Splashes of Watercolor

Hot Cocoa - Color Throwdown #174

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Good Wednesday morning, everyone!  I'm hosting the Color Throwdown challenge this week!

Since we've chosen to use inspiration photos for our color schemes this year, I decided to browse the internet for ideas. I'm quite sure it's no surprise that I chose a "beachy" color scheme this week! This artwork's colors immediately caught my eye, but I also love the fascinating watercolor ethereal beauty of it.

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So did I do a watercolor or even a beach scene?  NO!  I chose to use my new Hot Cocoa Cutie a la modes image from My Favorite Things.  LOVE HER!!!  And doesn't this color scheme work well with the cocoa theme?  I thought so!

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The base of my snowflake was die cut from a piece of corrugated cardboard and after it was all assembled I coated it with Twinklets Diamond Dust (FloraCraft).  I used the my tape method to separate the sentiment in order to put part of it on the inside of the card.

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This card is going to a very special lady who will soon be celebrating one of those "milestone" birthdays.  Hope she likes it!

Please be sure to visit all the blogs of the design team for some awesome inspiration:

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Thanks so much for stopping by, y'all!  I hope you'll decide to play along with us at the Color Throwdown!  You can get all the deets at the CTD blog.

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Welcome, New Year! - Color Throwdown #173

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Welcome back, everybody, to a new year of Color Throwdown challenges!

I hope you are all refreshed and rejuvenated and ready to begin anew!  I know I am!

Barbara is starting us off this year with her color choices:

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She also designed our new graphics that we'll be using this year!  Pretty cool, huh?

I pretty much took the inspiration photo literally and decided to make a "Welcome, New Year!" card.  I pulled out my glitter paper for the starry night behind the Skyline Border Die-namics die cut and used the By the Numbers die collection for the 2012. Behind the numbers I used my Crafter's Workshop mini Punchinella template and my N7 Copic marker to airbrush the stars.  I tied on a ribbon and that was it!

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I hope you'll decide to join us this week for the CTD challenge!  Let's start the New Year off with a bang!  You can get all the challenge details on the Color Throwdown blog.

And be sure to check out the gorgeous creations of our oh-so-talented design team:

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Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a very HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

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Just popping in….

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Hi, all!

I thought I'd just pop in before this year is over to show you my Christmas cards for 2011.  I only made a few this year and I had to keep them simple.  I don't know why the holiday season always sneaks up so quickly on me!

So here they are:

FOR THE GRANDKIDS~

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A FROSTY VILLAGE~

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PEARLY CHRISTMAS TREE (using trees cut from the other card fronts)~

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I hope that you all had a very merry Christmas season and that your New Year is your best one yet!

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Bright Ornaments - Color Throwdown #172

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Well, here it is…the last Color Throwdown challenge of this year.  That's so hard to believe.  I could've sworn we just watched the new year (2011) roll in and now it's saying goodbye.  Here at CTD we've said goodbye to a few dear friends and team members who decided to move on, and we brought on a whole lot more who either already were or have quickly become dear friends.  It's all good, folks!  We are a very fortunate group of women to have each other!

And we're so grateful to have all of you to play along with us each week!

Kerri's our hostess-with-the-mostess this week and she's chosen a beautiful and bright color combo for us to play with.

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I love this combo, and it reminded me so much of the Our Craft Lounge colors that I decided to go bold and bright with the Trim the Tree stamp set.  I'm also linking this to the Our Craft Lounge blog challenge - OCL95. 

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There's definitely no falling asleep while you're looking at this card!

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LOL!  Told ya!

So I hope you'll be able to take some time to play along with us!  We all always enjoy seeing your creations so much!  Be sure to check out the fabulous work of my CTD sisters:

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And speaking of Our Craft Lounge….

Tomorrow is the start of the new Valentines Day 2012 release!!  There's going to be lots of great eye candy and quite a bit of blog candy as well!  Be sure to check back in tomorrow and Friday to see what we have in store for you!

