Sunday 28 September 2014

Pixie's Snippets Playground - Week 144

Here's my snippets card for Week 144:


I used:

- white DL card blank

- a plain orange piece of card from the snippets folder as a backing

- the background was me going totally slightly crazy with Brushos (brown, scarlet and yellow) - which were then sprayed with 'Heirloom Gold' Perfect Pearls and also 'Pearl' Glimmer Mist, eek, that really spread the colour around. In a panic I grabbed a couple of pieces of kitchen roll and folded them to blot the puddles up - and although it won't show in the photo - ended up with a lovely light gold textured effect. It's so true what Sarn and Kathy say - you have to just play about with Brushos and often there will be surprises!

- more snippets of orange/yellow were used to punch out the three butterflies (using a SU punch) before running them through an embossing folder called 'Bon Jour' by Couture Creations. The folder has a leaf pattern on, so that was my nod to continuing the idea of the butterflies looking like Autumn leaves :)

- once on the card they looked a bit odd without bodies, so I grabbed a snippet of gold mirri card and die cut three bodies using a Memory Box 'Isabella' die

- final touch - gold sequins tumbling down with the leafy butterflies. The sequins were die cut using a snippet of mirri gold card and a really useful die made by MFT Die-Namics called 'Sequins'

Right, a quick gallop through this week's picks:

I just love the simple elegance of this card, made by Jenny H!

Cathy R had been playing with metal sheet and alcohol inks - what a stunning result too.

So, I know a few of you have been running little production lines this past week - largely for Christmas. Sharon rocked me on my heels with her offering of 20 cards just like the one above. It's a tri-fold and those always take a good while to make. Great way to use up snippets!

This card by Liz really caught my eye - one that stands out in the crowd I think. See how cleverly the background embossing and the dots on the ribbon echo one another?

I picked this card, made by KT Fit Kitty because it's great use of snippets of course, but also I love how everything sort of 'pulls together'. 

That's the picks for this week I'm afraid. Things are busy here and it does take an age to do this weekly post, so I hope you won't mind it being shorter than usual. I have thought about changing the format but haven't reached a decision yet.

One thing I have noticed, and I've just checked again, as a result of last weeks picks only a total of four additional comments were left for the 'picked' snippets makes. I know it doesn't mean you don't go to visit but it does make me wonder if it would be just as easy to allow you to use the thumbnails in Mr Linky - without my intervention and the lengthy time it takes me each week to draw up the list of picks, whittle it down and then write and link into this post.

Anyhow, maybe there will be some feedback from you? I'm open to suggestions.

And now for the winner of the Papermania stamps set, glitter and ribbons:
x

And this coming week's prize:


Yup, it's a die cut set the same as the one I used today - MFT Die-Namics 'Sequins'. As I already said, these are great dieswith several sizes of plain and embossed sequin cuts which can be used on either mirri or plain card to perfectly compliment the rest of your creation.

As usual, the Snippets Challenge will run for one week and the Playground gates will close at 11am UK time on Saturday 4th October and will open again at midnight UK time on the same day.

Maximum of three entries and please say 'No thank you' or 'Yes please' in a comment if you wish to still play but not be the winner of the prize.

Important note - last week I had problems as peeps had forgotten to say 'No thanks' to the prize on offer. I'm not sure how to address this but it caused me quite a bit of extra work so, for now, unless you positively say 'Yes please' then I'll have to assume that you don't want to be in the prize draw.  Of course feel free to say no thanks just to reinforce things :)

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 :)

Have a great week!
 
Di (and the usual happy wave from Parsnip of course)
x

56 comments:

  1. I hope you don't change your format too much, Di! I really look forward to seeing your picks each week. I was lucky enough to be one of them this time and I thank you! I am guilty of not visiting the picks because I get a good look at them from your post, but I did visit two of them this time. The down side is now I've added more crafty items to my wish list so maybe I shouldn't have gone for a visit LOL! Congrats to the lucky winner and to the other picks - they are beautiful indeed!

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  2. So sorry - I forgot to say that I love your butterfly card too! I really like how you created the background but then shame on me I read that it was made with Brushos - I had to stop reading right there because I am not putting anything else on my wish list tonight (even though I really want to)! That is a wonderful die for the sequins - I thought they were real! Now that die is something else I want - something else for my wish list. Now you see why I get myself into trouble! But since that is your prize, I will be back to play along!

