Sunday 2 August 2015

Pixie's Snippets Playground - Week 188

Oh. My. Goodness!! What a busy week in the Playground last week, mostly due to the Less is More GD spot. We had LOADS of new playmates plus lots of you 'regular scallywags' played along with LIM and the Playground. I was almost snowed under at times - so you need to get a cup of your favourite beverage (mine's a peppermint tea please), make yourself comfy and if you're brave enough - read on!

First of all, before I show you this week's snippets make, I have to explain a little experiment as one of our Playmates has kindly offered to help out with the Playground this coming week - so can you please say a big 'Hello' to Eve:
My Photo
Hello playmates!
My name is Eve and I live in beautiful Devon UK. I am married and have two grown up sons. Over the years I have tried lots of crafts including: macramé, embroidery, knitting (my tension was always too tight!), patchwork and saltdough (loved that and will take it up again one day!). Then a couple of years ago I started making cards – this is where the fun began! I started a blog called ‘The Purple Paper Puncher’ in an attempt to use all of my crafty stash rather than buy things and hide them in a cupboard (out of the site of my dear hubby sshh!!) It turns out that the complete opposite happened and my crafty stash grew at an alarming rate – oops! 

In the early part of last year I signed on as a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator and started another blog called ‘Eve Marie Makes’ (Marie is my middle name) and the rest they say is history. But the one thing that I have found is that crafting is my therapy – if only it was prescribed on the NHS!!

Di is having a well-earned break this week as she works so hard behind the scenes so I am honoured to be her Prefect!

I'm sure lots of you already 'know' Eve through her blogs, but do please hop over and say Hello. The help from Eve was totally her idea as she sensed I maybe would welcome a helping hand. Ha! I almost bit that offered hand right off!

We're trying a change, for just this one week for now, and this is what will be different. Firstly, Eve will do the commenting, although I'm such a sticky beak I'll most likely still hop around entries to take a peek :) Next, Eve is going to pick out the week's 'Picks' as well as keeping a note of new Playmates.

Not only that, Eve has very kindly made this week's snippets card for here as well as donating the prize!

My role will be to lounge in a corner of the Playground eating a box of chocolates respond to any cries for help with linking etc. so I'll still check out your comments, keep a note (as usual) of who would like to be in with a chance of winning the weekly  prize - and also do the weekly write-up as well as the prize draw next Saturday as usual. I'm hoping it will be much easier though during the week with Eve providing me with the picks and new Playmates as well as looking after the actual commenting over on your blogs. It's an experiment - and I do hope you'll be kind to Eve, I've been working on a Prefect's badge for her!!

And now here's this week's lovely snippets card, made by Eve - so pretty:
Eve posted the actual card to me, which is why I popped my own watermark on - just to be sure to protect the image. For information on how Eve actually made the card, do hop over to her blog(s) - the links are in her little 'bio' above. Even the inside of the card is beautifully stamped and I do know that the Stampin' Up stamp set is called 'Painted Petals' of course :)

OK, let look at this past week's picks now - and there were so many beautiful entries that I really, really, really struggled to whittle the list down to manageable proportions. I truly think this is about the very best week for fabulous entries - you all never cease to amaze me!

So, yesterday I was sitting staring forlornly at the looooong list of likely picks, wondering how to possibly whittle them down and still be as fair as possible, given the length of this post. So, I decided to pick entries which had used a (snippets based) technique or idea which some of you might want to try out:
Pat brought us this card to show - and I adore the idea of cutting the 'almost circle' in the front piece and then stamping on the bottom layer. Pat always explains how she makes her cards so do hop over to find out how this was done. I did comment that if I'd tried it there would have had to be pencil guidelines for fear of me stamping in the far corner!

I know that I frequently pick cards made by Liz (and a few other folk), and it's usually because they have a brilliant idea that's too good not to share. This card above is a case in point, lots of pretty snippets, punched using what I think is a 1" Woodware House punch (busy trying to finalise buying buy one of those plus one as a future prize once I finish this post - but do beware ladies if you can't wait for the chance and go looking. Amazon UK are selling them at more than double the price I've found elsewhere - on The Stamp Hut HERE - so do your homework first!). Then the houses were beautifully popped along a wavy line just like a meandering street - and finished off with a perfectly placed sentiment. Love it!!