Thanks so much for dropping by today!  See you tomorrow!

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Peace on Earth tag - Color Throwdown #171

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Hello!  Can you believe we're only a little over 2 weeks away from Christmas?  Where, oh where did this year go??

Before I panic even more so than I am now about not being ready for the holidays, let's get to the business at hand…..this week's Color Throwdown color combo (chosen by our sweet new DT member, Wanda):

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Isn't that a wonderful combo to use for an elegant Christmas card?  Well, I went for a little elegance but I didn't make a card.  Inspired by T!m, I chose to use these colors to make a tag - a very glittery, shimmery tag!

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It's sort of the toned-down, masculine version of my sweet, sugary Christmas tag!

The manila tag was sponged with several different Ranger Distress inks - bundled sage, tea dye, gathered twigs and tumbled glass.  I also added a little Adirondack Cranberry ink to the mix.  I brushed Perfect Pearls over the tag as well while it was still damp from the ink.  The edges of the tag were coated with Claudine Hellmuth Studio gesso and the sheet music paper was covered with rock candy Ranger Distress Stickles.  I also used burgundy stickles for the tree decorations and the bottom scallop.  You can probably see that I doused almost everything with Martha Stewart crystal coarse glitter!  Oh yeah, the seam binding was colored with Adirondack lettuce ink.

I wanted you to see a little of the shimmer up close…and check out the bokeh effect created by the glitter!

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Whew!  Now it's time for you to try your hand at using these great colors!  I hope to see lots of entries this week!  If you need some more inspiration, please visit with our super-fabulous design team:

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Thanks so much for stopping by!  Gotta run and get some more done….more shopping, more decorating, more card making, more gift wrapping…..

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Snowy Winter Wishes - Color Throwdown #168

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Good Wednesday morning, everyone!  I'm so glad you were able to stop by today!

This week our Color Throwdown challenge is being hosted by the wonderfully talented Keva!  And I just adore her choice of colors!

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I chose to use this great combo to make another Christmas card.  I also wanted to use my new Winter Wishes stamp set from Our Craft Lounge.  Normally I would have pulled out my aqua colors for all the snow and sky (not surprised, are you?), but I thought this lovely snow scene would look great with a beautiful sunset in the background.  Perfect way to use these colors!

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I love that MFT High Tea Doily Die-namics and hated to cover it up, but it was just the perfect size as a base for the scene.

Time to check out all the beautiful creations from my CTD sisters ~

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And please play along with us!  You know you want to!  Can you handle it??

Thanks so much for stopping by to visit today!

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E-Team Blog Hop - Be Merry (Tag Series #3)

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Hi everyone!

Daisy's issued a brand new challenge to the E-Team:

Make an ATC or Tag (ie., ornaments, gifts, packing) using any of your favorite holiday stamps and/or papers.

Hmm.  It took me only a few moments to decide to use the Tim Holtz Mini Holidays stamp set.  I love every image in it!  And they're the perfect size for tags and ATCs!

Here are few more details about the blog hop before I get started telling you about my projects:

* Going to randomly give away 3 Be Merry Goody boxes
* Comments can be left Nov 15 - Nov 17 on all participating blogs
* Winners will be chosen and posted on eP Blog, Fri Nov 18th
* Also going to give away two $20 eP gift vouchers on the eP blog.  Commenters should leave comments about what their favorite Thanksgiving dessert is.

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For my projects I decided to go for 2 completely different looks.  The tag is pretty & feminine, and soft & sugary sweet.

{Be sure to click on all the images to see them larger and in more detail.}

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I started with a manila tag, of course, and used an old index card to draw out a pattern for a little house and roof.  After I was happy with the size of the house, I cut it out, scored along the lines.

