Monday Musings

Well although he's still sick, Bob went off to work this morning as he had lots of meetings to attend. So sorry everyone at his work if you get sick, lol. Never known anyone have as much snot, seriously! Thankfully I don't seem to have picked up the flu bug, aside from a bit of a sniffle, which could be attributed to the wildfires here right now. Thankfully nothing close but yesterday morning the smell was pretty bad, guess it depends on the wind direction. We can see the clouds of smoke but so far our area is safe, I'll keep you posted.

I made a quick card this morning whilst making my sketch card for Wednesday, just something to add to my cards for heroes box. Speaking of which I really need to send that off this week!

Supplies: Paper: MAMBI; Cardstock: DCWV; Tape & Flower: Heidi Swapp; Rhinestone: Sulyn; Stamp: Boxer;

Last week I ate tomatoes out of the garden :) If you've never tasted homegrown tomatoes right off the vine, let me tell you: They are like a little peice of heaven! Seriously! If you grow ONE thing at home, make it tomatoes! Yum!

I sent off my AFAA reinstatement application today. Took a while to gather all the photocopies and other paperwork but hopefully everything goes through ok and I pass the exam :) Fingers crossed! Now I just need to go out and spend some money on new workout outfits *sigh* Some of the outfits I have are from over 10 years ago and are looking a little worse for wear. Elastic does strange things to clothes when it wears out huh? Anyway a trip to the sportswear store the next city over is on the agenda for this week (I tried Target already, not much there at all).

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

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Up up & Away

I love hybrid projects, paring digital with traditional. The green and red papers were printed along with the photo's as a whole sheet. I simply cut them out of the letter size sheet and adhered them to the Boxer paper!

Boxer Products: Yellow dot paper; Dog lovers mega alpha; Dog lovers small alpha; Library card;

Di

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New card template pack!

New card template pack is available in my digital store! Set #9 features 6 cards, all landscape and each card is available in 6x4" and 5.5x4.25" formats. PSD and PNG files included in the download. Available at all my digital stores: Available at: Di Hickman Designs, Scrapwow and 3Scrapateers

Working on more templates, layout templates this time, and some kits! Feeling a digi designing groove so I am going with it!

Thanks for all the well wishes for Bob, he is still sick poor thing. 4th day off at home and hoping he gets better soon!

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Card Sketch August #4

This months sketches have all been square but you could easily convert them to standard card/invite size. I love doing the square size as a bit of change though, plus some card designs just look so much better on the square format. This weeks card could easily be a landscape 5.5x4.25" card though!

I went paper with this weeks sketch, not really 100% sold on the card but calling it done and moving on. In my head the strips were patterned paper scraps but I have a TON of ribbon and thought that ribbon worked well too (as did the sketch girls it seems). This design would be great for using up PP scraps though!!!

"Thank You" by Di Hickman
Supplies: Cardstock & Sticker: DCWV; Flower: Prima; Misc: Button, Ribbon, Machine Stitching

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"Congratulations" by Jan Tatomir
Supplies: Cardstock: Bazzill; Ribbon: Strano Designs; Flower: JoAnns; Rub: Melissa Frances; Punch: Fiskars; Other: button, machine stitching

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"Birthday Wishes" by Louise Connell
Supplies: Cardstock ~ Bazzill; Stamp ~ Studio G; Flower ~ Petaloo; Ribbons ~ from stash

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"You're the Best" by Linda Flinders

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"Happy Birthday" by Lizzy Davidson
Supplies: Offcuts of paper from Paper adventures and DCWV ribbon from papermania and sentiment from craftwork cards.

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"Happy Birthday to you" by Pearl Liu
Supplies: AC Cardstock, Nikki Sivil'sSweet as Cherry Pie 8x8 paper pad , Prima Cadoobles, May Arts ribbon, KCK Shaker stickers

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"Happy Birthday" by Chrys Rose
Supplies: Paink Paislee paper; Imaginsce rub on and flower; Making Memories flower; Boxer Scrapbook button; MME jewels; Bazzill border; glitter pen

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"Hi" by Annette Taylor
Supplies: Patterned Paper - Bo Bunny, Upsy Daisy, Fancy Pants and some Bazzill cardstock, Trim - Bazzill Just the Edges, Buttons from stash

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Di

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I'm still alive

Dang I seem to be disappearing on y'all at weekends huh? We had a great Friday, lunch at the Brit pub with friends and then some tv/shopping and evening in. Saturday was pretty low key here with odd jobs getting done around the house. Sunday we had a vegan brunch to go to which was great. I made Scrambled Tofu which was well received but really we went cos our friend Matt makes great vegan banana waffles with a cashew butter. TO.DIE.FOR. So yummy! Yesterday I meant to get around to posting but it was one of those days that just seemed to get away from me kwim? And today Bob is sick, some cold/flu bug thing that has just knocked him cold. He's just gone back to bed for a nap after lunch, which is good, keeps him out of my way and keeps his germs to himself! lol!

