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!

Challenge #442

Here's my snippets card for our new challenge, I opted for a 'Santa Suit' Christmas money holder, but it's (almost always) anything goes here in the Snippets Playground - just please be sure to identify your snippets:

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:

It's two dies and an embossing folder. The dies were kindly donated by our lovely Jackie T, both are by Tattered Lace called 'Still Waiting' and 'Lamplight Love'. I'd also spotted the discontinued and never been used embossing folder in a craft de-cluttering group a little while back. It was made by Stampin' Up and is called 'Softly Falling - almost as rare as hen's teeth these days, approx.  6.25" square and it's a beauty.  I think the 'Softly Falling' as an embossed background with either of the silhouettes in front would make some quick fabulous Christmas cards! But of course the dies are really good for loads of other occasions as well.

As always, the Snippets Challenge will run for two weeks and the Playground gates will close at 11am UK time on Saturday 10th December. The gates will open again at midnight UK time on the same day. Mr Linky is below this post.

Winners outside the UK: please remember that you may be charged fees and import duty on your prize - although we both always send them out clearly marked as "gifts". 

A local farmer is looking for two black clad balaclava wearing figures who were picked up on CCTV during the night - chopping down a tree in his Christmas tree patch - one tall and slender and the other one much shorter in height. The police say that the white fluffy tail worn by the smaller of the pair is a strong clue. Also, the frequent feeding of what looked like treats - by the tall slim one to the little tail wagging one is another clue. 

Not only that - Dudley has been limbering up to pedal the generator so he can power the pretty lights each evening! And now, I hear that Sarn has only been sending him out with a bunch of posters to pin to every tree he pauses at - advertising a 'Grand Switch On'. The daft thing is - only folk who are very little will even be able to read the posters - despite Dudley's best efforts to pin them as high as possible. So we can expect a gathering of dogs (of course!), perhaps some cats (which should make for some fun) a toddler or two three, if they can read - and perhaps a few gnomes to attend the event! Don't you just love Christmas!? I suspect that Dudley will be so worn out he'll sleep right through it all!

Love and hugs from Dudley and Di,

Results of Challenge #440

   

Here are my top picks from Challenge #440. It actually turned out that they are all Halloween/Autumn based picks. Not deliberately, as the challenge was also 'Anything Goes' and that wasn't ignored at all - but they just seemed to call out to me:

Oh goodness me - who could resist this delightful 'puddy tat' treat bag, made by Helen - HERE. Such fun and I just love how Helen is so fond of Penny Black stamps and always finds way to keep them up to date. Penny Black do recognise that some of their older stamps are the best, by only now producing matching dies for some of the best loved 'oldies'.

I chose this image by Karen C for a few reasons. Mostly that it really suits the Autumn/Fall optional theme. It's also really lovely and hugely pleasing to the eye - AND it shows super use of snippets! What's not to like? It's hard to go far wrong if you choose horizontal or vertical strips of snippets - especially with mitred ends - clever move there Karen!

And here we have a card made by Heather - just stunning! And a very fitting finish to my choices for the challenge. It just sums up the Season and also what is ahead perfectly! Love it and the clever layers are always so eye catching.

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

Onto the prize draw, for the dies and sentiment stamps - and the winner is:

Lesley G

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! 

Little word of warning - Sarn is a bit of a Christmas 'Early Bird' compared to me. Dudley, and his still much loved pal Parsnip, both 'snitched' independently to me that she's been rummaging around in the storage lockers behind the bike shed looking for Christmas decorations etc, muttering along the lines of 'THIS year we WILL beat Regent Street's Christmas lights'. Oh help!

Challenge #441

Hello Playmates!

Here's my homework for this challenge - the details of which can be found on my personal blog HERE:

In this fortnight's challenge, you have the opportunity to win two lovely Kaisercraft stamp sets that Di kindly added to the Toy Box. I think you'll agree both stamp sets will be very useful additions to your stamp collection.

Come along and join in the fun by using up some of your snippets on a project, then submit your homework using Mr Linky (below). Remember to SAY WHAT SNIPPETS YOU USED (or you can add a photo of them in your blog post) then leave a comment saying YES PLEASE (or similar) if you want to be included in the prize draw.

The Playground gates will clang shut on this challenge at 11am (UK time) on Saturday, 26th November 2022. They will reopen at midnight (UK time) the same day for the start of the next challenge. 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. 

Hugs from Sarn xxx

Results of Challenge #439

Hello Playmates - Sarn here - popping back in the middle of Di's challenge, to share my Top Picks and the prize winner for Challenge 439.

My Top Picks (in entry order):

JEANNE H came running through the gates brandishing this smashing piece of homework. Fab use of snippets, plus I love the shape of the card and the striking blue and white colour scheme showing off the pretty flower die-cut. 

I simply loved the white-on-white crispness of LYNNE R's very pretty Christmas card. So intricate you could stare at it for a while and keep noticing more. A lovely piece of homework.

I totally fell in love the with the cute image that LYNNE in NI used in her homework. She used a sketch for the layout and I really liked the subtle fish die-cuts in the background.

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

Onto the prize draw for the floral stamps and matching dies. The winner is:

LINBY

Congratulations Lynn. Please claim your prize by sending me an email giving your full name and address, using the Snippets Playground address shown in the sidebar, with PLAYGROUND WINNER in the subject line..

In the Playground:

Hope you enjoyed the Bonfire Party that Di and I held last night. The bonfire kept us all warm, plus the jacket spuds, toasted crumpets and hot soup went down well. We didn't have any fireworks due to the fact that Playground Pets don't like the explody-bangs - but it was fun holding hands and singing songs around the fire wasn't it? (Note from Dudley - I was so pleased to see that 'hot dogs' weren't on the menu, snigger!)

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. 

Hugs from Sarn x

Challenge #440

Wet, wet and wet - that's it here in the UK. However - hop up into the Tree house for a hot chocolate (which I do happen to know can be laced with something stronger for Halloween, just with a little paw back hand tip to Dudley who is now Sarn's in-betweener, although he doesn't know that I know!), hot jacket potatoes, toasted crumpets and marshmallows and a lot of fun. Dudley is alternately wearing two different Halloween bandanas, we here in the tree house are playing at dressing up - and down in the Playground - it's just craaaazy! Come and join in!

The theme IS optional - but if you're happy to play along with our theme then it's Autumn/Halloween - or just their colours if you don't want to go full on. You can just stand back and laugh at us and enter a Snippets Anything Goes card if you wish ☺  

Anyhow, here's my snippets card, I used Halloween colours:

All the details, as well as Dudley's latest news, are over on Pixies - HERE. The card IS a total copy of one that Nicky made so it's not entered into any challenges - a link to the very talented and sweet Nicky is over on my Pixies Blog post.

The prize for this fortnight is:

Apologies for the reflection of light hitting the cellophane wrappers, despite closed curtains! It's a little selection this time - two very sweet Joy! sets of dies kindly donated by Val - 'Mery's violet and circle' and 'Mery's violets wave borders'. Plus a set of sentiment stamps from the Toy Box, made by MFT and called 'Itty Bitty Celebrations'. The prize bundle won't be split.

As always, the Snippets Challenge will run for two weeks and the Playground gates will close at 11am UK time on Saturday 12th November.  The gates will open again at midnight UK time on the same day. Mr Linky is below this post.

Winners outside the UK: please remember that you may be charged fees and import duty on your prize - although we both always send them out clearly marked as "gifts". 

Love and hugs from Dudley and Di,