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I embossed the tag with the Sizzix Snowflakes folder, painted it with Gesso, then sponged on some Ranger Distress ink in Tumbled Glass.  I decided to keep the seam binding the original ivory color, but still spritzed it with some water using a Ranger mini-mister, then scrunched it up to get the wrinkled look.

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I used a paper dessert doily (from Olive Garden), some old eyelet lace, gesso and glitter for the background of the house and tree.  The tree was cut with a Quickutz die 3 times and all 3 pieces were layered on top of each other. Star Dust Stickles were dotted onto the top layer.  And don't you just love those beautiful Maya Road decorative pins?

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The tag was cut using a Spellbinders Fancy Tags die and sponged with Ranger Distress ink in Spun Sugar while still in the die.  I guess you've noticed that EVERYTHING has been covered with some Martha Stewart Crystal Coarse Glitter!

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I added a double bow using the scrunched seam binding and topped it with a bow using Caribbean, Blossom, and Honeydew twine from the Twinery.  I also added a small jingle bell, flanked by 2 tiny ones.

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For my ATC, I went with a more masculine, rustic look.  I used a sticky-back canvas ATC and attached it to a piece of soft suede cardstock.  I stamped the snowflakes from the same Mini Holidays stamp set in Versamark and heat embossed it with my Heat-It craft tool.  Then I stamped them again  and embossed them with white detail embossing powder.  I stamped the evergreen bough a couple of times using Ranger Distress ink in Bundled Sage.

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I added some seam binding and the mini calendar from the same stamp set (which was stamped on some soft patterned paper).  The corrugated numbers are from Jillibean Soup.

The reindeer was stamped in Versamark and clear embossed onto soft suede cardstock.  I cut it out by hand.  Everything was adhered using Scor-Tape and foam mounting tape.

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Ok, now it's time for you to visit the rest of the awesome E-Team and see the fabulous creations they've come up with for your viewing pleasure!

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Thanks so much for visiting with me today!

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eP meets Starbucks - an E-Team blog hop

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Hello, everyone!  Are you ready to embark on another E-Team adventure/challenge?

This is the mission that our fearless leader, Daisy put before us this time:

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Your challenge is to only use what was in your eP box.  You have to incorporate these 3 items in your creation:  Seasonal Distress Inks, Maya Road Bottle Caps, and anything Starbucks.  You can be inspired by Starbucks drinks, décor, the company itself.  Your can use the gift card, sleeve holder, or anything you can find at Starbucks.  They have a cool logo too.  So go and get a drink at Starbucks and get inspired for this fun eclectic Challenge.

Oh my!  So are you read for some fun?  Here are the blog hop details:

• 3 winners will be selected randomly from all the blog participants comments, and they will win $20 eP gift certificates. You have until Sunday, October 30, to leave your comments.
• This is a challenge for you too!  Check out the details on the eP blog to have a chance to win a $10 Starbucks card which will be included in a box of eP goodies!

Now on to my project…….

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Those are the items I started with.  And here's the 8 x 10 artists canvas wall hanging that I came up with:

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Huh?  Well, yeah, my mind works in mysterious ways sometimes!!  When I laid out my Maya Road bottle caps in a row, I immediately saw a snowman!  You mean you wouldn't??

I used some white felt and quilt batting, along with my sewing machine to create the snowman sections which were adhered into each of the bottle caps.

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I cut up my Starbuck's coffee sleeve to create the snowman's arms, nose and hat.  Each of these was painted with watered down ink from one of the Ranger Seasonal Distress Inks. 

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I used Want2Scrap adhesive pearls for the snowman's eyes and colored a random part of a smaller pearl flourish with a Copic 100 marker to make the mouth. 

Then I spritzed the 8 x 10 artists canvas using a Tattered Angels Glimmer Screen and Sea Glass Glimmer Mist.

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I let it dry thoroughly before I adhered my glitter paper/tissue paper hills, the bottle cap snowman, and the multi-layered popped up snowflake. 

Oh yes!  I did knit the scarf myself!

