Challenge #444 - Anything BUT Christmas

 MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!

Here we go, on Christmas Day, in between all the unwrapping, cooking and everything else - it's time for our annual Snippets Playground Christmas/New Year challenge. This time, please use snippets as always AND use the theme 'Anything BUT Christmas'. 

Here's my snippets make:

This birthday card was made for a chap fortunate to be married to a very dear friend - and was posted super-late, thanks to Royal Mail! The card is an absolute CASE of a card made by Inkami - I adored the design so much from the word 'go'.

All the details, with Dudley's latest news and my pile of snippets I had out initially to tackle the above, as well as how I used them, are over on Pixies - HERE.

The prize for this fortnight is actually something different to the Grand Christmas/New Year Prize Draws of the past, which were such a huge amount of work, during and after. So this year, ONE lucky Playmate will win a gift voucher worth £50 (or overseas equivalent). There is no cash alternative.

The winner will need to choose their favourite craft store, which must offer gift vouchers, and I will arrange for them to receive a voucher - these days it's usually all done by email. 

In most cases, an order worth £50 qualifies for free postage, but in any case, any postage/mailing charges due for items ordered using the prize voucher must be paid for by the winner. 

Sarn and I thought long and hard about this idea and are both agreed that it's much easier on us over the festivities and beyond, as well as easier on you in that you don't need to keep checking daily prizes. So let's give it a try and see how we go!

Please do come and play, one entry only, for a lovely chance to win a pretty generous prize! Remember, neither Sarn nor I are affiliated to any craft shops or suppliers, and although some prizes are donations from other very kind crafters - all the rest come out of our own piggy banks.

As always, the Snippets Challenge will run for two weeks and the Playground gates will close at 11am UK time on Saturday 7th January. The gates will open again at midnight UK time on the same day. Mr Linky is below this post.

Love and hugs from Dudley and me . . . and our dearest Sarn . . . as we need to include our naughty 'elf with the satchel'! She has made this past year such fun and both Dudley and I adore her!

Results of Challenge #442

    

Here are my top picks from Challenge #442.

We have a *Gold Star* pick - the first one for a little while too! It's Liz, with this great snippets 'Shutter card'. I absolutely love the card and design - plus, and it's a big plus, Liz has included a link in her post. To her very first tutorial video - and it's brilliant! I certainly will be making a shutter card before too long.

I really love this card, made by Carol G. It's a different technique, using snippets  and only adding the lovely colours once the shapes are glued onto the card front! Clever stuff and Carol also has a video link to another crafter showing the technique.

 

How cute are these adorable little Christmas penguins that Glennis made? Perfect to pop some chocolate in and a wonderful way to use up a bunch of sbippets as well! The grand children are bound to love them!

 

And last, but not least, Alice made this gorgeous card. A fabulous quilted effect using up a load of snippets. Love the fact that the frame is sparkly - great idea! Sweet image too - harmony reigns.

If you're a pick or, as happened this week to Liz, a Gold Star winner, please always feel free to collect your badge from the 'Badges' page. Just click on 'Badges' on the top bar of this page.

Onto the prize draw, for the embossing folder and dies - and the winner is:

Christa

To claim your prize, please send an email using the Snippets Playground email address shown on the RH sidebar, with PLAYGROUND WINNER (or similar) in the subject line. Please add your FULL NAME above your home ADDRESS so that I can copy and paste it for speed and ease.

The current snippets challenge is being hosted by Sarn and still has almost a further week to run - just scroll down to the previous post to find it. There's a nice prize to be won as well! 

A little 'heads up' about our next fortnightly challenge which opens on Christmas Day. There's a theme - which is 'Anything BUT Christmas'. Just to give you a little bit of advance warning! There isn't a 'Grand Draw' with multiple prizes this time, but we're both sure you'll want to join in with an entry when you find out on Christmas Day just what the prize is!

Challenge #443

Hello Playmates!

