Monday, February 8, 2010

Sneak Peek: Pressed Flowers and O Baby

I'm so excited to present my newest set this month, because one of your favorite stamp sets is about to get even better! My February release "Pressed Flowers" contains bold images of all the classic flower elements you love in "A Year of Flowers", plus new sentiments! Like blooms preserved in a book, it will be a timeless addition to your stamp collection. On its own, "Pressed Flowers" can be used to make wonderful vintage cards or very stylized, trendy ones, perfect for creating year round cards in vibrant color using a variety of techniques like kissing, direct to stamping; but paired with "A Year of Flowers" you'll get exciting new two-step combinations without having to color, and there won't be a stamping technique you can't do with both sets. I'm really having a blast finally getting to play with both (this was a really hard one to wait for!) Although I adore coloring the line art with my Copics, I know not every one has them and sometimes you just don't have the time or inclination to color! With these you don't have to. No coloring on any of these flower samples today, unless you count scribbling on a stamp LOL!
This first card uses just "Pressed Flowers". I wanted to show direct to stamp as well as what beautiful custom backgrounds you can make to match them in any color, no need for DP! I inked up my flower with a light purple waterbased marker, loosely adding a darker purple to the middle and then yellow and darker mustard to the flower center before stamping, then stamping once again without reinking to create the second flower. I cut them out and popped them up over my stamped leaves and stems. the background I inked up just the flower in lavender and went back adding some green leaves, didn't even bother with masking, hee hee! I sponged on more purple ink to soften it and on my focal point before removing my Labels Eight Die. "Bloom" on the tag is also from this set, perfect for spring or an anytime reminder to enjoy growing! Base is Vibrant Violet and embossed CB background is Victoria.
This next card I used both sets like 2-step stamping, black for the line art and a solid pink pad to ink up the roses to match the Passionate Pink card base. I intentionally did not use a stamp positioner here to show how lovely it looks when you just eyeball it and get this beautiful little highlight along the edges without going for a perfect match, it adds a lot of whimsy and gives it a very artsy look! Plus how easy, right? (They WILL match UP though with a positioner though if you prefer that. I will show lots of different tips and ways to use these later on my blog, I promise!) The leaves I inked up with a green pad and then ran a darker olive marker along the veins to give them more depth, and stamped them off several times to create the cut accents and background. Card also uses Ivory, Black Onyx and Fresh Asparagus. I'm really liking how these two different techniques, vivid roses with the more shadowed leaves look, on the same card! (And I'm so happy to have a beautiful "Praise the Lord" as a stamp!)
This last card I combined both the new set and "A Year of Flowers", but instead of using the new bold stamps like "fillers" for the images, I stamped solid black stems and leaves from the new set onto White CS and added the line art daisy from the previous set to make this bold graphic print, isn't that fun? Very modern looking, and completely different from the two cards above! I added button centers from the new Gina K Spring Collection, an assortment of pastels in both opaque clear and pearlized buttons like you see here, and then added the thanks in a circle punch. Card base is the new zesty Pure Luxury Lemon Drop to match the button centers, I just love this color with Black Onyx and White, such a fresh combo! This card was finished in less than ten minutes, you gotta love that! Would you like to win this set? Leave a comment below telling me which of these flower cards is your favorite OR your favorite stamping technique to do with bold stamps. I will draw a winner Thursday and announce it before the party!
My next peek uses Rupa's new "O Baby!" set! Although it took some time, I cut these little duckies apart because I wanted to link e popped up ducks with some real floss along with a little pearl tied on at the end for my pull string. The pearl is held in place with a glue dot. I used my new Labels Die like an alphabet storybook here, scoring down the middle and cutting my greeting stamp apart so I could stamp the "B" separate from the "blessing" on the different pages.
Here is a closeup to show the coloring. I added a little button again for the Spring Collection as well as some yellow ribbon from the Spring Ribbon Assortment to match the Lemon Drop base (I pierced this with the Scor-Bug). Isn't the little safety pin sweet? The beautiful polka dotted DP is from Nina's new "Spring Into Spring" Digi paper, which coordinates with the other Pure Luxury pastels.