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I was very undecided on what to use as a sentiment/phrase on the canvas.  I finally chose a phrase that reminded me of Frosty the Snowman and just printed it out on some printer paper.  Then I tore each word out, and adhered them each to the canvas using Claudine Hellmuth Matte Multi-Medium.   I also sprinkled some DecoArt Glamour Dust over it while it was still wet.

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That's it for my "eP meets Starbucks" challenge!!

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Now it's time for you to move on to visit the other E-Team blogs.  Here are the links for you:

 

 

I don't think Sherry or Linda Duke will be participating this time, but please visit them and leave them some love anyway!!

Thank you SO much for stopping by!  I hope you enjoyed your visit!!

Miscellaneous: white felt, sewing machine, quilt batting, buttons, cotton thread, needle, size 6 knitting needles, yarn, tissue paper, glitter paper (K & Company), brown felt, foam brush, paintbrush, water brush, rhinestone brad, DecoArt Glamour Dust, snowflake charm, computer, printer

 

MERRY - Color Throwdown #163

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Hello, everyone!  It's Wednesday again and time for a new Color Throwdown challenge.  But first let me tell you how exciting it is for us all to have so many fabulous and talented team members!  We've had so much fun chatting online, and I am SO loving all the beautiful art the newbies are adding to our challenges! 

Now on to this week's challenge, hosted by the oh-so-talented Barbara ~

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What a fantastic combo!  I immediately thought "Christmas", so I pulled out my new Ali Edwards stamp set "Believe" from Technique Tuesday.  This is so perfect for making quick and beautiful Christmas cards!

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My card is 5.5" square.  I loved layering the images with the Merry sentiment.  So cool!  Love my little jingle bell too!

Here are links to all the design team blogs:

Barbara Anders	Broni Holcombe	Carole Burrage	Danielle Kennedy	Joan Ervin	Keva Brown
Kristin Eberline	Laura Pryor	Lori Tecler	Lynn Put	Tammy Hershberger	Wanda Cullen

InLinkz.com

Be sure to play along with us this week.  You don't have to have the exact colors, just something pretty close.  You can find all the rules and the linky tool to use over at the Color Throwdown blog. 

Thanks so much for visiting with me today!  Friday is a new blog hop with the E-Team.  That's always FUN!  Be sure to come back then!

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O Christmas Tree - an E-Team/Want2Scrap blog hop

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The E-Team is excited to share in a fun blog hop with the Want2Scrap Design Team. If you are new to eclectic Paperie or Want2Scrap™ , here is a little information about these two creative companies. Each offers unique lines of products for all paper crafters.

eclectic Paperie (eP) is an online boutique for all who love paper crafts. There is an eclectic assortment of products, supplies, tools, and materials to assist you in your quest for creative expression. Stretch your basic paper crafting skills beyond simple scrapbooking and card making. Take the next step into artistic expression by "feeding your creativity" at eclectic Paperie. You can keep up with new product offerings by following eclectic Paperie on Facebook, Twitter, or the eP Blog.

Want2Scrap™  manufactures rhinestones lines including the Nestabling™ line that coordinates with the newly released Nestaboard™ chipboard line.  A variety of Nestabling and Nestaboard shapes correspond with specific Spellbinders™ Nestabilities™ die templates. Want2Scrap™ also manufactures their own line of chipboard albums and accents, acrylic albums, and multi-layered laser designs, as well as other fine scrapbooking products.  Want2Scrap™ brings ease of use and flexibility in their product lines by offering products uniquely tailored to its customers’ needs. Follow Want2Scrap on Facebook and the Want2Scrap Blog!

The E-Team & Want2Scrap™ Design Team were on a mission to create some fun projects using the Nestabling and Nestaboard, with any coordinating Spellbinders dies, too. Come blog hop with the two teams to see what kind of creative juices resulted.