I chose Andrea's card because it's absolutely beautiful of course, but also because of her neat little trick of using the embossing folder at an angle. Something I've never thought to do but it's gonna make me look at my embossing folders in a whole new light. It makes for a really elegant card IMHO.

I recently showed a card, made by Carol, which used snippets to create a mosaic effect. And now, Carol's taken it a fantastic step further - I did squeal when I saw this idea. The mosaic was built up on a sticky background and then, once the pieces were in place, Carol sprinkled gold embossing powder over and heated it to create the 'infill/grouting' - how clever is that for an idea then? What a way to use snippets!

And this is my last pick of the week, it's almost 5pm on Saturday afternoon and I've been working on this post for hours now - despite doing the skeleton of it ahead of time.

BUT, I really wanted you to see this brilliant card above, which I am sooooo going to CASE! Our Playmate (and Prefect for this coming week) Eve made it and there are some great ideas/techniques. You should hop over to Eve's for a full explanation but it involved inking up an embossing folder for the brick background and then embossing some card for the flower trough (using a wood/bark embossing folder) and I'm sure I see the SU 'Word Window' punch being at each end piece of the trough. Clever stuff!

Plus, we had a flurry an avalanche of new Playmates, as I mentioned earlier in this post:
Jane, who plays here regularly, and her grand daughter Lara had been making Minions - aren't they cute?! I see a little crafter in the making there Lara :)

I encouraged Carol G to come and play after seeing her brilliant snippets card over at Less is More. The snippets are leftovers from a 'fallout' after doing some die cutting! Great idea too.

I also encouraged Lynne in NI to come and play - she only went and made 30 of these absolutely darling baby announcement cards - having 'chosen a simple design easy to replicate'!

Theresa (Pace) hopped in to show us a few really lovely cards with balloons on - love how the balloons match the paper!

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Lilian, who I worked out is a pal of Kathy K's, nipped in for a quick go on the slide and to show us this gorgeous snippets card - really pretty and I love the idea of the bakers twine threaded through the ribbon.

Gail also hopped over from Less is More - I love this card and the way the dramatic balloon(cut from a snippet of Brushos card) really pops against the simple background.

Linda (Crafty Distraction) also hopped over from Less is More with this gorgeous card - beautiful design! Really elegant too.

Maxine was another new Playmate this week,  with a lovely card and such a beautiful sentiment - and there's a second card to see if you hop over to say Hello.

Next was Helen, with a really lovely selection of Christmas cards. Great use of snippets and I was interested to learn that Helen used to join in with the snippets fun when Jules was running it- over three and a half years ago! I can see that Helen could have some snippet busting to do :)

Pauline (Cotnob) whizzed in with a smashing 'I've Moved' card and a great technique. Look at the die cut house that Pauline used - done by sticking snippet strips onto copy paper and then die cutting - how neat is that for an idea?

redbirdhellosig
And finally, this card was made by Taunya - such a lovely die, and see the little birdie in the tree. So cute!

So those are our new Playmates - all 11 of them and it's getting crowded in the Playground, maybe we need to dig a bigger duck pond as well as installing a few more swings :)

Now the draw for the winner of last week's prize of the clouds stencil, hot air balloon die and the Stick-It sheets - and the winner is:
It's absolutely ages since Lynn last won a prize, well over two years in fact. I do have an address for you Lynn but can you either drop me an email or add a comment below to confirm that you haven't moved house since then (April 2013 if my notebook is correct). Thanks!

And I bet you girlies have already guessed what this week's prize is:
Kindly donated by Eve it's a Stampin' Up set called 'Painted Petals', just like she used for her snippets make today. I love these 'layering' stamps - all the more so as they are clear photopolymer and really easy to use. Plus, I'll also send you today's snippets card, made by Eve!

The Snippets Challenge will run for one week and the Playground gates will close at 11am UK time on Saturday 8th August. The gates will open again at midnight UK time on the same day.

Maximum of three entries and please say in a comment if you wish to play and be a possible winner of the prize. Do remember that you should also link back to the Playground in your blog post to be eligible for the draw.
Mr Linky is below - please let me know if you have any problems linking, it's easy for me to sort out so don't struggle on alone :)

Remember that Eve is helping me out this week and will be doing the commenting and also choosing the weekly picks - of course I'll be keeping a little eye open in case I'm needed too :)

Finally, I'm sure a good few of you will have seen this post over at Lynn's Blog (Creative Crafts by Lynn). Basically, Lynn's husband had a stroke a week ago and her post said that she would be back whenever she can - to date no comments have been released by Lynn for publication so it seems that this isn't going to be a quick return by her. I know you'll all join me in sending love, positive thoughts and prayers - for Lynn's husband Jim and also for our playmate at this worrying time.