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  3. What a fantastic butterfly card and I really adore that background. :-)
    I had to laugh at Fit Kitty's comment about her wish list..... I am like that too. I keep seeing folks making awesome things and I never have any of the stuff they use. The only trouble is that I have major difficulties cuz people won't post to Greece or it makes it sooo expensive :-(

    Superb collection of 'Picked' cards too - how lovely :-D

    Hugz
    IKE xxxxxxxxxxx

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  4. Fabulous card Di
    and lovely creations from all ladiesin playground
    wish all great Sunday
    hugs Tamara

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  5. Your card is so pretty Di! Those butterflies do look like autumn leaves. Love it! I do also wish that you don't change your format too much. I do look forward to your pick each week and your short description on each one. It's lovely to read them all! X

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  6. A really pretty card, Di, and those sequins make the perfect finishing touch. What a great prize the dies will be for the winner this month! I'll be sure to get my snippets out this week!

    I hope the format doesn't change too much. I always look forward to visiting the Playground to see which picks you have chosen, in case I've missed some during the week. Thank you for picking one of mine this week!

    I'm sure we all appreciate the time and effort you use to make your posts. It makes the Playground such a fun place to visit! xx

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  7. Like the format Di - but understand how much of your time it takes! Congrats to Mrs A - hope she enjoys her prize... and a great bunch of snippet picks this week as always - sometimes the Playmates annoy me - they're sooooooo talented!!! Be home in a couple of weeks then hopefully will be able to get back in the swing! x
    PS - Tha butterfly card is WOW!!! Was gonna order some Brushos then with going away didn't - they're the first thing to do when I get home!!

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  8. FAB brusho make .... sorry to have been even partially responsible for the brusho experiments but they're turning out great!!!!

    Just uploaded my make this week

    Kathyk

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  9. OOooo me again! remembered that my scheduled post had a snippet on it!!! So have linked it.. x

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  10. Hi Di, LOVE your brusho card. I don't have these.....YET! The bg is gorgeous and isn't it great how you can just use another thing from your stash to add the butterfly bodies (major justification going on here!)

    I certainly appreciate all the time and effort you give in the weekly picks, however, I'm happy to look up the numbers in the linky if that makes life easier for you, happy to go along with whatever you decide :)

    Glad you liked my ornaments, those alcohol inks are certainly getting a bit addictive!! Congrats to all and thank you for the wonderful inspiration, Cathy x

    PS I would love to win the sequin die, how many tiny snippets could I justify keeping then LOL!

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  11. Lovely butterfly card Di. I know it must take ages to write the post & link all the thumbnails. And like others have said I do appreciate all the effort.
    Having said that, it should be fun and not a chore. Maybe you could limit it to Top 3 only, and just post the linky no.
    Debs xx

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  12. I always look at the post but don't always visit all of the featured cards. I do a lot of blog hopping on the ipad now and as a trained typist find it frustrating to type on it, so just view I'm afraid. I'm on the PC at the moment so this is why you are getting a long comment!
    Love the butterflies and they do look like leaves.
    No thanks to the die - looks a bit fiddly for me and I won a few weeks ago.
    Linbyx

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  13. Hello Di

    A beautiful butterfly card, I love the background it's amazing.
    Yes, your butterflies do look like leaves fluttering away.

    luv
    irene
    xxxx

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  14. Fabulous butterfly card Di and super picks. I'm guilty of not visiting all of them, but I'll happily do that. I usually try to comment some of the entries, but Mr Blogger is sometimes very moody and don't allow me to. I'm saying no thank you to the win, I'm having a good time with the burlap stamp :)

    Warm hugs
    Maarit

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  15. Thankyou Miss for me wins. Ta ever so. Will have fun making some Rudolph cards with them. I will stay outta the cooking pot this week as I'm still feeling rather hot.
    Hugs Mrs A.

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  16. Official hat on now.
    Your background with the Brusho's is lovely. Smashing combination of those colours. 3 Butterflies is just fine too and love how you used a different colour for each one. If you look closely on my example I have 3 and I did exactly the same pinched the Isabella body for the fussy cut one I put on the picture frame. Will go and put an amendment in the post so not to confuse more people. Thank you for spotting my deliberate mistake. (I blame it on the pills!). Hugs Mrs A. ( butterfly challenge).

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  17. Gorgeous card Di simple but so creative and the colours and butterflies are beautiful as always your so good with your creations .....great showcase and congrats Mrs A enjoy your prize ....Di hope your having lovely weather as the sun has come out here and it's not too cold either take care xx

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  18. Happy Sunday Di, just calling in with my entry for this week! Bit of a sneaky one as it's only 2 bits of snippety bits but fingers crossed I shuffle through the gate and join the fun! Loving your colourful butterflies against that stunning background. Yummy!
    Those sequin dies look superb so if I'm very lucky and my name jumps out of the hat I would like to play along for the prize too this week.
    Thanks Sarah xx

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  19. Love your brusho background Di. Great picks as always too. Hope you don't change the format too much - I enjoy seeing what you've chosen!

