Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Sneak Peek: "School Sports, Spirit!" and "Back to School"

The set giveaway is closed, see the winner HERE!

Today we have a few new sets from Gina K you'll love, the first is my new "School, Sports, Spirit!" which perfectly captures and celebrates you AND your kids year-round sports and school activities and events, from the first day of school to the last! This set coordinates with "Just So Sporty", "Tee Talk" and "Sporty Accessories". Not just for school (and not just for kids!), you'll also be able to scrap and recognize your family and friend's favorite pastimes and achievements. I'm peeking just a couple images today, the images are so varied, but lots more to come at the party!

Here's a sports card I made for my 4 year old who starts soccer for the first time this fall. I included some shoes with cleats in the new set ( you'll love these shoes, the cleats can be removed to make running or dance shoes!) I cut them out and adhered them to look like they are running in to kick the ball. To suggest a soccer field, I stamped "Inspiration Mosaic" in Cream White on Green Apple Pure Luxury, I know it's not "regulation" soccer LOL! but I hope it suggests the feeling of playing field boundaries and helps ground my elements. Adding a small shadow under the shoe helps create the illusion of a little invisible person kicking it, no? :)

The "Go for the Goal!" greeting is curved so you can stamp it and then flip it and stamp again to create a circular greeting, this is really fun to frame up small or round images and use with your punches, here I have the soccer ball from "Sporty Accessories".
It is also nice for putting over images, which leads me to our next sneak peek set, Rupa Shevde's "Back to School"! I couldn't help use them together to show how many fun school projects you an do with both in your collection! Here I stamped it over the adorable stack of books and apple from her set to make a card for my big second grader.

To create the "spine", make a regular A2 card, then score again about 3/4" inch over from the center, fold and adhere with Scor-Tape. I stamped my solid line from "Inspiration Mosaic" across the spine in pairs to make a detail that match the books in the stamp image.


Inside my "book", I added the little pennant from "Sporty Accessories" and the "2nd" from "Just So Sporty" to go with this new "Back 2 School" greeting (more shaped greetings that fit the pennant and the megaphone! yeah! I stuck a bunch of these flags in cupcakes for the kids this week, they were a big hit!) and "Grade" sentiments included in the "School, Sports and Spirit!". Use that with numbers and you can recognize and scrap any year of school you need! The star and A+ are both from Rupa's set". It's going to be a ton of fun using all these images together for school pages!

Would you like to win "School, Sports and Spirit!"? Please leave a comment on this post telling me what hobbies, pastimes and activities your family is most involved in and traditions you might have that go with them (Friday night games, tailgating, dinner after awards etc). I will choose one person randomly to win the set and will announce it on my blog Thursday before the party!

For more inspiration with the stamps previewed today, visit Gina's blog as well as Melanie Muenchinger, the illustrator of Sports, School, Spirit.
For even more projects with tonight's two stamp sets, these Senior Design Team Members are participating in previews today: Carolyn, Cindy, Donna, Emily, Erika Jessica, Lee, Lynn, and Theresa as well as our CenterStage Spotlight Design Team members: Tina Gilliland and Vicki Dutcher

Don't forget about our Release Party on SCS starting at 7pm CST on Thursday, August 27th. There will be contests, challenges, lots of chatter as well as a ton more samples shared by the Senior Design team members and our CenterStage Spotlight team too. We'd love to have you join us!

85 comments:

  1. Fantastic Mel...you never disappoint...your creativity blows my mind!

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  2. What great sneak peaks! All of the kids are grown and gone, so my husband and I have dancing on Saturday nights as a regular activity. When the kids were here, we had soccer practice during the week and games on Saturday mornings. Since I was assistant coach, we were extra busy! Thanks for the chance to win.

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  3. Mel - you are just so creative! Both of your cards are awesome!

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  5. Mel, you rocked it again. Wow! Love the soccer card. Perfect colors and layout with the mosaic stamp and that book spine is too cool!

