bit of useless information - it's surely looooong out of production :(

- I ran the green card through the Cuttlebug, using a Couture Creations folder called 'Breeze'. It embosses and 'debosses' the design and is a lovely folder, although the decoupage hides a lot of its beauty on this card. Watch out for a giveaway in the snippets playground before long.............. 'cos I bought two!

- the embossed green card was then punched along the bottom edge using the straight punch from Martha Stewart's PATP set called 'Cherish ' and wrapped with peachy apricot organza ribbon, with a little snippet tied round

Hope you all have a lovely weekend planned. I'm helping out at a local craft Fayre on Sunday - probably taking entrance money at the door. It's the same Fayre that I once had a table at with a buddy - and we came home well out of pocket. Oh, the shame of it :(

Di
x 

Triple layer - but no stamping

I really love triple layer stamping, having only recently tried it out for the first time and on Wednesday (thanks to Shaz in Oz) I spotted a shortcut over on a new WOYWWer's blog called Ink~a~Doodle~Do. The blogger is called Anne and her idea of using papers rather than stamping got me thinking.

Out came the paper pads, card and trimmer and this was the (eventual) result:

Basically I just cut three layers of patterned paper exactly the same size with exactly the same patter alignment. I kept the bottom layer as it was and then trimmed an inch off the size of the middle piece, and two inches off the size of the top sheet.

Now, here is a health warning - I wasn't really thinking it through properly and my first attempt failed because I trimmed an inch off one side and an inch off the top. This does not work!!!! Ha, some more snippets were created :(

The right way to achieve the smaller size is to trim half an inch off each side all the way round the second layer, then one inch off all round the top layer so that you get pattern matching. The plain card mats are just quarter of an inch larger, ie. an eighth of an inch on each side.

For example:

I cut three identically patterned pieces of paper measuring 6" x 4" first of all and then did the trimming of the middle and top layers, remember - a bit off each side. The middle layer measured 5" x 3" and the top layer measured 4" x 2". The plain purple card measured 6.25" x  4.25", the next layer measured 5.25" x 3.25" and the final plain purple layer measured 4.25" x 2.25".

The white card I then popped all the layers onto measured 6.25" x 4.25" when folded.

It's a really easy way to use up those multiple 6" x 6" sheets of well patterned paper that I bet you all have, and 12" square paper would work too, so long as the pattern repetition matches. It's also fun if you just fancy playing round trimming paper :) Cutting and trimming paper is one of my favourite occupations - I moved on from 'fringe chopping' many years ago!

So, I used:

- 6.25" x 4.25" white card stock - and it just fitted into an A6 envelope

- plain purple card

- brightly patterned papers from Kate Knight's 'Totally Tropical' pad - free with a magazine

- a pre-loved SU sentiment stamp, stamped using Adirondack's 'Purple Twilight' ink and punched out using SU's 'Decorative Label' punch

- a purple flower which was already patterned with script

- Josy Rose pink heart shaped nail head

I made this card for our friend Kim (Abi's Mum) who is taking a real leap of faith in her career. I'm sure she'll be a great success - and that she really is 100% right to follow her heart. Good luck Kim!

And Happy St. David's Day to all my Welsh friends - you know who you are :))

Di
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One word Christmas card

The current challenge over at Craftyhazelnuts Christmas Challenge is to use just one word on your card - it can be repeated if you wish:

I used:

- 6" x 6" square white card stock

- LOTV pre-coloured image

- patterned papers from a lovely selection that arrived from Kay last week - thank you again Kay!

- plain red card - SU's 'Real Red' to back the patterned papers, die cut a scalloped square to pop behind the main image and also to die cut a couple of Spellbinders corners

- JOY sentiment by Personal Impressions, from their 'Many Greetings' set, designed by Kirsty Wiseman. Stamped using SU's 'Real Red' and then punched using SU's 'Petite Curly Label' punch. This punch does have matching stamps, which are lovely, but it's also really useful for any little sentiment stamp you might have

- AND, I found my bag of burlap and played with the 'Tattered Poinsettia' die by Tim Holtz, then added little yellow pearlescent gems in the centre. I think Len thought I'd lost the plot when I was doing the die cutting, but it worked. Next to try is Timmy's 'Tattered Florals' die with some lovely soft pink burlap - mind you, it does leave a load of 'sheddings' to brush carefully off those Sizzix dies, and everywhere else it seems :(

- a final 'tickle' with 'Icicle' Stickles round the edge and some of the snow on the image