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  20. Fabulous brusho background Di gorgeous card and great picks too..congrats to Mrs A!!! huggles Sue xxx

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  21. Hi Di . . . absolutely LOVE your Brusho background card with the sweet butterflies and little sequins sprinkled about.

    I know just how much time it takes to run a monthly challenge, let alone a WEEKLY one. I take my hat off to you.

    However, it's YOUR challenge, and you must do whatever fits in with your schedule. IF you continue with weekly picks, perhaps stick to a Top 3 like Debs suggested. Or you could just showcase new playmates to welcome them?

    As lots of people play for fun it's a GREAT IDEA to assume this is the case UNLESS a playmate says YES PLEASE to the prize.

    I do quite a lot of commenting in the Snippets Playground, but don't always go back to the cards you've showcased.

    Hugs, Sarn xxx

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  22. Hello Di,
    I love your Autumnal snippet make and the top picks are all fabulous.

    I'll say 'no thank you' to the prize this week as I've got sequins coming out of my ears!!

    Hope that you are soon back to normal and stress free!
    xx

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  23. Just uploaded my first entry this week. I'm a 'Yes please' for the prize draw this time. Love the sequin dies! xx

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  24. I forgot to say that there are some really good suggestions for saving time with your posts. Picking just your top three or just showcasing a card from new Playmates seems a great idea. If it's beginning to become a chore, do whatever is best for you, so you can have as much fun here as the rest of us. xx

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  25. Great butterfly card and the background looks brilliant. I acquired some Brusho today at a show so will be playing soon. Please include me in the draw for this week's prize - thanks.

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  26. Super butterfly card Di, love how you did the background xx

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  27. Yeah - I'm back ... lots going on right now but I love playing here and hopefully can do so more often!

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  28. Nice to see a DL card for a change not many of them about, love your background and envious of your dedication to trying new methods.

    Fab picks of the week.

    Kath x

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  29. Hi Di

    Fabby butterfly card and I love your Brusho technique!

    Well done to Mrs A for being this week's winner. I am sure she will have fun with her prize.

    Don't include me in the prize this week Di .. .. I still have a mini mountain of sequins that I am slowly making my way through!

    Now round to the serious stuff!

    I know only too well how the snippet playground can take over your life and because of its timing .. .. take over a huge chunk of your weekend!! That isn't fair on you or your dearly beloved!!

    Then there is all the commenting you do too!!

    When I had the keys to the playground there were nothing like the numbers you are contending with .. .. you know how much I admire how you have improved the playground.

    Just a few suggestions for the cooking pot though:

    1. Why not consider doing a two weekly or a monthly challenge so that you get a break some weekends.

    2. I think the suggestion of you just doing a top three is a good idea .. .. and perhaps new playmates could write "newbie" next to their entries so we all know they are new playmates? Not sure how you even manage to keep track of new playground pals?!? That must be a real mission all of its own!!

    3. The playground is fun for everyone who joins in .. .. and it should be for you too. Try to make it easier for yourself in whatever way is best for you. Even if it means having a break for a while whilst you decide.

    Hope I have helped in some small way.

    Love and hugs

    Jules xoxox

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  30. Di, I love the background that you made for your beautiful butterfly card. I'm one of your newer players, (been here a couple of times before) and I appreciate your visits to my blog, and the comments that you make. Thanks for all the time that you put in to the challenges. Yes, please, I would like to be entered in the prize draw.

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  31. Your card is lovely. That background is fantastic. And I thought the sequins were store bought until I read the post. Wow. And I definitely get the butterflies as falling leaves you were going for.

    As for your request for input on changing the format, I'm a relative newbie and it was very exciting for me when you featured my card. That said, I completely understand about wanting to streamline your posting. I try to get to the posted cards, but I don't always manage it. And I think Jules had some great suggestions for you, so I won't retype them.

    Finally, yes please, include me in the drawing.

    Oh, and thanks for all your hard work making the playground the fabulous place it is.

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  32. Beautiful card, Di! I haven't seen Brushos but can imagine how gorgeous the look is in real life. Yes please to the MFT die which I have on my wishlist--fun prize! This needs to be fun for everyone, including you! Feel free to make whatever changes you need to! Good luck with the house!

