Friday, April 22, 2011

Inspiration Hop, Day 1: "Garden Silhouettes" and "Timeless Textures"

What a release party last night, oh my goodness, that was fun!! Thank you all for turning it out and chatting, there were faces "new" and "old" and it wouldn't be a party without all our amazing Gina K customers and fans! If you missed all or any part of it you can see all the samples, chatting thread, videos and challenges linked on the STV main page! Now, for more inspiration!
Today we focusing on Gina's sets, "Timeless Textures" and the new "Free with Three" set "Garden Silhouettes"! (I love being able to post the full set now that we do our hops after the release, and you are going to love these!) Texture stamps are such great stamps to have in your "toolbox", they are perfect as the focus of a card or a way to add just the right something to make a beautiful design even better! And chunky, bold stamps like these silhouette flowers work for so many techniques, so today I combined the two on my card.


Cardstocks are Gina K Pure Luxury White, Little Boy Blue and in The Navy. I love all the white space on this card! I began by inking up the long "linen" stamp in a pale blue ink, and then inked up the bold iris in Vivid Inky Blue and kissed it all over the inked texture stamp, re-inking each time and varying the height of the flowers by stamping them in different positions. then I huffed on the texture stamp and pressed it onto the white cardstock.




The kissing effect is subtle here, but effective, see below. This texture is so fine that if you used a line art image you would hardly see it kissed, but these bold flowers are just right. :)


Next I did some Direct to Stamp by inked up the different portion of the iris with my Memento Markers, Summer Sky and Danube Blue for the flowers and Cottage Ivy for the leaves and pressed it over the textures on the left, to leave room for my greeting on the right. The bold silhouette really brings out those kissed images on the linen, and that linen block really grounds the solid flower and adds interest to the layout.



I also used the Scor-Bug and Scor-Buddy to pierce a row of holes to underscore the sentiment, skipping around the flower stem. No embellishments on this card! The colors and gorgeous images really stand out beautifully with no distractions.


I decided to go ahead and post this same card portrait style, because I think either layout looks pretty cool! If you send it in an envelope, it'll be up to the recipient to decide which way it goes anyway, and I'm sure most people will have "one" way they see it and one way only, and that's great!











      • Vicki Dutcher

      • Hope you have terrific Easter weekend with your family, and our inspiration hops will be continuing for the rest of our new sets on Monday! :)

      174 comments:

      1. oh Mel! I saw that card at the hop last night but didn't know who had made it - just lovely!

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      2. wow- Mel, I LOVE your card. The colors are awesome, and I love the way you layered the images!

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      3. Lovely card, Melanie! So soft and subtle, perfect for a sympathy card.

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      4. How lovely. These textures are awesome.

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      5. Melanie--Just got my Gifts of the Sea stamps, via my WIN at StampTV's color challenge! I had to drop everything and spend several hours with them....THEY ARE just STUNNING! Love your work, and love this card too! I just bought myself broke at the launch party.....woohoo, I say. Woohoo!

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      7. Lovely card, I love that you perforated just toward the edge, added just the right touch.

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      8. So awesome Mel! I love the portrait style of it, always love something different like that on my cards too, lol! Such gorgeous color choices too!

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      9. Lovely card, Melanie. Love the combination of both sets.

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      10. Gorgeous, Mel! The way you used the texture stamp really makes those flowers pop!

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      11. I'm always looking for sympathy card inspiration; this one is lovely.

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      12. These are lovely! The layering is so crisp, and I love the colours you used! TFS!

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      13. Perfectly stunning, as usual. Thanks for inspiring.

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      14. So clean, elegant, and beautiful! Love this design.

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      15. Wonderful card design Mel. Great use of the stamp sets.

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      16. Beautiful! you always add that extra touch of elegance to your cards!
        Hugs,
        Marie

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      17. Truly gorgeous!!! LOVE the coloring on the flowers and that you can use the card either way!! Great design!!!

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      18. More kissing! Great card for a 'sympathy' - it's so easy to go over the top but this is perfect.

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      19. It's beautiful. I'll have to try this one too!

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      20. I always enjoy seeing your beautiful work.

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      21. So beautiful. Perfect sympathy card with its softness.

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      22. Nice idea with having the background stamp going in one direction and the flower stamp only slightly covering.

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      23. 2, 2 layouts in one, love it, love the colors and the kissing!

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      24. Stunning card! Love how you've used the kissing technique 'on' the texture stamp instead of 'with' the texture stamp. Thanx for sharing! :)

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      25. very beautiful... and original!

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      26. Beautiful card, you are so talented and I love your stamps too.

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      27. So soft and pretty...PERFECT for a sympathy card.

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      28. Wow... what a great idea using the flower to be the background stamp on another background stamp. Love it! I'm always looking for a subtle sympathy card and this it a good one!

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      29. Gorgeous card, love it !! Thanks so much for sharing.