Now visit these designer's blogs for even more samples with the Pressed Flowers stamp set and Rupa Shevde's O Baby Stamp set as well!
Gina Krupsky
Jessica Fick *
Theresa Momber
Nina Brackett
Carolyn King
Cathy Tidwell
Lee Murphy
Lynn Mercurio
Donna Baker
Emily Giovanni
Erika Martin
Bev Gerard
Suzanne Dean *

* also previewing the new Card Kit Stamp set: Spring Florals


More peeks to come! Also, the winner of my flower picking contest from LAST week is....Carla Suto! Congrats Carla, the way you masked and arranged that trio of roses and then layered them on all the different dies just took my breath away! She will be receiving a copy of my new Pressed Flower set as well as designing with March's set next month, so stay tuned! Thanks everyone for all the wonderful submissions!

85 comments:

  1. Oh, hooray! I am NOT a color-er, so this is perfect! Great samples today, loved them all!

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  2. I LOOOOOOVE this new set Melanie!! I am so looking forward to using this one with the year of flowers set and even more-so with the arranged with love set!!! I love to do direct stamping with my twinkling h2os so this is PERFECT!!! SO excited!! :)
    I have to say that I really like all 3 cards you showed but I am definately favoring the 3rd one with the daisy image as it's not something I would ever do myself and love this black and white with the color-pop as the matte.

    Thanks for the inspiration!!
    Darla

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  3. All three cards are beautiful, but the first one, bloom, is my favorite. I love the background you did and the color you used. It is a very soft and pretty card.

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  4. Wonderful card Melanie!! So hard to pick just one! I love them all.

    Thanks for the chance to win.
    God bless
    Giovana

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  5. Awesome--thanks--I can't wait to see the full release. I love the first card with it's wonderful color. I like solid images like these, so I don't have to color which is not my forte. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  6. Great new set!!! My favorite is the rose card, but they are all beautiful!

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  7. Love your cards Mel and can't wait to get my set... 2 step stampin' is a favorite technique of mine. HUGE congrats to Carla for winning the set and being your Guest Designer, she is going to ROCK your sets I am sure. Go Carla, Go Carla...she is a fellow NC gal! :o)))

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  8. I love the pressed flower myself.....and the the rose....I love all of them....and can't wait until Thursday.....

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  9. Oh Melanie! I love your cards! I can't wait for your new set to be released. I think it will be very happy living at my house with it's mate!

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  10. I love your first card! Those flowers are gorgeous and I am partial to purple! I'm excited to see what others do with your new set!

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  11. Just loved the first card with the purple!! These look to be awesome stamps that would make life so easy!

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  12. Melanie-this new set looks oh so fab!!! My favorite technique with solid stamps is thumping. Thank you for the chance to win!!!

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  13. Great cards Melanie--those flower images are gorgeous, but my fave is that black & yellow masterpiece! Love 'em!

    hugz,
    Suzanne

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  14. I like the bloom card, but my favorite technique is 2step stamping - can't wait to try it with the Pressed Flowers and Year of Flowers combo!

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  15. I love the Bloom in purple card-looking forward to seeing what else is in this terrific set! Thanks for the chance to win it!

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  16. I am loving the passionate pink with the vivid roses the most, but I must say I love the lemon yellow card (so clean and with the buttons) too! I can't wait to see this stamp set in total!

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  17. Absolutely gorgeous samples! My favorite is probably the daisy, just because I'm in a yellow-black-and-white mood today. But I really want to try the "marker to stamp" technique, and your first card shows how pretty the results are.
    Can't wait to see the entire set!

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  18. What a great new set! So many possibilities and I know you will provide us with a few!!! I would love to win this set -- crossing my fingers nad hoping you draw my name!!

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  19. i loved all the samples! the soft, delicate coloring on the first card is so sweet....but then i really like the last card with the bold leaves and line art flowers. very contemporary. and gina's new yellow c.s. is going to be a must!
    sandyh
    sandyha@comcast.net

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  20. I absolutely love the Praise the Lord card with the pink roses - I think that card is just stunning! I can't wait to get these sets - I live on a very limited budget and have been hoping to win a set, but I think it is time for me to break down and buy both of these sets because I just can't do without them anymore and I just love the way the two sets work together or by themselves so that you can make so many more cards than you could with two sets that didn't coordinate like these two do.

    Thanks for all the wonderful inspirations!!

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  21. All of them are so gorgeous. But bloom is my favorite one.

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  22. Beautiful cards! These florals are gorgeous and nice job illustrating them!

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  23. Quick and easy...love it!! Thanks for sharing the ideas for the flower set, my favorite...I've done this technique before and enjoy it a lot!!!!
    Jan Castle

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  24. OHHH the Pressed Flowers direct to paper IS gorgeous too!!!!! And what a cuuuute duckie!!!