Sharing a card I made recently, using up some older product. Just cardstock, felt, ribbon and rub-ons.

Supplies: Cardstock: DCWV; Felt: Queen & Co; Ribbon: Misc; Rub-ons: Karen Foster, one heart... one mind & Basic Grey

I mentioned that I've lost weight and part of that means none of my clothes fit right anymore, especially jeans. I recently bought a pair of size 4 Levi's from the thrift store but they were a long so I cut the hem and just unravelled the ends. I still need to take another inch off I think but at least they look better than the 6's. I need to alter the 6's I found a good tutorial on altering jeans online so I figure I have nothing to lose by trying huh?

Also the Serger came last week and I did some basic introductory sewing with it over the weekend making small flannels. These were regular flannels but really who uses a whole flannel to wash their face? So I figure cut them into 4 and serge the edges. Worked out pretty well. Plus I figure I could use these for make up removal too instead of cotton wool balls/pads so environmentally sound too!

I've also been busy uploading my digital products to my 3Scrapateer store and working on a plan for new digital products. I think I am going to stick to smaller kits like the Christmas Joy and Feeling Krafty size kits. I just don't have the focus for the bigger kits. First I need to work on some stuff for Scrapwow then RAKscraps before I get sidetracked with my own digital stores. So much to do, so little time!

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I'm doing yoga

So for the last few weeks/months as I've been on the fitness path I've been looking for my yoga DVD. I have the box, damned if I can find the DVD. Anyway Bob got me a new one to try out "Crunch: Fat Burning Yoga" which is pretty good, but anything with Sun Salutation poses in it is good with me :) Been doing the DVD for the past few days and already seeing an improvement in my flexibility. Anyway I just thought I'd share the view to the rear of me when I'm twisting, stretching and contorting myself into weird positions.

Sky just lies on the sofa, half watches the TV, watches me, and wonders what the hell is going on and why she's not allowed on the floor. She's a lover, she's a fusser and Mommy is her cushion why isn't Mommy sitting down and doing her job? Never mind the arm of the sofa works too!

River is now just falling asleep whilst I am doing yoga, guess she gets all the relaxation element and eases into the moment :) As you can see here, I disturbed her slumber and she did open her eyes for about 15 seconds, enough to see I didn't have any food for her and she promptly fell right back to sleep.

The first day I did yoga in the living room with my mat River got up and lay down right in the middle of it, quickly followed by Sky. So I had to put them in the kitchen while I did the 40 minute routine. Slowly they are getting the idea that the mat isn't theirs and is in fact mine and not a dog blanket.

Anyway off to do today's session, wish me luck that they keep up with the inactivity and I manage another 40 minutes with the living room floor to myself :)

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Card Sketch August #3

Another week gone by and time for another card sketch. On a bit of a square sketch theme this month, always fun to create cards in a different orientation. Anyway here is this weeks sketch.

After a few weeks of hybrid and digital printed cards I dove into the paper stash for this weeks sketch. When I created the sketch for this weeks card I envisioned the horizontal strip as vellum or some other specialty paper. Of course I don't tell the sketch girls that so it's always fun to see how they interpret the sketch :)

"Best Wishes" by Di Hickman
Supplies: Cardstock, Patterned Paper & Stickers: DCWV; Misc: buttons, vellum, staples

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"Best Wishes" by Annette Taylor
Supplies: Patterned Paper and Trim - Sassafrass Lass, Gems - Papermania, Rubber Stamps - Kim Hughes, Buttons - Doodlebug and Fancy Pants.

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"Hello" by Celeste Brodnik
Supplies: Pattern Paper: Cosmo Cricket; Stickers: American Crafts; Floss: DMC; Buttons: Craft Supply

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"Simply Irresistable" by Chrys Rose
Supplies: Dream Street paper; Pink Paislee rub on; Bazzill cardstock; DMC thread; Kasier Craft rub on

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"Happy Birthday" by Linda Flinders

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"Joy" by Jo Willis
Supplies: cardstock, DCWV paper, Magenta maruyama mesh, MM chipboard letters, May Arts ribbon, pins.