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      30. The colors and textures are simply lovely. Fabulous job!

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      31. Oh My! Tremendous card - the paper piercing is such a great addition, and I forget about it all the time - thanks for the inspiration!

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      32. OK, now am really inspired. I'm itchin to get into my papers and ink. Great job.

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      33. What a soft and lovely card, Mel. I love it from either perspective.

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      34. Loved your card. Thanks so much for sharing.

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      35. makes a wonderful sympathy card - they are so hard to make

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      36. You did an amazing job on this card. love everything about it.

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      37. Gorgeous! Love the blue and the design of your card!!

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      38. Another to describe as simple elegance. I love your style!

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      39. great idea. the reflection of the flower in the background. beautiful job!

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      40. Love how you added the flower to the background stamp. Very nice!

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      41. Love this stamp set your textures and color combo really are great

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      42. Great card and I love how you used the texture stamp. Thanks for sharing!

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      43. Loved the combo of the two sets!

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      44. I agree - it looks good portrait style too! Love the colors and the layout!

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      45. Your use of the blue for the flowers is beautiful.

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      46. So soft and pretty, the perfect Sympathy card.

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      47. What a very elegant and fabulous way to express one's sympathy. Very creative.

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      48. I always love an example of a sympathy card that's not overly somber. I tuck away the idea to use myself!

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      49. Beautiful card, Love how you used the textured stamp!!

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      50. What a beautiful card - love the techniques you used!

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      51. Gorgeous card. I love the layout you used.

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      52. I like the way you faded the background stamp.

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      53. Cool card either way Melanie!

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      54. simplicity at its best! Love this card.

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      55. Simple and elegant - nice card.

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      56. What a fun way to use the kissing technique. I love the subtle way it shows on the textured image. Beautiful card Melanie!

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      57. Great card and love the different design elements to it.
        Blessings~
        catherinesangels@yahoo.com

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      58. Beautiful card! It's so perfect for a sympathy card.

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      59. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! you are very talented!

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      60. Wonderful card! I love the touch of black framing that makes your card pop!

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      61. Beautiful card! I like the quote too!

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      62. Very pretty...I like the combo!
        Jan Castle

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      63. Beautiful job showcasing the new stamps! Love the colors you chose for your card.

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      64. Really love the card. You are awesome.

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      65. Beautiful card--perfect design for a sympathy card but I can also see using the same design for a get well card. Thanks so much for sharing

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      66. Simply elegant...perfect for a sympathy card. Loving these two sets.
        crafty teacher

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      67. Love your card. The colors are wonderful. Thanks for sharing.

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      68. This is so elegant and just beautiful! I think whoevered received this would find such comfort in the softness of the colors and textures.
        Thank you for sharing your inspiration!
        And I love your new set and the papers Melanie! You did a gorgeous job with them!
        May you have a Blessed Easter!
        Hugs,
        Mary

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      69. Oh Melanie your cards are as amazing as your stamps!!!

        Jackie
        jmpresearch@gmail.com

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      70. I'm amazed at all of the creative interpretations I've seen using these two sets! TFS!

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      71. Great card, luv the card. Very understated..very classy.

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      72. Love your color combo and the piercing is simply perfect.
        Blessings Bernie

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      73. I love your cards. How impressive are they?! You are awesome!

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      74. Totally cool! Love it... simply superb! TFS!

        Kris in Alaska
        funamom at yahoo dot com

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      75. Lovely, sympathy card, very seren and calming. Your work is always special. Thanks for sharing it.

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      76. Great cards, really pretty and using the "score" tools does set off the wording very nicely.

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      77. You are right! The subtlness of the background texture is gorgeous.
        I love this idea using the kissing technique!
        Thanks for sharing!
        Marie

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      78. Beautiful card and love the layering. Thanks for sharing.

        Linda D.

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      79. Love the stamps and the textures.

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      80. I love the softness of this design Mel!!! Just gorgeous!!

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      81. I just love you.... blue card it so pretty and neat layout!

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      82. Beautiful and elegant card!!
        love it :)

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      83. Oh my goodness! how beautiful is this. tfs with us Mel. Pat x

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      84. Wow, what a gorgeously unique card creation! Stunning!

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      85. Leave it to you to pucker up and kiss. LOVE the effect it had on your card. Perfect really!

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      86. Melanie, This is beautiful with the subtle background. Perfect. Happy Easter to you and yours.

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      87. Great card. I like that technique.
        God bless,
        PeggyS

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      88. Mel, such a wonderful card! Simple and elegant. Perfect blending of the two stamp sets. Such great stamps in the release this time.

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      89. Just so very lovely cards you have created. I am so inspired by you. Thank you so much

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      90. Very Very creative. Thanks for posting.

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      91. wow so pretty!!!! i really like these background stamps. would like to try them with the bling set i have!!!! love the kiss method on this too.