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  25. Hi Melanie, yet again another fantastic set. I really like the daisy card, so modern and fresh. I never use yellow - may have to take the plunge now though. Thanks for the chance to win goodies.

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  26. I love the lavender card, even though purple is not my fav. I have a Year of Flowers, and really NEED this, I know!!! Can't wait to see the rest!

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  27. I like the black, white and yellow fower combo with fun buttons.

    It's a good life!
    Terri E.

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  28. I love the set - as I knew I would! Can't wait to have it come home to me. I especially like the way you did the first card with the lavender. Truly I love them all!

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  29. I love this set Melanie and I loved the pressed flowers card, so soft and beautiful. I also like the combined set card. I definitely have to have this Set! Love it love it love it!

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  30. OMG I cannot wait for this release! I love all the samples and I'm leaning towards sample 2 as my fav, or maybe 3, nah maybe 1...

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  31. I love all the examples, but my favorite is the one using the "Two Step Method" with the pink flowers. Thanks for all of your inspiration.

    Martha
    Marthamh2@aol.com

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  32. I love this new set of flowers, definetly will be on my wish list. I just love the the daisy.

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  33. I just love this set!! Makes me wish for spring and all my flowers-I can't wait to try them!

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  34. Love the Daisy Flower card Melanie. What fabulous designs...I have been saying I have too many flower stamp sets, but this one is another MUST have set (especially since I already have A Year of Flowers)! Thanks for the opportunity to win your fabulous new set Pressed Flowers!

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  35. Love your work and stamp sets. My favorite of these three cards is the black and yellow one.

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  36. OMGosh, Melanie! I was stunned to see my name as the winner of your flower picking contest! I am so excited! Pressed Flowers is absolutely awesome! I can't wait to use it both alone and with A Year of Flowers, which you know is my fav, and also with Arranged With Love! Your card samples are all amazing! I love the softness of the Bloom card and the shadowed effect and the colors of the Praise the Lord card! Your Oh, Baby sample is adorable, too! Thanks so much, Melanie!!

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  37. The Praise The Lord one is my favorite, but they are all beautiful.

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  38. ke the purple bloom one the best!

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  39. What a great stamp set, Melanie! I absolutely LOVE the Praise the Lord card, but all three are just stunning. Can't wait to see more samples and ideas with these images!

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  40. Melanie, I love the new stamp set and all three cards are beautiful but my favorite card is the roses.

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  41. Melanie! as usual WOW, WOW, WOW! All the cards are gorgeous and the inspiration is fantastic. I love all the cards but the first is so soft and simply stunning. Thanks for a chance to win and thank you for sharing your talent with us.

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  42. I love all of your cards and stamp sets and have several of the stamp sets. I do have the year of the flowers and love it. I like the buttons for the centers of the flowers. Please pick me, I would so love to win this set and thanks for the chance to win it.

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  43. Since I love flowers and A Year of Flowers is often my go to set I guess this one will be a must have too. Thanks for the chance to win. Love your samples. You do amazing work!

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  44. Melanie-I love your new set and can't wait to see the whole set on Thursday! Your cards are all gorgeous, but I have to say that the yellow and black card is my favorite. It is just so clean and striking!

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  45. You are just a genious Mel, I sincerely mean that! I am so loving this set, I have done bunches of images, just havent had the time to get the card together! LOL! But it is SUCH an AWEsome set! your cards so rock and show the versatility of it! And love the baby card, we all loved them ducks! LOL

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  46. Melanie, your DP and flowers added are FABULOUS!!! I love the line art with the solid stamp... just what I was thinking when I saw the first one! The duckies are adorable! LOVE your layout on that.

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  47. I love all the flowers but my favorite technique with these type of stamps is the two-step stamping. Thanks for designing such a wonderful set and the all the great samples. God bless!

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  48. I love the yellow, black and white card. Those colors look so fresh. But with that being said, I like the lavender one also. Actually all that you make is my fav.
    Cheryl Sims

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  49. Oh, I just LOVE the first card, the lavender one is just beautiful!!! Would just go crazy with this set.

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  50. Whoa - you were busy with this preview day! Wowza - such awesome cards! My fav is the first one - love the layout, and the pearl embellishments are the perfect touch. Next fav is the roses - so vibrant! All the others tie for third place in my favs! heehee

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  51. WOW...love, love, love the new set and can hardly wait to see the whole thing!! All of your cards are awesome, put I really like the pressed flower card. I loved the color, and the background. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  52. Oh it is hard to pick just one of these as I love them all. I'll go with the first one just because of the background paper being designed also on it.