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"Happy Birthday" by Lizzy Davidson
Supplies: Paper, glitter stack from DCWV, little dots from craftwork cards.Yellow paper from paper adventures.

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"Thankful For You" by Jan Tatomir
Supplies: Paper: Lily Bee, Scenic Route; Cardstock: Bazzill; Buttons: chatterbox; Rub: Melissa Frances; Trim: stash

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"Happy Birthday" by Louise Connell
Supplies: Cardstock ~ Bazzill; Papers ~ Bo Bunny; Flowers ~ Petaloo; Rub on ~ Pebbles Inc.

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"Friends" by Pearl Liu
Supplies: AC cardstock, Nikki Sivils' Sweet as Cherry Pie 8x8 paper pad, Prima flowers , Junkitz cardstock tab, Fiskars Effervescence border punch, Such Sweet Tierney buttons

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"Thinking of You" by Ruth Trice
Supplies: Paper - Laura Ashley, Stamp - Sarah Lugg, Punch - Fiskars, Ribbon and button from stash.

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Di

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It's here

My new Serger arrived about an hour ago (whilst I was out returning library books)! I haven't properly looked at it yet as I am busy preparing the newsletter for tomorrow, zipping and uploading products to my 3S store and basically doing all the normal Tuesday things. I had hoped to get a couple of cards done to show today or maybe even *shock* a layout but alas it was not to be. Mostly because I need to box up the cards on my table for the Cards for Heroes project. I sorted through all my old cards and basically culled a LOAD for this project. It's a good cause so I have no issue with it :) One of my dearest designer friends Shelle is sacrificing her husband for 6 months whilst he goes off to serve his country so this cause is something VERY dear to my heart!

I've been purging my supplies and freecycled a huge box of scrapbooking supplies, plus a huge box of excess tins/boxes and containers that I had planned on altering but have realized that there is NO WAY I will have enough time/energy to complete all the items I have to alter! lol! I dunno where all these tins/boxes etc come from!!!

Box of tins, empty oatmeal containers, prima containers etc

Big box of scrapbook paper, stickers, speciality paper etc. Ok it was Mostly paper!

So far I am up to 10 'things' given away for my 101 in 1001 project item # 39 donate - give away 101 things - freecycle/found art/etc. Shortly I'll be diving more into the scraproom and giving away a printer on freecycle plus more SB supplies and other things as I find them. Anything not given away via freecycle or sent to Cards for Heroes etc will be boxed up and given to charity.

Over the weekend we went to a party on Saturday at our friend Darrells. Whilst there it occured to me that the most expensive item I was wearing was my belt, and even that was only around $10 new! The jeans, tshirt, and shoes were all thrift store specials. Even then the jeans and t-shirt were 1/2 price from the thrift store so pretty much the whole outfit probably around $20!!! I felt great though! Hard not to feel good when you fit in size 4's and find they are just a little 'roomy' :)

In other news on Sunday we went RV shopping. We're not 100% on what we went (size wise) but an RV is pretty much as much as we've narrowed it down. We didn't see anything that we were completely happy with, at least not in our price range ;) We'll be taking a week off during September so we have a little while yet. If we don't find anything then whatever, we'll just do something else. Even if we have a staycation and go out for day trips instead. Pretty much I'll be using that week as a real vacation and won't be blogging at all. That is my promise to myself. Someone hold me to it!

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Wardrobe Refashion sign ups!

Sign ups are now open for the Wardrobe Refashion website! I've been a member of this site a while albeit in a lurker/seldom posting capacity. Totally LOVE the concept. I signed up again, this time for life (yikes).

Basically the premise behind WR is that you refashion, renovate, recycle preloved items with your own hands in fabric, yarn or other medium for the term of your contract. The idea is to stop buying new clothing and get back to making our own, or reusing/recycling from thrift stores etc. Each of the refashioners has their own 'rules'. Exempt from my life status with WR are underwear and sportswear. This includes swimsuits, sports shorts, sports tops and Tees etc made specifically for sports (remember I am heading back into a fitness career here!). Basically I'm all about WR for the fashion side of things.

I've always loved shopping at jumble sales, thrift stores etc and have recently been back to buying at thrift stores and loving it. My love for clothes has returned, and my passion for shopping. Thrift shopping has been especially great for the last few months as my body shape has changed and clothes have gone baggy and ill fitting, it means I've been able to snag some interim clothes cheap without worrying about outgrowing them (ok not really outgrowing but you know what I mean. What's the equivalent of outgrowing? ingrowing? undergrowing?).

If you like shopping however there is the "get out of jail free" card. Basically this entitles you to one "new" splurge every two months.