Only a fortnight to go until the big day! Are you ready or are you busy doing some last minute present buying and decorating? It's been a VERY chilly week here in the UK and the Playground roundabout has been creaking a bit as it whizzes round! There's been lots of games of Tag to keep us warm!

I've got a birthday card in my satchel today, the details of which can be found on my personal blog HERE.

The prize for this fortnight is four individual stamps kindly donated to the Toy Box by Miss Di. One pretty floral stamp and three useful sentiments are up for grabs.

Just a little heads up to let you know that after this challenge ends on Christmas Eve, Di will be hosting the next one starting Christmas Day and it will be a special one. Di will tell you more in her Results post which will be published on 18th December - make a note in your diary!

Please come and join in some Playground fun by using up snippets on a project and then submitting your "homework" using Mr Linky (below). Remember to SAY WHAT SNIPPETS YOU USED (or share a photo of them on your blog post) and leave a comment saying YES PLEASE (or similar) if you wish to be included in the draw for the prize.

The Playground gates will clang shut on this challenge at 11am (UK time) on Saturday, 24th December 2022. They'll reopen at midnight (UK time) the same day for the start of the next challenge (YES it will be Christmas Day). Winners outside the UK: Please remember that you may be charged fees and import duty on your prize - although Di and I always send them out clearly marked as "gifts". 

Results of Challenge #441

Hello Playmates - Sarn here - popping back in the middle of Di's challenge, to share my top picks and the prize winner for Challenge 441.

Here are my top picks in entry order:

I really loved the vintage feel of this wonderful ATC set by Granne. They appealed to me as they were so different. 

You know how we all like a nice hot drink and a natter? I favour hot chocolate at this time of year, but I also love a nice filter coffee with a biscuit at elevenses! Heather's card has a lovely autumnal feel and makes me want to reach into the card and sip from that cup!

Look at all those reels of Washi tape that Tina Z has in her craft room. She put it to good use on those Christmas tree triangles on top of an embossed background. A very striking card in that wonderful colour scheme.

Well done everyone. If you've been showcased, please feel free to collect your 'Top Pick' badge from the 'Badges' page HERE.

Without further ado, the winner of Challenge 441 is entrant no 29:

Kathy Asper

Congratulations Kathy. Please claim your prize by sending an email to the Snippets Playground address shown in the sidebar, with PLAYGROUND WINNER in the subject line. Please ensure you add your full name and address so that it can be copied and pasted for speed and ease.

Hope everyone enjoyed the Grand Switch On of the Playground Christmas Lights along with a few mince pies and some laced hot chocolate!

Remember there's still nearly a week of Di's challenge to go. If you haven't submitted a piece of homework yet, just scroll down to the previous post to find it.

Christmas Lights Grand Switch On:

So it's time for the GRAND SWITCH ON of the Playground Christmas lights. Woot woot!

All the local dignitaries smell because they wanted lots of money to press the button to light up the Treehouse and Christmas Tree - so, instead, Di trained Dudley to put his paw on the button. He's a Playground celebrity anyway - and works for doggy treats, plus he only smells of Talc (from his doggy shampoo), so it's a win-win!

Wheeee! I just slid down the green lit-up tube (shown on the left of the picture). SUCH fun! Have a go yourself!

Look how lovely the Playground Treehouse is, all festooned with lights. Well worth all the effort that Di, Dudley and I put in!

And the tree that we snaffled under cover of darkness? 
It's a trade secret how we managed to tote it from the farm to the playground! But there may have been some bribery and corruption involved! LOL!
Took all three of us a few days to put those lights on! Good job I'm tall so I could attach that star while balancing on top of Di's shoulders (she was balancing on top of Dudley)!!!!!

Time for  all three of us to put our feet up in the Treehouse and enjoy a well-earned hot chocolate with a tot of something warming added methinks! Come and join us up there for some festive fun and a mince pie or two. Bagsie one of the reclining chairs!