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  33. Hello Di it's me again - now that I've had a little think about your format change -
    I agree with Jules perhaps a monthly or two weekly challenge would make your life easier. But also a break while you get your house sorted out.
    Personally I love seeing your top picks and feel really privileged if you ever pick me in fact it's better than the actual prize!
    Thank you for all of your hard work Di - the playground is the best place to be!!
    xx

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  34. Back again Di, will visit the playmates tomorrow when hopefully my internet speed is better! Cathy x

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  35. Hi Di! I came over to play at the playground this week. I have such fun when I do! I love, love your card, that background is so fabulous. I love those colors too. I really have to give making cool backgrounds like yours a try. I always love seeing background people have made and then I sit and drool over them. lol Hugs, Brenda

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  36. Hi Di, just posted my snippets make. I think Jules has some good ideas there, but you could also restrict number of entries each week as well, especially if you go to doing it fortnightly or monthly as you could end up with double the entries which would take even longer for you to go through! I'm saying no thanks to the die - although it could be a good way of using some snippets!

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  37. Wow! You know I'm loving this awesome card with your autumn Brusho work. I think the richness of the autumn colors is prob'ly my favorite palette. Can't wait until this product is available in the USA. Your embossed b'flies really enforce that autumn feel (and I'll do my best to get in this B'fly challenge!). Those sequins are wonderful...haven't seen this die. Great card, and I had a quick glimpse at your picks this week. Must have been a difficult task, as I saw some of the other entries too. I'll say "Yes Please" to the prize - if I should be so lucky! And BIG Congrats to Mrs. A on her win. I hope it helps to perk her up, and that she is feeling much better by now. Big Hugs & TFS

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  38. Thank you for spotlighting my card. Seems that every month, when I sit down to design my swap card, I say to myself "I am NOT going to design a card with so many pieces this month." Well, this never works. In fact I'm beginning to think that it is getting worse.

    Whatever decision you make regarding the format of your challenge blog is entirely up to you. I will participate whenever I have an appropriate rendering regardless of the format.

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  39. Your card is stunning Miss Di aka our lovely Pixie! Stunning colours, assume it's Brusho paints.
    I'm really hoping to get to visit some this week and my apologies for not visiting anyone much right now - you all know why I'm not always around but I will try to visit you all again soon!
    Most definitely a 'Yes Please' from me as I love the idea of being able to die cut my own sequins.
    Thank you for all the hard work you do for us to run this challenge and for the prizes too Karen xx

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  40. Your card is lovely Di, I love the colours in your painty background.
    I appreciate that you need to cut down on the amount of time you give to this lovely happy challenge and think that the suggestions made by some of the other playmates would help, especially limiting the number of entries and maybe going fortnightly or monthly. It is most important that you enjoy it as much as we do.
    Jean x

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  41. Gorgeous, gorgeous background - those Brushos are just fabulous!

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  42. Congrats to all the picks. I will try and do better with visiting. Your card is fab, and I could not believe the sequins are from a die!

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  43. Love your butterfly card, the background is beautiful!

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  44. I know it takes a lot of effort to put this on each week Di and I say do what works for you! I have just started joining in so I don't know that much and I'm not used to the format, so it wouldn't effect me like it would the gals that have been with you for a long time. But still I think you are the one putting in all the hard work and I think you should run it in a way that works the best for you. Seeing the picks for the week is fun, but I can understnad how stressful and time consuming picking them would be. I know I wouldn't want to have to pick!!! Oh also enter me in the drawling for the prize. Thanks Di and I hope all goes well with the workmen. Hugs, Brenda

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  45. Congrats Mrs A for your win, and congrats too for all the notables chosen this week! I'm late to the party, but I'm around! Just busy and not as creative as I normally am.
    Di, please do whatever works for you to free up some personal time! I'm with you all the way regardless of any pending changes! Life happens, and we all need to prioritize at one point or another! BTW, your card is beautiful and those sequins look amazing!! I had no idea they were done with a die!
    I hope to get a card into the playground before the gates close again for another week! TC!

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  46. I love your format, but will keep coming if you need to change. I've often wondered how you manage to comment on every card entered then do the long but lovely post of those that have caught your eye. You go way above and beyond what I have time to do.
    Love the butterflies that look like falling leaves! I hope the workman are kind and gentle and make quick progress!

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  47. I was away this weekend, so just saw this. As many people have said, it's amazing all you do, and if it's getting to be too much, we'd all understand if you made changes. I do love looking at the picks, and many of them get pinned for future inspiration. But limiting them to 3 or 4 a post is probably a good suggestion. Extending the time to two weeks would be another way to go.
    I would hate to see the challenge disappear altogether .... this is one of those places that seems to be populated with truly nice kindred spirits.

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  48. I'm not sure I'm going to have time to play this week, but I hope you won't mind my two (hundred) cents. I feel your pain a little bit more in terms of work, having run a couple of NBUS Challenges now.