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  6. I am a grandma of a 9 month old, so do not have any kids to root for right now. However football was always our big family sport with lots of Friday Night Lights! I miss those days but hope my gs takes up the old football by about 2--LOL.

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  7. We live on a farm, so we show horses and do a lot of things with animals. We are also into letterboxing which is a total nature activity.

    It's a good life!
    Terri E.

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  8. Oh you know I love that!!!! Those shoes!!! And the "spine" of the book card.........OMGosh how awesome!!

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  9. love the cards and the sets - oh Melanie if I only had the money!
    as the kids grow the events change - currently my daughter plays soccer - so I am guessing our fall is going to be filled with soccer games - no football players this year - but maybe there will be a rugby game or 2 before we settle into wrestling season!
    thanks for all the fun and inspiration! Sandra

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  10. Love it Mel, another great set to have in our collections. Our kids play soccer, baseball, basketball. Hubby and I have bowled. Huby has those 300's and 800's. Pastime or tradition can't think of any.

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  11. Mel your cards are outstanding!! Love your new sets!!

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  12. Fabulous cards and just love the images. You did it again with your creative and inspiring talent. The set is awesome. Our girls were in softball. After the season we would cookout and do awards. Thanks for a chance.

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  13. What a great soccer card! Our family pastimes -- right now it is renovating our home, but it has been bicycling, hiking, and other forms of spending time together!!

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  14. Awesome cards...this looks like a great set! I dont have any children yet but I played soccer all throughout my childhood & have plenty of pages to scrap about that as well as other sports themes... I can see this being a versatile set for when my niece & nephew get into sports when they get older as well.

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  15. Fabulous cards Mel! And what wonderful stamps. My family enjoys camping fishing and our newest thing we love to do is go kayaking. Thank you for the chance to win.

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  16. I love your set, Mel. I'm afraid we don't have any activities we do yet, but my son is 4 now, started pre-K today,and I hope we will have many sports-filled events coming in our future!

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  17. My family tends to be pretty outdoorsy so we do kayaking, biking, and hiking a lot. We live near lots of parks so we usually pack a lunch to share while we are out. Also, this year we bought season passes to the Detroit Zoo so we now love to go and scope out photo ops for my hubby who is a photographer buff. We make a game out of finding great flowers, bugs, animals or whatever we think will make a great picture. We usually pack a picnic lunch to share also. Thanks for a chance to win another great stamp set!

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  18. My kids are still quite young, so we are only just beginning to get into structured out-of-the-house activities... Working on that balance between providing enriching activities and over-scheduling! :) Thanks!

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  19. Thanks for the peek - can't wait to see the whole thing! Our kids are still young so we don't know yet what kind of sports they will be involved in - but ice hockey will likely be one of them! If not to play, then at least to watch...

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  20. Looking forward to seeing the complete set. You never disappoint.

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  21. My son lives gymnastic and dance. We dint really have any after activities bc he is only 8, so we are usually off to bed when his lessons are over!

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  22. Awesome job on those cards. I love the school set and have so many uses for it. I also love the book idea for a card. I'm going to have to copy that one for sure. Thanks for all your creativity!

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  23. Hi Mel, you've done it once again. I love the football card as I would never have thought to use your stamp like that. I received your stamp in the post yesterday and can't wait to have a play. My 2 children are now grown up and away from home, but while they were here it was chaos with different sporting activities every day- especially rugby and badminton. My involvement was the proverbial taxi!!!!

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  24. How do you keep on blowing us away with these sets AND cards, Mel! The school set sneak peek is killing me; I want more. :)

    I'm a family of one, but my brother and I were both involved in swimming from elementary school through high school. I still can't look at a jello block without shivering. My parents were bus chaperones, deck-side referees, time keepers, etc. for many many years, and after rounding up pre-teens and teens for that long, have probably qualified for sainthood. I would love to take home either of these sets and am crossing my fingers to be lucky.

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  25. Great card! This set sounds like fun.