Di and of course, Parsnip! And, of course, not forgetting Eve!!!!!
x

51 comments:

  1. Enjoy your break, dear Di, & what a sweetie Eve is to step in & help! Beautiful card--love layered stamping, so I'll keep my name in the pot if I get a card made. Wonderful choice of picks, too!

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  2. Wow!! What an amazing group of talented new players!! Welcome one and all. Fabulous top picks, as always. How nice of Eve to offer to help out. Looking fwd to visiting her blog, too.

    Love that beautiful stamp set that was showcased so well in the card to you from Eve. Yes, please toss my name into the hat!!
    <3 J

    jwoolbright at gmail dot com
    HerPeacefulGarden.blogspot.com

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  3. I'm so glad that Eve is here to give you a break, last week must have been a HUGE job for you with LIM as well as the Playground to keep in order. Lara's going to be so excited when I show her that she's been mentioned on this post! Gorgeous stamp set and even gorgeousser card, so I'd love to go into the hat please. I won't be playing next week and possibly not the week after, but I'll try to send a postcard if I get chance!
    Jane

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  4. Excellent choices Di and i'm glad you have help. Eve you look like a very lovely lady and very talented, your card is so beautiful. Love the delicate colours.
    I would like to play along again this week and be in the running for the prize. Except for my card base all the rest are snippets, not bad huh ? LOL
    Take care, hugs, Veerle x

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  5. You're not wrong, Di, Lilian IS one of my pals!!! Lovely makes and selection this morning. Fab prize too

    Kathyk

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  6. What a great idea having a helping hand Di - hope it works out well for you and you don't get too fat resting in the corner eating those chocies! Great choices to show again this week and love Eve's card. Annie xxx

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  7. Congratulations Lynn on winning. Super Picks again Di. I can only imagine how busy last week was for you. So glad that you have Prefect Eve to help you this week. Eve your card is very pretty and I would love to be in with a chance of winning those lovely stamps.

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  8. fabulous examples of snippets from last week! and glad you have Eve to help out now that things are getting really busy with snippets! I've added my bottle tag and fingers crossed for the prize.
    hugs, annie x

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  9. Thank you so much for highlighting my card and hello to all the new playmates... so much fabulous new inspiration. Super to see you have Eve to help you out - her card is fabulous as is the wonderful prize she is giving and yes please to going in the draw this week. Enjoy your rest (and choccies) xx

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  10. Firstly, thank you so much for the shout out and how great of Eve to give you a bit of a break this week Di, and for donating the prize too. Congratulations also to Lynn and all the wonderful entries - lots of interesting ideas there. x

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  11. Hallo Eve, we are so glad you are here!! Happy break Di, enjoy your mini-vacation!
    Such a fabulous compilation of snippets cards!
    Congrats to the winner!

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  12. Great picks this week, and a big congrats to Lynn. Happy to meet all of the new playmates. Thanks for helping out at the playground, as I am sure Di really needed the break. Yes please for the entry, and I hope to see you all soon.

    P.S. Di, my package came. Smoochies!

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  13. Wonderful card picks as always! Welcome to Eve! Please include me in the draw this week. Enjoy your week off and ta ta for now, Kathy

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  14. Hello Di, and welcome to Eve. My goodness, what a lovely prize! Thank you so much. My address is the same Di. I am very impressed with your organization skills.
    I will be back later in the week with a card - I am working on it already. I love your card Eve - such beautiful soft colours, and I do like the watercolour effect. Lynn x

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  15. Oh I'm so glad that Eve is going to help you out some Di!! A big Welcome to Eve!! I love Eve's card, so pretty and I have this stamp set so I must get it out and play with it some. Well I need to get a lot out and have a play day sometime soon I hope. I love all the beautiful pics, so many neat techniques to learn from so they will have to go on my list of things to try. I love all the new playmates as well, how awesome so many played along! Love that! My prayers have been going up for Lynn's hubby since I've learned of his stroke, I know the worry Lynn is facing and the exhaustion as well so my prayer will certainly continue. Big hugs to you Di, Brenda

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  16. Hi Eve. How very generous & kind you are to help out our Miss. She deserves a little break, and I'm so happy to meet you again. I've seen your pretty cards that you've shared here before. Love the ones you've brought today also, and the lovely prize. You've got your work cut out to pick highlights from all the gorgeous cards already submitted, but I'm liking that I see some new faces (and some that I think I 'know".). After seeing all the beauties already linked, I hesitated about my snippety Crazy Bird, but then I miss all the Playground Elves and Parsnip, so here I am! Back later for a closer look at some stunners. TFS & Happy Sunday.