    Picks: I try to visit the gallery through the week, but I rarely visit the winners as a special visit unless I haven't done any visiting that particular week. I find the "congratulations" visits are becoming less and less on other challenges I participate in, too. Maybe there just too many fun challenges out there now for all of us to do all of it?

    As for choosing the picks, I could never do it. I can't even imagine the stress involved in that, especially given that so many of us have become personal friends of yours. So I think you should stop that immediately and forever.

    However. We do all like to be "showcased" from time to time so how about just pulling three numbers out of a hat, one for each column? There is something worth noting in every entry, so that's easy, or just don't say anything under them. Again, lots of other challenges just show the cards and names of the winner/HMs, with no comments by the blog owners.

    Frequency: I'm for bimonthly or monthly. I can't hardly put my pants on on a Monday morning any more without it turning into Friday before I put on my shirt!

    I'll wait while you try and rinse that nasty visual out of your eyes.

    I would be mad as a container ship full of frogs by now if I were you doing this every single week!! Also, I'd be divorced!

    Comments: For me, this is the best part. I love when you visit me and comment, so this would be the very last thing I would wish for you to change. If you make your challenge every two weeks or once a month, doing those visits and comments won't be so onerous.

    I also like that you introduce the newest playmates and I'm sure they love it, too. I do try to go and visit and welcome them, so I'd like to have that section continue. However. It's only fair to you that they designate next to their name or in an email to you that they are new. It shouldn't be up to you to figure that out (although you would prolly know immediately, knowing you).

    Prizes. Everyone likes to see a prize winner being drawn. However. I'd love for you to let us know when you'd like us to send you donations so that you don't keep going into your own pockets for these.

    Thank you, thank you, thank you for all you do, Pixie!! None of us say ... well, I should only speak for myself, certainly I don't thank you often enough!!

    I'm sorry that I am bashful and so terse with my thoughts. Cough.

    Love ya, Darnell

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  49. Di think your comment about the butterfly card you made is rather tongue in cheek :D
    Such lovely work indeed.. impressed on brushos, as yours is the first card I have seen that has made me think they are worth buying... perhaps .. maybe, etc.


    Re the format, ok Miss - am putting my hand up and sitting in the bad corner cos I dont often go and look at your picks on the original blog and comment, but I do sometimes and always like to see them.
    However it is time so totally understand the need to lessen the work load perhaps,
    hugs Shaz..x

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  50. Love, love, love your card. The colours are fantastic x

    Congrats Mrs A x

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  51. Well we both used brushos for our backgrounds for Mrs A this week, and our cards were similar in style. Fortunately I can honestly say I hadn't seen yours before I posted mine, but anyway, they say 'great miinds etc....'
    I am amazed at how you manage to run the playground as well as make so many cards, so you must decide how best to change it to suit you. It should never become a chore. I too love your picks. It gives me a little lift when you chose one of mine, and I have become followers of a few more blogs from seeing their creations on your page. Maybe fortnightly would be better for you, but you would definitely have to limit the number of entries or you'll just have twice as many to sift through at the end of the two weeks! TAKE CARE. Kate X
    I'm only playing this week.

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  52. The brusho background is gorgeous Di and love those pretty butterflies, and I would love to go in the draw for the sequins dies. Here are my thoughts regarding the challenge format. I do look forward to your comment visit and I do like the showcasing. Perhaps you could extend the time between challenges to 2 weeks which would give you every other weekend with a little more time to yourself. I do appreciate all the work you put in to the playground and picking out cards to show must be a difficult task, and if you shouldn't get round to commenting on every single entry occasionally I'm sure we wouldn't hold it against you. I think your challenge is one of the best because I can see how much you care about running it well, but none of us want to see the challenge stop so you must do whatever makes it workable for you so that we can all continue to have lots of fun in the playground, and it wouldn't be the same without you Di and thank you for all you do. x

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  53. What a fun card. love the butterflies and the sequins. The sequins look like store bought and not die cut yourself. This would be a fun die cut to have.

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  54. Hi Di, thank you so much for the stamps, i couldn't wait to use them and show you what i made!
    Hugs, Hazel xx

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  55. I've just made it in after all, Di! Just playing for fun! Am I too late for waffles and quail eggs? Hugs, Darnell

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  56. HI Miss Di & the lovely Parsnip,

    Phew I just made it into this weeks challenge.
    Love your super butterfly card, and those sequin die cuts are amazingly real looking too.
    Fab coloured background, as well.
    Lots of crafty love. Jenny L.

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Thank you so much if you take the time to comment!

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.