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  26. Great samples Melanie! My family has always been into crafts. We used to have crafting birthday parties and one year all the kids at the birthday party made string art pictures. Thanks for the chance to win. I can't wait to see the full set.

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  27. terrific preview and I can't wait to go look at everyone elses!

    Although our only son is now out of high school, when he was growing up we would attend Friday night football games at our local hs. However, if they were away, we'd always go to the neighboring district where part of our family had children attending and we'd attend their games with them and then go out for fun and fellowship after the game at a local restaurant. Growing up I think my son often got confused on which school he was supposed to cheer for! LOL (Of course, hubby who grew up in neighboring district loved this!)

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  28. These are just awesome, Mel!!! YOU rock!!!

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  29. I LOVE the book you made - how cute! the soccer ball card is fun too

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  30. Beautiful cards for beautiful sets!We are a family of band dorks as my kids say(it's apparently a good thing)So our Friday nights for the past seven years have been spent at the football games helping with the band equipment and refreshments and fixing ripped flags or whatever else needs to be done. Then Saturdays are spent at band competitions doing most of these same things all over again. But it's lots of fun watching your children have a passion and joy for something.And music is a great passion to have. This year will be a bit different for us. Our youngest daughter graduated and is attending a college about a 4 hour drive from our home. She made the color guard and will be in the university marching band there. Our son is a music major and is the brass and visual instructor for a local high school band.Hopefully we will be able to attend a few of her games and watch the band perform. And also get to see a few of the competitions in which our sons band will compete.It's a lot of fun and we enjoy doing it as family. How many teens/young 20's want to be around their parents?

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  31. Aww, I love the "book". These sets are fabu, as usual!

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  32. Wonderful new set Mel! We love to go swimming together and we make a pint of doing it almost once a week. We love off roading too!

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  33. FOOTBALL!! We love to watch football! My kids are all grown up and have left the nest so no more school activities here...makes me kind of sad!...LOL

    Love what has been shown of this set so far!!

    Kelly

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  34. Wow, thank you so much for the 'book' card idea! I just love it. And, as always, I am loving all the sneak peaks. As I don't have any kids, I don't have any activites and traditions to share.

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  35. I love them! As a teacher and a grandmother of 13 these sets will be used a lot!!!

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  36. I am loving this set- we used to get up early every saturday for either soccer or cross country meets- but my "boys" are now young men off on their own- however I have tons of scrapbook pages to make in my minds that these stamps would be perfect for. I am about to need a new storage box for all your sets I own!

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  37. Great samples. Would love to play with this set and all the new sets!

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  38. Great card Mel! I LOVE sneak peak week.. say that one three times really fast.. LOL.. Both of our boys have been a part of the JROTC programs in High School. Our oldestdid four years and ended as a Major. Our youngest is in his second year this year. We spend most of our time in support of the Color Guard and Drill Teams between practices and competitions.. Our family tradition is dinner after Competition win or lose..

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  39. My kids are grown so the only "sport" I do now is scrapbooking/card making. Thanks for the chance to win this set.

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  40. Alas, my athletes have grown and moved away. I do however, have a lake that is used for much skating and hockey playing in winter. How fun for those scrapbook pages! Your so amazing! Love these cards!

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  41. We try to do things as a family so whoever has a game or event gets the rest of us in the stands as support. Right now we've got hockey, basketball and golf going on - along with guitar and piano. Keeps us hoppin'! We also like to sit around a fire, roast marshmallows and look at the stars.

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  42. Another fantastic set, Melanie! Wow! Your cards are awesome! No kids in our family, but DH and I enjoy golfing together and it has become our Sunday afternoon date.

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  43. My kids were in the band so Friday night football games were our tradition. Some of them were also involved in track and fencing.

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  44. Love the card for your 2nd grader. What a great idea!

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  45. my son has a packed fall season ahead of him which includes soccer, swim class, tennis and french. i am also a room mom.