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  17. Forgot to say thank you for the words about Prayer for Lynn & Jim. Blogland is a very caring world, and I know Lynn will appreciate the support. Hugs.

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  18. Popping by with a snippets card. Sorry about the poor quality of the photo but have a house full of company and no time to retake it! lol

    I think this new idea you are trying out is a grand one. Takes a little pressure and time, off of you and helps share the load. Eve's cards are lovely and her prize is wonderful! How nice of her to think of us!

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  19. Great post Di and a huge welcome to Eve, great picks once again and a brilliant card from Eve.
    Di, I hope you have warned her about Sarn, always at the back of the bike shed.

    Kath x

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  20. Thanks for the great welcome to the playground, and to Eve as well.

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  21. Enjoy your break Di and well done to Eve for being Prefect this week, I promise not to play her up too much!

    Love your large tag card Eve - very pretty. Great prize too, but I'm playing just for fun thank you.

    Mammoth post this week - so I'm waving HELLO to all the new girls and congratulating those that were showcased.

    Hugs, Sarn xxx

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  22. Fabulous cards and welcome to Eve! I'll be popping into the playground later in the week.
    Kath x

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  23. Gorgeous cards, as ever! Yes please to lovely SU stamps and a big welcome to Eve. Have a good rest, Di! Such a lot of hard work goes into a blog like this - you must feel welded to your laptop!! Xx

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  24. Welcome to your new personal assistant! My that does sound posh!
    Yes pleas to the prize

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  25. Such a lovely long post this week, Di. I'm delighted to see that you have a willing assistant in Eve so you can sit back and relax a bit more :) Love the sample card so do please include me for the prize draw - that's a lovely stamp set. The showcase is, as ever, fabulous ... I love them all ... and it's so nice to see so many new snippeteers joining in the fun. I'm now inspired to use up a few more snippets this week. Sorry to hear about Lynn's husband. I hope he makes and speedy recovery from his stroke. Hugs, Elizabeth xx

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  26. Welcome aboard Eve! Best wishes and thanks for giving Di a much-deserved break from the playground duties! Your card is so softly colored and pretty!
    Thanks for spotlighting my card this week with all of the other fabulous notables! Honestly, I get so many fresh ideas from all of the different ways people use their snippets here in the playground, so thanks everyone!
    I'm keeping Lynn in my thoughts and prayers too as her husband recovers from his stroke. Things like this are never easy for anyone.
    I'm playing just for fun this week and congrats to Lynn for her win this week too!

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  27. Nice to find you and join in your challenge. Love all the cards you've featured. Zx

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  28. Hi Eve, before I forget can I please be included in the prize draw this week for those lovely stamps you have donated. x

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  29. Hi Di, you sure can use some help with your ever expanding playground! Eve made a lovely snippets card - so pretty with those soft colors! I am playing just for fun - I already have so many stamps! Now I'll have to visit her!

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  30. How lovely is Eve for helping you out?! She's a sweetheart and I'm so happy for both of you, as I know she'll have fun and you need a rest! Your picks were my picks, too, as I made my way around, Di! And I love that we have so many new girls at the Playground, although it is more work for you.

    Thank you for mentioning Lynn so more prayers and positive energy can be sent. I received her email, but I wasn't sure if she would want it posted. If you hear of any updates, will you please let me know and I'll do the same. Hugs, Darnell

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  31. Hi Di

    So pleased you have a helping hand in the playground - I am sure Eve will have lots of fun and you will be able to hopefully sit back and relax a little. You work so hard running your fabulous challenge.

    Great to see so many new playmates too!!

    I am just playing for fun .. .. and to use up my ever growing stock of snippets!!