Oh, and I'm also entering this into Craftyhazelnuts Christmas Extra Challenge :) 

To those of you who commented yesterday about me missing WOYWW due to having other fish to fry - let's say the fish did get well and truly fried in some very hot fat, in my favour :))

Di
x

Less is More - paper piercing and no WOYWW

Well, that was a stroke of luck - after reading on Elizabeth's blog about her new ruler with paper piercing holes in, I'd bought one (as much for the metal edge just in CASE I ever pluck up the courage to use a craft knife here). And then, up popped this week's Less is More challenge of 'paper piercing':

I used:

- DL white card stock

- a snippet of lavender card stock, pierced round the edge

- a snippet of white card, embossed using the 'Plants' folder by Quickutz - if you press your nose against the screen the embossing might show up, the light here is dreadful for taking photos at the moment

- some self-adhesive flowers and butterflies. They're epoxy or something similar and look very realistic IRL - no idea where I bought them, and there's no make on the packet

- sentiment from a clear set by Hero Arts called 'Messages' (original huh?) - stamped using Brilliance 'Pearlescent Purple'

I'm skipping WOYWW this week - have other fish to fry today :(

Di
x

Seize the Birthday fun

Oooooh, I am loving the 'Seize the Birthday' challenge. This is the 'feminine' card I made for this week's sketch:

And here's the sketch:

I used:

- 6" x 6" square white card stock

- image from the Hobby House set called 'Spring Bringer', die cut and then mounted onto apricot Core'dinations card  before slicing one edge off to follow the sketch

- backing papers by Craftwork Cards from their 'Vintage Rose' set - I must confess to gasping aloud with delight when I found such a perfect match for the image :)

- more apricot Core'dinations card

- sentiment by LOTV, stamped using SU's 'Certainly Celery', die cut and layered onto a bigger circle of apricot card

Of course, next week's challenge at Seize the Birthday uses the same sketch and has to be a masculine card. Better put my thinking cap on now as cards for 'chaps' are always tricky for me :(

Di
x

Not quite white on white for Rudolph Day

......  but I did set out to try, and then bottled out in favour of using a new die and gentle colours (thank you for the lovely die Scrappymo) - I eventually tracked down the matching stamp as well after searching a few continents :)

The die and matching stamp could be being phased out by Memory Box - why, oh why do companies do this when something works so well? I totally love this set and will be using it loads.

I used:

- A6 white card stock

- pale lavender Core'dinations backing card

- white card, embossed using SU's Textured Impressions 'Holiday Frame' folder

- stamped sentiment by Funstamps, called 'Small Merry Christmas' - I use this stamp a lot, it owes me nothing!

- Memory Box 'Flurry Wreath' stamp and matching die - I stamped using Tsukineko Brilliance 'Pearlescent Lavender'

- ready made little lavender satin ribbon bow with a silver bell - found a whole pack lurking in a box when I was scrabbling for potential ribbon to use

I confess, it took a few goes to emboss the card as it was creasing at either side (which is in fact the top and the bottom of the A6 folder - and sigh, I know now that it does have a distinctive top and bottom so don't peek too closely). I learned not to take the folder right through the Cuttlebug beyond the actual embossing point and it worked.....after three failed attempts! I get a Blue Peter badge for sheer this b*gger ain't gonna beat me determination.


Ooooh, and another thing. I used the glue gun to stick the bow onto the wreath and followed the advice given by Jules to just pick a little bit of hot glue from the end of the gun with a cocktail stick. Brilliant - it worked a treat. Thank you Jules -  great tip, and no more burned pinkies here.

So, this card is for Rudolph Day over at Sarn's - and remember you only have until Thursday to submit your entries as February is a very short month.

Oooh, Hazel reminded me that I can also link this into Craftyhazelnuts Christmas Challenge Extra as well.

And thank you again Maureen!

Di
x

Pixies Crafty Snippets Playground - Week 61

And another busy week in the Snippets Playground - not least as I caught a few scallywags sipping 'discretely' at some wine behind the bike shed ......... I was alerted by the giggling and loud hiccups!