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  46. Great cards! I love the sneak peeks so far! My kids were into marching band. We had Friday night football games and all day Saturday events of marching band competitions. Our fall was always jam packed. My husband and I traveled with the band as pit crew and uniform volunteers.

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  47. Looks like a great set can't wait to see the full set when it it released, friday night football for us this year as my son is on varsity, thanks for a chance to win!

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  48. love these great job
    Hugs
    Norine

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  49. Melanie, what fun and creative cards! I love them! Two new stamps sets this month! You rock girl!

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  50. My 2 kiddos have tried everything
    dance, gymnastics were short lived but we had many good soccer years and at the same time they wwere doing karate - a couple years of softball/baseball and then last year it was swim team. This year looks like swim team again for my son and art club for my daughter.
    This new set of yours will fit right in on my shelf :)....

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  51. I like the school card you created to look like a book; very cute!
    The sports activity my family plays is tennis.

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  52. Just delivered my 'baby' to her dorm room last weekend and my 'older baby' will be moved in her dorm room in 2 weeks. Since we have lived on bleachers for the past 10 years, I'm not sure what our lives will be like now. Both girls were in 3 sports and that was our lives and I'm going to have a hard time adjusting. Guess I will just have to 'stamp more!!'
    Barb W

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  53. Really enjoying your new cards with this set! Our daughters are grown now but we used to do it all - soccer, volleyball and basketball - and all the stuff that goes with it! Whew we were busy...miss it but too old to try and keep up with it all now LOL
    Linda

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  54. Soccer is a huge part of our fall schedule. Way excited about this stamp set!! I just got the mosaic and LOVE it!!

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  55. Both of these cards are WONDERFUL (and you just sold both sets to me, btw!)
    Basketball is a HUGE thing for our family...DH coaches both boys, is the liason for our little private school and the city league and is trying to help build the "feeder" program at the school. Oldest DS is trying out for some new sports as a jr varisty this year. Yup....both sets are a must!

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  56. Wow! Another great set and your cards are fantastic. My kids have been in all kinds of sports; baseball, softball, soccer, football, basketball, cheerleading, dance and poms. This set would be perfect for scrapbooking all these activities. Thanks for the chance to win your set.

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  57. Wow, those look like great sets, can't wait to see the whole reveal.

    This time of year as become to revolve around my son being in his high school marching band. Band camp starts it off in late July and from there it's lots of practices, Friday night football games, pep rallies, bon fires, parades, and marching competitions straight through until just before Thanksgiving. Being a Band Mom means watching them, of course, helping with uniforms, chaperoning, working fundraisers and concession stands, being a "roadie", and just whatever it takes to help them be their best. My husband helps by towing one of the equipment trailers and working on the "pit crew." My mom has designated herself his #1 cheerleader. It truly has become a family affair. But, this is his Senior year, so this will be the last. It's a sad but happy season this year, one we'll definitely treasure above all the rest! (By the way, there wouldn't happen to be any Marching Band stamps in this new sports set? Marching Band is a not a sport, though, it's "a lifestyle." LOL!)

    Love your cards, and I could really use some new school themed stamps. I still have the last 11 yrs of my son's school years to scrap! Maybe I can get it all done by the time he graduates from college! LOL!

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  58. We are just getting into swimming at my house! My 3 year old and I got out for lunch after her swimming lesson. It's a nice little treat for the two of us!

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  59. Fantastic peek! Great samples! Looks like this will be another must have to go along with my sporty accessories! I had fun making a cute layout with that one recently, with many more to come i'm sure! Thanks for the fun sets and a chance to win!

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  60. Our family does the grandparent thing! We go to baseball and baseball for our grandson (6) and softball for our granddaughter (17). She will be playing in college next year so our traveling will take us to cities we've never been before. When we can't be there for her, handmade cards will speak volumes! Thanks for chance to win.

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  61. Great creations, as always. You are amazing. I did guess correctly about the skates! I am so proud.