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      92. I love how beautifully these sets compliment one another Melanie, you showcased them so well in your card. Just love it.

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      93. What a beautiful soft card, I love how you used the timeless texture stamp!

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      94. The card is just lovely, you did a wonderful job, thank yo so much for sharing!

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      95. Very pretty--I like the kissing effect.

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      96. Beautiful card! I am so loving the texture stamps! Thanks for the inspiration.
        herzigfam

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      97. WOW!!! Gorgeous card!!! Simply stunning!!!

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      98. Crisp, clean, layered design!

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      99. Beautiful Melanie! I love your clean design.

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      100. Nice combination of the 2 sets!
        DeniseB

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      101. WOW!! Love it!! P.S. just bought a copy of a cardmaking magazine the other day and see some of your cards in there. It was like seeing an old friend.

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      102. Loved how you used the kissing technique and using markers to shade the flowers. :)

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      103. love the card. awesome colors.

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      104. Beautiful! I love the pierced accent.

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      105. Love the layouts - both look fabulous~

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      106. Love all the techniques you used on this beautiful card. I'm going to have to try them!

        Carmen L
        cal8007 at aol dot com

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      107. WOW! This is such a neat technique with the kissing flower on texture BG!!!!

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      108. Your card is so clean and simple - just my style.

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      109. What a beautiful card. So elegant.

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      110. beautiful card - love how you kissed the main flower image into the textured background so it looked like subtle shadows

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      111. Yes, I think it works great either way!! I need to try this when my sets get here!!!

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      112. beautiful cards! thanks so much for sharing. Gina sure has some wonderful stamp sets.

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      113. Mel, this is beautiful!! Love the way you used the two stamp sets.

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      114. Wow, you have sold me on needing that texture set! What a really neat look you created.

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      115. This is gorgeous. I love how you kissed the background.

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      116. Outstanding! I love the kissing technique you've used and the colours and the overall look of the card.

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      117. You are right-the card works in either orientation.

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      118. This is really pretty. Thank you for your easily understood description of how you made it.

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      119. Wonderful card and thanks for showing it to us different ways. Both have my mind contemplating. Love the blue!

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      120. I love this card. Beautiful. Thank you

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      121. Nice job...good use of the background stamps and showing what can be done with it! NICE!

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      122. Thanks for refreshing the kissing technique. Haven't used it in a while and these stamps work perfectly with it!

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      123. Wow, I LOVE your card, Melanie!! Both orientation looks GREAT!

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      124. Very creative card. Would love to win these stamps so I could make the same card myself!

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      125. Lovely cards, these seems to be a very versatile set of stamps, all the cards are wonderful!!

        Donna Przy...

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      126. I don't believe I've ever seen a layout like this and I like it. Thank you for sharing. Isn't Garden Silhouettes with Timeless Treasure a great pair.

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      127. I have never seen a layout like this before, and I like it. Thank you for sharing. Isn't Garden Silhouettes and Timeless Textures a great pair.

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      128. What a beautiful card. Absolutely lovely.

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      129. Absolutly stunning - I adore the subtle kissing texture!!!!

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      130. Mel this is a stunning card! the color combo is just perfect with this image for a Sympathy card.

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      131. Beautiful sympathy card...love how you used this stamp set.

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      132. Very nice card Melanie!

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      133. Very nice....I wasn't sure what the 'kissing' was but it was easy to figure out...lovely!

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      134. Lovely card Melanie! That kissing effect is so cool!

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      135. beautiful and inspirational cards

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      136. Great design Melanie and a beautiful card!

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      137. I love the color, images and the backgrounds, I guess I love it all. Thank you for all your inspiration.

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      138. Lovely card -- very useful too! Thank you for all your inspiration.

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      139. So pretty. Love how you combined the two sets. Thank you for sharing. It's always a pleasure stopping by here. ;0)

        Traci Lord
        3team3lord3@comast.net

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      140. Oh how I love this card! So soft... TFS, Melanie.

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      141. thanks for sharing the idea of shadow stmping onto the texture block. great look. i always learn something from your stamping, Melanie.

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      142. Beautiful creation.. Thanks for sharing.


        Wendy K in Chicago

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      143. I just love this card and the how you used the kissing techniques here with the two stampsets. I'm definately inspired :^)

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      144. These are really beautiful! I missed the release party and am catching up now!

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      145. Keep up the great work. Love to get new ideas and each time I learn something new.

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      146. so wonderful to get ideas of all the things tah we can do. Please keep up the good work. Love it!!

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      147. Wow, what a beautiful sympathy card. Love the way you used both sets of stamps on this card.

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      148. Love how you did that textured layer with the flowers! This is a real WOW card!

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      149. Beautiful cards, great new sets too!

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      150. You come up with the most fabulous designs Mel..Your card is awesome.

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      Your generous feedback helps make my work and this blog better! Thanks for inspiring and motivating me! :)