This is my snippets card for today:

I used:

- 6" x 6" square white card stock

- lilac backing paper by Wild Rose Studios from the 'Gorgeous Ginghams' paper pack

- snippets of smaller patterned gingham paper, which I think would have originally been from the same pack

- a stamp called 'Flower Patch' made by Inca, paper pieced with more gingham snippets. The stamp is pre-loved and I bought it from Helena last week

- a new stamp set by LOTV, a clear one called 'Little Stitches' - brilliant if you don't want to sew or don't want to drag a sewing machine out. It comes with eight different stitches which are on clear cling strips, each just under 2.5" wide. Being clear it's easy to line up lengths of stitches and at the corners you just ink a few stitches and make sure you wipe off any excess before stamping. This card was made in a hurry and with more care and time I think this little set will become one of my favourites. Stamped using a Brilliance ink pad in 'Pearlescent Beige'

- Elzybells sentiment

- SU 'Decorative Label' punch

- snippet of lilac ribbon

Made Len laugh during the week - he kept sticking his head round the craft room door asking me questions and, as always, had an uncanny knack of picking the very moments when I was doing something critical. In the end I hung this on the door:

He called me a cheeky little minx :)

Right, onto this week's 'show picks'. Hmm, totally spoilt for choice as usual - everyone made such gorgeous cards and other things, so this is just a little selection:

Darnell made this beautiful card for 'Seize the Birthday' last week - for a chap. Love it!

Cathy made this beautiful white on white card - absolutely beautiful.

And last, but by no means least - how about this? Bonnie made this really clever Spiderman card for Seize the Birthday (of course it was a winner too) - and her blog post has the link to where she got the idea for using SU punches to construct Spiderman. Stunning huh?

Onto the winner of last week's draw now - which is the set of Echo Park 'Hello Summer' papers. I know a few of you didn't want to add to papers that you're already trying to cut down on - and this week it took me three goes to find one of you who was game to take on more paper to play with (and yes, Mary H, your name did pop out so you can do that happy dance even though you'd said no thanks!). The winner was:

SANDRA H

Can you please drop me an email with your address Sandra and they will be on their way to you this week. It's especially nice as Sandra just celebrated her 40th Wedding Anniversary too.

This coming week's give away has already been in use on my snippets card today, well my own stamp set was used, there's a new one sealed one here up for grabs. LOTV sure do go minimal on their packaging!

AND, in addition I'm including a door hanger the same as mine, because the stamp set is just small. They do come with lots of different activities on but I chose 'Creating' again so it covers snippeting (is that a real word?), scrap booking, card making, journalling, sewing, crochet, knitting, baking in the kitchen, cake icing - and a whole host of other things :)

If you want to join in the Playground fun and frolics and be in with a chance of winning these goodies (they are one single prize, you will get both items)  - the Playground is open all of this coming week but it will close on Saturday 2nd March at noon, UK time and Mr Linky is below as usual. Just enter a snippets make into the Playground this week and I'll do a draw after the Playground closes next Saturday. But, as usual I am asking for a snippets make please, maximum of three entries and please say 'No thank you' in a comment if you DON'T want to be entered.

Our Bernie has put an update on her blog girls - here. She's obviously finding the treatment tiring and there have been ups and downs so your prayers and positive thoughts are still much needed. But there's good news that the treatment is also having a positive effect on those 'nasties'. We're still flying underneath you here Bernie - holding you up and being the wind beneath your wings. xxx

Have a lovely week - we have snow flurries in the Playground as I'm typing this on Saturday - wonderful :(

Oh, and remember it's Rudolph Day from tomorrow until the end of February over at Sarn's.  February only has 28 days this year so you'd best get cracking now!!

Di
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A Birthday card for Anonymous

A blogging friend recently had a birthday, I found out almost by accident and promised to keep it under wraps. Couldn't let it go by without sending a card though :)

I used:

- A6 white card stock

- Penny Black Stickeroo from the 'Flower  Field' set

- SU 'Rose Red' card stock, embossed using Crafts Too's 'Scrollwork Frame' embossing folder

- sentiment inside the card was already printed and die cut by Craftwork Cards

- and I made the envelope using SU's patterned card in 'Rose Red' and my Crafter's Companion Enveloper Pro board

You know who you are but my lips are sealed - hope you had a lovely day!!! xxxx

Di
x

Another Get Well card

This is the second Get Well card I was asked to make recently. It's for a lovely friend called Pat, she's more of a flowers person than Marge - who I made the Froggy card for a week or more ago:

As I had the Stickeroos out, plus the big flat box of SU 12" x 12" card stock - it made sense to rootle round and see what went with what:

I used:

- 5" x 7" white card stock

- Penny Black Stickeroo from the 'Sun-kissed' sheet

- SU's 'Pumpkin Pie' card stock

- white card, embossed using SU's 'Square Lattice' Textured Impressions folder and swiped over with a SU 'Pumpkin Pie' ink spot. This is a fabulous folder, and looks great just left white but I wanted to play :)

- orange gingham backing paper from Wild Rose Studio's 'Gorgeous Ginghams' paper pack

- sentiment from SU's 'Sincere Salutations' set, stamped with SU's 'Pumpkin Pie'. The sentiment was then punched using SU's 'Decorative Label' punch. I then punched a snippet of 'Pumpkin Pie' with the same punch, cut it in half vertically, trimmed a little bit from the centre portions and layered the sentiment on top so a little bit pokes out from either end. I think I got this idea of extending punched shapes from Elizabeth?

- white and orange bakers twine and a little flower shaped orange button from the button box

Friday again - I bet quite a few sighs of 'TGIF' are doing the rounds :)

Di
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Let it snow again

....that's the current challenge over at Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge.

A quick rummage through my box of Christmas cards turned up these little cuties, already die cut and carefully peeled off the card they arrived on, ready to be upcycled.

I used:

- 5" x 7" white card stock

- red backing card - ack, I cut into a 12" x 12" sheet!!

- Kanban 'Twinkle Snow' card for the background

- the little bears and snowman 'topper', used sticky pads for dimension

- icicles  and snowflake from my little box of ready made die cut and glittered embellishments. The icicles were cut using Marianne Creatables LR036 die, the snowflake is also Marianne Creatables - LR0123. Both were die cut from white card with double sided adhesive film stuck on, then dunked into iridescent glitter

- strips of self-adhesive ribbon from a Fizzy Moon pack, with similar bears on :)

- a couple of diamante snowflakes

Am also entering this into Craftyhazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra :)

I hate to say it with more than 10 months to go, I need to step up production if next Christmas isn't going to be a mad rush.

Di
x

WOYWW 194 - more OCD stuff

Yay, sunshine here yesterday - and this was my desk just before I ran away and left it, and I'd even taken the coffee mug back into the kitchen:

Back to organising stamps - a job I can only do so much of in one go before the urge to scream gets a grip.

My system is 'simples', I know, a bit like me really. No fancy spreadsheets or regimented and categorised boxes of stamps here. It all hinges around a little index box of cards - I described just how it works a whole year ago on WOYWW, here, and am still nibbling away. The good news is that the (third) postcard album below is the last of the unmounted rubber stamps, they just happen to be Christmas ones but with the system I use it doesn't matter.

The wooden ones are already done, with stamps stored in 'best fit' Really Useful Boxes - no more than two layers per A4 sized box. Just all the clear ones to tackle, and then the little index box of stamped images can be sorted into categories. 

We each have our own way of doing things I know - this system works for me, and I ain't changing horses mid-stream :)

Now, off you go - over to Julia's to see what others have been up to. I bet a lot of folk are delirious about the couple of sunny days we've had here in the UK. It's been lovely.

Happy WOYWW!

Di
x 

Seize the Birthday - a card for a male this week

This week's challenge over at Seize the Birthday follows the same sketch as last week, which was for a female's card - this is my take on the sketch:

And this is the sketch:

 

I used:

- A6 cream card stock

- SU's 'Bashful Blue' card

- paper from the Bo Bunny 'Barefoot and Bliss' collection

- decoupaged image and sentiment - another one from The Range. No manufacturer's name but the set is called 'Male Icons' - brilliant value too

Crumbs, blogger is playing up as I'm writing/scheduling this on Sunday - jumping round all over the place and making my eyes whizz round and round like Ferris Wheels :( I feel quite car sick, excuse me - must dash :( 

Di
x

Less is More - Up In The Air

I think choices for this week's Less is More challenge which is 'Up In The Air' are probably quite limited. Just couldn't think 'outside the box' so I plumped for a hot air balloon:

I used:

- 4.75" x 4.75" square cream card stock

- a strip of the same card stock, mounted onto a snippet of brown card

- the background was just tickled a bit with Versafine 'Vintage Sepia' ink using my home made cloud template and Clarity Stamps 'small birds in flight' were stamped, also using 'Vintage Sepia'

- the balloon is from one of my favourite stamps bought in Santa Fe last year - it's called 'Balloons Framed' by Stampamania, Stamped in 'Vintage Sepia onto more cream card stock, cut out and popped onto the card using sticky pads

- the Elzybells sentiment was also stamped using 'Vintage Sepia' 

Di
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