So just incase you are of the sewing natured, thrifty, green or just want a challenge I figured I'd let you know that sign ups are now on! Go sign up!

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PSA if you've lost weight recently...

Just a little PSA in case like me you've lost weight recently, I know that a couple of you mentioned it on here and on facebook that you'd lost weight so take note. Last weekend we got our new tags for the Tuscon and with it came an Alcohol Impairment Chart, and as I was eating lunch I just did a little read through it.

Well it seems I changed groups and I am now in the 110-129lb weight group which means 1 beer puts me in the 'grey' zone and a likely DUI even 1 hour after drinking the beer! Not to say that we drink out a lot to drive but this means that if I am driving home no more drinking for me at Indian restaurants etc. Since finding this out I've handed the keys over to Bob to drive home, but definitely good info to know for sure!

So if you've lost weight check out the chart and see where you fall now! You may find like me you're officially classed as a lightweight and can't hold her alcohol anymore! lol!

Di

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Hybrid phase continues

When I made my hybrid card for yesterdays sketch I doubled up in the printing to use up the paper and made another card which I thought I'd share today. Same design just different papers/colors. Same Anne Langpap Kit from 2 peas.

"Thinking of you!" card by Di Hickman
Supplies: March Freebie by Anne Langpap (2 peas in a bucket); template, wordart & stitching by Di Hickman; Flower: Prima;

I love the paper on this one, hard to get the right colors for the sentiment but I think this works without it being too overpowering. Anyway I'm obviously still in a hybrid/digital phase right now so just gonna go with the flow and see where it leads me :) This card will probably go in my Cards for Heroes Box, which I really need to send soon cos it's overflowing!

Di

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Card Sketch August #2

Yay Wednesday! Really just seems like yesterday it was last weeks card sketch, time is flying by lately. I dunno if it's because we're having a week off soon (VACATION!) and I am just counting the time down or if it's because I am doing less creative stuff with paper and more stuff in general? Who knows I just know that the last week just seemed to blink by. Anyway here is this weeks card sketch.

I had some fun with this one. Again going hybrid with some digital papers from Anne Langpap this time. These were and OLD freebie on 2 peas that I had on my hardrive. If you're like me you download stuff you like then never really use it, so I am making a quest to steer away from the Glitz CD and use some of the digital kits I have but haven't used much.

"Thinking of you!" card by Di Hickman
Supplies: March Freebie by Anne Langpap (2 peas in a bucket); template, wordart & stitching by Di Hickman; Flower: Prima;

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"Happy Birthday" card by Louise Connell
Supplies: Cardstock ~ Bazzill; Paper & alpha stickers ~ Rose Moka; Strawberry cut out – Kitschy Digitals ; Sentiment stamp – Doodlebug; Ribbon ~ from stash

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"Make a wish" card by Annette Taylor
Supplies: Patterned Paper - Daisy Bucket and Cosmo Cricket, Stamp - Purple Onion Designs, Button - Doodlebug, Flower - Prima

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"Birthday Bash" card by Chrys Rose
Supplies: Fancy Pants paper and die cut; Boxer Scrapbook buttons; Melissa Frances rub on

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"Good Luck" card by Linda Flinders

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"You're a hoot!" card by Jan Tatomir
Supplies: Paper: DCWV; Letter Stickers: Carolee's Creations; Letters: Basic Grey; Flower: Dollar Store; Chipboard Circle: ColorBok

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"You make my world go round" card by Pearl Liu
Supplies: Nikki Sivils' Sweet as cherry pie 8x8 paper pad, Core'dinations cardstock, Making Memorie's kraft word stickers, stick pin & mini alphas , My Little Shoebox mini alphas. Foo Fa La button , May Arts ribbon

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"Eat Cake" card by Lizzy Davidson
Supplies: Papermania cup cake pad, GCS international cake stickers, crafters companion printable paper

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Di

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Wardrobe Refashion

I bought a couple of bikini's in the early Summer season, being as my existing stuff was too big and I was showing a little more than I planned whilst swimming (not good). Anyway one of them is fine the other however had a white stripe that soon after it's introduction to chlorine went a weird horrible yellow color, like the black dye was running. I was only wearing it at home but still I like to look presentable so I decided to try dying it a different color. After looking at all the options in my local JoAnns I bought a package of RIT purple dye, I chose purple to compliment the purple stripe. I just dunked it in a container with the dye, then rinsed, rinsed, rinsed and rinsed some more. The result is a paler purple stripe instead of the white. I like it, it compliments the black and existing purple. It's not as striking as the white, but I'll definitely wear this a lot now :)

I still plan on altering the old bikini's. Of course I am saying old but I only bought them last September (yikes almost a year ago now! Where does the time go?), they are just a tad on the 'gaping' side. If I was just sunlounging then I wouldn't be bothered, but for swimming well they just aren't snug enough, lets leave it at that.