The E-Team:

Daisy Sparks (The eclectic Paperie Blog)
Broni Holcombe
Latrice Murphy
Linda Duke (Representing Both Teams)
Linda Ledbetter
Micki Harper
Sherry Cheever
Starla Nelson

 

The Want2Scrap™ Team:

Heidi Blankenship - Design Team Coordinator
Dana Gustafson
Elise Durenberger
Karen Taylor
Linda Duke
Mimi Leinbach

 

Twice the number of blog hop participants means twice the fun; that includes prizes, too. Visit each E-Team  and Want2Scrap™ participating member and leave them some feedback about their creations. One comment per person per blog, please.  You have from today, Friday, September 30th, to Sunday, October 2nd, to visit each blog participant.

There will be 6 random winners chosen from the participants' blog comments.  They will each receive a $20 gift voucher from either eclectic Paperie or Want2Scrap™ .   Winners will be posted on the eclectic Paperie blog and on the Want2Scrap™ blog on Tuesday, Oct 4th, so make sure you check back to claim your prize.

 

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Now on to my project!

I chose to use the Peony Nestabord and Nestabilities for my project.  Daisy also sent me the Lavender Petite Scallop Circle (sm) Want2Scrap™ Nestabling which coordinates perfectly with the peony shapes.  (You could also use any circle or flower shape for this project.)

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So the idea I've had in my mind using these supplies was a little crazy and far-fetched, but it actually came together quite like I imagined!  So even though I burned my fingers a little, I'm rather pleased with it!

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I started by cutting several of the peony shapes using the Nestabilities (1 of the largest #6, 2 of #5, 2 of #4, 2 of #3, 1 of #2, and 1 of #1) and some My Mind's Eye paper .  Then I scored each of them on my Scor-Buddy, and folded along each of the scores to give each piece some shape. 

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Next I took some of my Studio 490 Art Parts along with the largest of the peony Nestabord shapes and painted them all with Claudine Hellmuth Studio Gesso.  I applied a coat of Studio paint in Blank Canvas as well.  When they were dry, I applied a heavy coat of Studio Multi-Medium (matte) onto the Nestabord and sprinkled it heavily with Sparkly Fluff (Sugar).  I also added a little extra glitter around the edges.

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I punched holes in each of the die cuts and applied the Nestabling to 4 of them (the tiny one is hiding in the photo).  I also attached loops of some silver string (as my tinsel), using Scor-Tape.

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Then I took a drinking straw, slid each one of the die cuts into place, and adhered them using a hot glue gun.

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I wanted to use more of the silver string in the project, so I decided to wrap it around the Art Parts spool piece.  It's held in place with strips of Scor-Tape.  I then attached the Nestabord with some more hot glue to the top of the spool and hammered in a small nail to place the drinking straw over.

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The last thing I did was to die cut some glitter paper into a star shape and stick it into the top of the tree using a piece of floral wire.

And here you have my Nestabord/ Nestabling/ Nestabilities Christmas tree:

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Thank you SO much for stopping by today.  I hope you've enjoyed seeing how I created my project.  Don't forget to leave a comment for a chance to win an eP gift voucher.  Then check out all the other fabulous projects along the blog hop.  Have fun and good luck!!

 

• Paper: Ooh La La "Sweet Surprise" (My Mind's Eye), Fresh Paint Glitter Paper Pack (K & Company)  
• Other: silver string, Concentric Stars die (Provo Craft), foam brush, drinking straw, Tombo Mono Aqua liquid glue, Sulyn Glitter

My Mind's Eye	Spellbinders Nestabilities	Want2Scrap Nestabling	Want2Scrap Nestabord - Peony	Glue Gun
Scor-Tape	Studio 490 Art Parts	Claudine Hellmuth Studio products	Sparkly Fluff - sugar

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Fiskars 9" paper trimmer

Scor-Buddy

Rock-A-Blocks

Ranger Non-Stick Craft Sheet

Tim Holtz Tonic Scissors

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