    Love Jules xx

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  32. Eve's card is so pretty, I love the Painted Petals stamp set so I'll definitely be in the draw for that : )

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  33. Welcome Ms. Eve...lovely snippets card!! Well, Miss Di a well deserved break...hmmm wonder if yo are still in the hammock!! So kind of Ms. Eve to take us all on...lol...a lot of work I am sure!

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  34. Welcome Eve!! How wonderful to step up and give Di a little break to take a breath!! I had to laugh when I read the tale of Eve starting a blog with the idea of using up her crafty stash and then having the opposite happen...it grew! I think that all of us can relate to that. Yes please to the beautiful Stampin Up stamp set prize and thanks for the shared cards!

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  35. Hello Eve, and Di. There are lots of lovely cards in this post. I love the subtle colours of Pat´s flower head on a matching background, and all those pretty houses. I shall definitely have a go at the mosaic paper too. Your tag card is very pretty Eve. I do like the SU stamps and papers, but they are not easy for me to buy here in Spain, so I would love to be in with a chance to win some please! Kate x

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  36. Hello Eve, how good of you to step in with a helping hand for Di. Your tag card is very pretty, I like the pink and grey colour combo.
    Fabulous cards showcased this week and great to see a lot of newbies coming to play.
    Yes please to the prize if i'm lucky.
    Jean x

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  37. Welcome Eve and happy holiday to Di!
    Please include me in the draw this week.
    Ileanaxx

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  38. Have a good break Di. Love the card Eve made, those soft tones are so pretty. I'm playing this week so please include me.
    Linby x

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  39. Congrats to all the picks and winner: there is so much inspiration here, you are one of my favourite challenges Miss Pixie, as well as being a lovely friend.
    Will be playing, hopefully, more this week so yes please for the prize Miss Pixie and Miss Marie! Miss Pixie if you ever need some help in future give me a shout, you know I have issues with my back but provided I can sit upright always happy to lend a hand if you need it huni.
    Marie your card is beautiful, right up my street, with all that lovely stamping and the awesome stamp set. I will check out Marie's blogs next, and try to get back to have a good look around this week as I've missed visiting all the wonderful blogs. Hope everyone has an great week and we get some warmth back soon Karen x

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  40. Yes, please, I would enter in this challenge :) I love Su! stamps, but in Italy they aren't. Cross my fingers! :D

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  41. I want to enter this challenge - but I am having trouble with Mr. Linky!! Is there any way you can help me with this? Thanks for a wonderful challenge blog!!!

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  42. Hi Eve! You are a wonderful crafty friend to give Di a hand and your card is just beautiful. I say yes please to a chance to win this week's prize!

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  43. Enjoy your break, Di! And thanks Eve, for stepping in! I am a "yes, please", I would love that stamp!

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  44. Hope you are enjoying taking a little breather Di :) xx
    Well done Eve for coming to the rescue!
    Hugs,Nessa xxx

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  45. Gorgeous creations (yours and all those top picks)!
    Prize looks something that I'd fancy, so yes please :)

    Hugs,
    Eemeli

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  46. Thanks for your lovely comments - reminded me, that indeed I have snippets on my card - so here you have it - at least you don't have to comment again ;)

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  47. Thanks for welcoming me back into the playground Di. You are right I do have some serious 'snippet busting' to do...so I'm back with another snippet card. Count me in for the prize draw - that stamp set looks fab!
    Helen x

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  48. I hope you're enjoying your well-deserved rest this week, Di. Well done to Eve for holding the fort - and what a lovely card!

    Thank you for choosing my card as one of your picks, there were so many gorgeous cards to choose from.

    I thought I wouldn't have time to get to the playground before the gates close this week as we've been away, but I managed to get card made in time! Phew! I'm a Yes Please for the draw this week. xx

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  49. Hey, just popped in to enter a card into this week snippets challenge. "Yes" I would love to be in the draw to win this fabulous stamp set. please. thank you.

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  50. Hope you are enjoying your break, Di. Thank you for your warm welcome Eve :) I am a 'yes please' for the draw this week.

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  51. Thanks, for the shout out, Di! It's a brilliant blog...glad I saw you on the LIM challenge! Still learning the ropes with your challenges....hope to be back soon!

    Thanks
    Linda (CraftyDistraction)

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This is a public blog. Those leaving a comment on any post on this blog or entering a piece of artwork into a linky do so in the knowledge that their name and blog link are visible to all who visit this blog and in so doing have published their own personal details and consented to my use of that personal information should they be selected as a winner or to accredit work.