In other news I went thrifting Friday and got some clothes :) Couple of pairs of jeans (one pair needs shortening but I may just cut em off and fray the ends), some tops and a skirt. The shocking news is that I BOUGHT PINK TOPS! I bought them with a reason though, I have a pair of tan shorts with a pink trim and so wanted something other than tan tops to wear with them so pink it was. Wow, mark this day in history!!! I bought pink. Of course I haven't worn them yet ;)

In other news I am STILL waiting on my Red Cross first aid/CPR certificate :( I called them today and it seems the hold up is with the Parks and Rec so I called them to chase things up, still waiting on an answer from them. It's been 6 weeks! Seriously people are waiting on these things why aren't they rushing them through? I know some of the others in the class were teachers etc so they'd need the certs before school starting I'd imagine? *sigh*

Di

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Boxer Paper Scraps

I decided to use up some scraps. Paper scraps are always something I use up on cards, so quick and easy and this design really does help all those little strips we seem to end up with after creating layouts! Just snip to 3"x1" lengths and stick in a haphazard fashion, then add a sentiment strip. I printed off a series of sentiments in different background colors/fonts so expect to see more cards like this in the upcoming weeks :) You all know I LOVE to use scraps!

Boxer Patterned paper scraps

The second card is pretty much the same deal, scraps, scraps and more scraps. I used the Boxer patterned papers and the Boxer tearing ruler for the white cardstock strip. Love that for a more uniform tear. Plus it really makes the whole thing easier!

Boxer patterned paper scraps

So grab those scraps and get creating some fun cards!

Di

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Scrapbooking.com August

The latest issue of Scrapbooking.com is up online for viewing and there are lots of great articles and eye candy to look at! Including my article on recipe books :)

Go check out the article for full details, supply list and step by step instructions

Di

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Card Sketch August #1

It's August! It's hot here in Southern California as we are in the second half of Summer. Pool pump is breathing it's final breaths so looks like no swimming for the next few days at least :( Anyway it's Wednesday and card sketch day!

Still on the digital kick! Can't seem to shake it, but I like it! I LOVE this card CD from Glitz, especially the floral paper on the card below. I kept everything the same as the template and just colorized and added digital papers. Simple!

"Friends" card by Di Hickman
Supplies: Glitz card collection CD

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"Happy Birthday" card by Louise Connell
Supplies: Cardstock ~ Bazzill; Flower Journalling spot ~ Prima; Sentiment stamp ~ Doodlebug; Ribbon ~ from stash

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"I love you" card by Jackie Price
Supplies: Fancy Pants – Crush, stickles, transparency, ink

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"Cherish the journey" card by Jan Tatomir
Supplies: Cardstock: Bazzill; Paper: Graphic 45; Spinner: Cosmo Cricket; Brad: Making Memories; Word Stickers: EK Success; Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Ranger); Lace Trim: handmade by Rachel Theall; Buttons: stash

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"Lucky Me" card by Pearl Liu
Supplies: Core'dinations cardstock, Nikki Sivils' Sweet as Cherry Pie 8x8 paper pad, Making Memories Shaped pin

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"Thanks" card by Annette Taylor
Supplies: Bazzill, Patterned Paper - Crate Paper and My Mind's Eye, Stamps - Elusive Images, Brads - Papermania

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"With Love" card by Chrys Rose
Supplies: Jenni Bowlin paper; Bazzill cardstock; Boxer Scrapbook eyelets; Prima flowers; Pink Paislee chipboard; Kaiser Craft pearls; Basic Grey rub on

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"Green Bird" card by Jo Willis
Supplies: Provocraft cardstock, paper and die-cut from Super Slab 10, Maya Rd chipboard bird, Green Tara flower, ribbon, paper raffia, pins, button, rhinestones and black pen.

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"Happy Birthday" card by Lizzy Davidson
Supplies: KI memories paper, crafters companion printable paper, gcs international cake sticker, craftwork cards dots.

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"Hi" card by Celeste Brodnik
Supplies: Cardstock: Archiver's; Pattern Paper: Cloud 9 Designs, SEI; Snowflake: K&Co.; Dew Drops: Robin's Nest; Rubons: Making Memories; Punch: Marvy Uchida

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Di

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