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  62. Wonderful! I really am loving getting to see the set in action. Thanks!
    ~ky

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  63. Great set!!
    My husband and I have only been married for 2 years and have a 7 month old so we're only just starting to think about which traditions to carry forward, but we like to snowmobile in the winter and go sledding, skiing and skating. In the summer we like to play frisbee and kick the soccer ball around. Hot chocolate after winter sports and ice cream in the summer of course!! :)

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  64. Melanie, you are a genious!! I can't wait to play with these and mix'em with your other sets. SharriC

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  65. I know it isn't sports realted - but my hubby and I LOVE to pick up fresh baked bagels from the bakery and a tub of cream cheese and enjoy them over the Sunday paper. Can't wait to see your full set. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  66. Another great new stamp set! Your work is truly amazing!! My son is all grown up, so don't go to the sporting events anymore. However, we love to listen to the concerts!Thanks, Christar

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  67. What a cool card! I love how you made the shoes look as though they were kicking the ball!! Thanks for the great sneak peaks!!

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  68. I love this card and the "spine" really adds a nice punch to the card. My 3 1/2 year old is not into organized sports yet, but I can't wait to make cards like this to encourage him as he grows up. Thanks for the chance to win

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  69. Perfect set as I start off the new school year! As a teacher I am always looking for new ideas to add to my class! This set would be perfect!

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  70. Great cards!!!! I can not wait to get this new set....so exciting!! Is it Thursday yet??

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  71. Melanie,
    Your cards always inspire me! Our kids are involved in all sorts of sports, and if we are not at 6 little league games during the summer months, Volleyball games in the fall for our twins as well as football, basketball and professional games for our city's teams! We are a huge sports family! Thanks for all the sneak peeks!

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  72. These are adorable!!! Here is what we do:
    Soccer, soccer, soccer, oh did I mention soccer?! We have 1 child, a high school freshman. She plays in a club league in the fall and will for school in the spring. Husband coaches club. We go to the high school boys soccer games. We go to Friday night football games, for the band, I always say. We have a good band, and now our daughter is in hs band. We always have a huge tailgate party for homecoming, because we live so close to the hs.

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  73. These sets are a must have! We love Friday night football where I'm from. We all get out our spirit clappers, go to the game and cheer on our Cougars and then out for pizza afterwards. Lots of fun!
    Barb M.

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  74. Great cards! Our family has been tent-camping since the kids were little. Now that they're all grown up and two are married, we plan a week of camping each summer with the whole family. We learned the merits of tarping over our tents in our early years of camping. Even if it rains, we stay dry. Our son-in-laws have taken this idea and run with it. Each camping trip, they come up with more and more elaborate tarpology for our site. We have great fun with it. We have many good times together around the campfire.

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  75. What a great couple of cards! I LOVE those 'dancing' soccer shoes paired with the cool soccer field! And, you're right - Rupa's set works awesome with it too!! Great job

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  76. LOVE the cards!! The soccer card is super cute. On Sundays our family watches football together . We also have a "football pool'.

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  77. We are volleyball, cheerleading and basketball! Exhausting just thinking about it!

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  78. Great projects, Mel!
    We are hockey people, and spend a lot of time at the rink!

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  79. This looks like a great set. I love back to school fun. Thanks for a chance to win.

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  80. Your cards are great!! I grew up loving and practicing gymnastics. Right now my daughter loves swimming and soon she will start soccer :) (I love soccer too)

    Thanks for the chance to win.
    God bless
    Giovana

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  81. What a fabulous new set from you Melanie! Love it and what a perfect compliment to your others. Favorite family activity is sports...throughout the spring and summer it is baseball (Little League) which my son plays and dh coaches, and now we are gearing up for football. However, not playing, just enjoying College and the NFL on TV. Just big sports fans in my family! Thanks for the chance :o)

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  82. My kids are too little to have any favorite things to do on Friday right now

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  83. Melanie this is super creative, love how you created the book spine for your very fun card. Stinks that I couldn't get internet until today. Just another wonderful sacrifice of living in Sicily.

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