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  53. The third card stamped in black is perfect because sometimes I only have a few hours to create a 'thank you' or sympathy card and I always have different color buttons available. Can't hardly wait until this set is out, counting the hours.

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  54. I love all of your cards - showing different techniques to use with the stamp sets. I can't wait to get the pressed flowers stamp so I can play with all the options!

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  55. I love the daisie card! Love the black & white & yellow combo!
    And those flowers remind me of when I was a child,he loves me,he loves me not,lol!
    They are all lovely though,great set!

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  56. Melanie, these are wonderful! I love your newest set, the flowers are divine! And your baby card is just so sweet!!! Great job - am lovin' that Lemon Yellow!!!

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  57. How fun! My favorite is the pink card with the pink roses. I especially like the idea of not using a positioner for the two step.

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  58. I am so glad you considered us non-colorers, or rather, us who lack shading abilities!! My favorite flower is the gerbera daisy. I am not sure what my favorite technique, but two step stamping is on the top for quick cards.

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  59. looks like another beautiful flower set!
    Love the cards - they are all beautiful!
    Sandra

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  60. bawwww....just so funny about the ducks! Great minds.......lol!

    LOVE LOVE LOVE your flower creations. what a wonderful companion to your other flower set and to any flowers! Awesome!

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  61. Your cards are all beautiful Melanie!
    My favorite is the rose card - love the highlights the two step stamping created!

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  62. How to pick, Mel, I love them all...but ''Praise the Lord'' would be the one I chose...I just love roses...
    Denise Trottier

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  63. Oh B is for blessing since I have been blessed with the most amazing twin boy grandbabies. It has a whole new meaning for me and your card is adorable.

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  64. Love your cards and the new set of flowers...so versatile to use the sets together. Love the 3rd card because it looks so easy and quick.

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  65. Wow - pressed flowers and adorable ducks (great minds think alike)

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  66. LOVE your new set, Melanie!! Great job on all your samples - I was so excited to see what you'd make with your stamp set for us!!

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  67. love your flowers! hope to win! thanks for the chance to win one!

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  68. Love them all but my favorite is the Pink card...beautiful.

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  69. I like all of the cards but the first one is my favorite. I like the flowers and the colors you used.

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  70. Melanie I am so excited about this set as you already know I love A Year of Flowers and this is so awesome that they work together. My favorite of these cards is the rose card. Thank you for all of you fabulous stamps and all of the inspiration. You Rock!!!!!

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  71. Wow, what great cards. The Thank you is my favourite with the Bloom coming close second. I love both techniques and think they are ones I could easily use. I must admit, I'm not very artistic so the easier the better. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  72. Wow! This is amazing. I love all the cards. My favorite is the purple one.

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  73. I love the yellow daisy card it just POPS! Thanks for the chance to win

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  74. Can't pick a favorite as I like them all, but if I have to, I would pick the first one as I like lavender and I like the background very much too. Just made a very pretty card. Pressed Flowers is winner stamp set!

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  75. Although they are all beautiful, the daisy card is my favorite. Love the black and white against the yellow. And the daisy is one of my favorite flowers.

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  76. Gorgeous new stamp set Melanie! Can't wait to add it to my collection! I love your first card, "Bloom". I am in love with all the colours!

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  77. My favorite is the "Pressed Flowers" lavender card!!! I love the pearls & layering, texture...its beautiful! I would absolutely love to win a set of stamps!!!

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  78. I love them all, but my favorite is the laste one. I love the daisies and the use of the button for the center.

    Lizzette

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  79. I like the first card the best. I saw that image and thought about how much fun it would be using my Copic Markers to bring the flowers to life!

    Your creations are so beautiful and inspirational to me. Thank you for all of your hard work.

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  80. Great new set -- it is definitely on my wish list now. I enjoy coloring direct to rubber and then stamping so this set would be perfect. My favorite card of the three (if I have to pick) would be the third one with the open line daisies and solid leaves -- looks so much like spring.

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  81. Melmel, bold stamps exhibiting the variety of coloration from tapping side edge of markers randomly all over the surface will produce fun one of a kind images every time! So fine to stop by your site!
    mt23stamper

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  82. Hey, Mel! Where's Praise the Lord set/sentiment? Likin' that font for such a rich statement.
    BIG SKY Hi

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  83. Beautiful cards! These florals are gorgeous and nice job illustrating them!

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  84. I LOVE the ducky card. So adorable. I also love the colors you used. I also love the pearl on the end of the rope.

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