Monday, August 7, 2017

Always Space In My Heart + HUGE news!!!!

I'm quite literally freaking out over this month's My Monthly Hero Kit.

There are two things about this kit that I love - the kit, which this month is a $77 kit for $34.99, but also the ADD-ONs. The kit is while supplies last, but the add-ons live forever, and they are always amazing.

BUT HERE'S THE HUGE NEWS! ALL of the add-ons are available in one fell swoop this month - you can get 11% off by ordering them all together!! (There are a limited number of bundles - so hurry!) You know I'm the queen of the "buy it all button" so I'm so excited to be able to share this - you will find that discounted bundle here. You will be excited too when you see my cards, I think.

I actually really had a problem this month because I was supposed to be working on Dare to Get Dirty stuff and all I wanted to do was make cards with this month's stuff! DILEMMA!

So I'm going to show you cards from my INSANE marathon.  Also, if you want the kit, you need to jump on it since it's limited availability. The other items are not. But this kit will fly.

Even though I narrowly avoided failing out of physics in college, I LOVE SPACE. I love painting it, thinking about it, wondering what's out there. I love space movies and books. I love the X-Files. Space is my ocean. I'd explore space forever, and water gives me the heebies. Well except watercolor. Watercolor is my favorite. So this kit and add-ons speak to my wide-open-spaces loving heart like none before it.

So here we go. Card #1 OMG. The images from Dream Big (an add-on) are amazing (and it comes with matching dies here.) So fanciful and sweet. To make this card, I stamped the girl image on masking paper and just masked her hand before I added the planet balloon image. The whole thing is Daniel Smith Watercolor. I just did a strip of galaxy behind the image because I wanted to have the images be brightly colored and stand out from the white of the watercolor paper. I LOVE THIS CARD. This gorgeous set has matching dies, below. The paper behind the watercolor paper comes in the kit (linked below), along with some other gorgeous papers and shimmer sprays. It's beautiful, with silver glittery dots along with the white and grey dots. It has a mulberry texture. I added stars with an extra fine Posca White pen that my sweet friend Michelle Brownstein gave me at my last retreat. I LOVE this paint pen. It's flawless.


 You know how to improve on a card you love?

ADD CATS

WHO ARE ASTRONAUTS.

SERIOUSLY.

LOOK AT THIS.

I stamped the "It's Just a Phase" moon phase background stamp in black on white cardstock. (everything on this card is an add-on so it won't sell out).

Then I stamped the cat, mouse, moon and space debris images from To the Mewn and Back on marker paper and colored them with Copics. They have matching dies. I  added them on top of the vellum panel, with an infinity cloud die for the sentiment. I mounted all that on a Soft Sky card base. I LOVE THIS CARD. (I know - repetitive)

What's cool about this month's release is they've added a new cloud infinity die. So the one I used on my card is the existing one - the new one is beautiful - it's listed below the card. The vellum with the little sparkles in it is from a past kit - but I've linked one that looks identical below. MEOW.

 Since you now know I'm an X-Files fan, this next card should make a lot of sense.

I used another add-on - Astronomical - for my astronaut and sentiments.  This set also comes with matching dies.

What's funny about this card is that it's from the reject pile. I had the top galaxy experiment that had a hard edge at the bottom and I was ready to toss it. Then I noticed that the hard line at the bottom, if it became the horizon line, it looked sort of desert-y. So I added some of my favorite watercolor - Hematite Burnt Scarlet + Quinacridone Sienna to make it look like Mars and all of the sudden it started to make sense. Added my astronaut and had a fun little scene! I LOVE THIS CARD. (See a pattern?) I colored the Astronaut with Copics for a little mixed media diversion.


And here's the one that started it all.

I have a BIG birthday this month, and I'm a Virgo. So when I saw the Zodiac Birthday set I had an idea for a Virgo birthday card. The set includes all the zodiac signs, so I thought I'd put all of them together EXCEPT Virgo and make a scene where the rest of them were saying happy birthday to her :). You know - from her best buds. 

I used a variety of stamp sets to make this happen, and I'm sort of tickled with how I built that greeting from Holiday Messages & Tags, Daisy & Bugs and Mer-mazing Messages. The sentiments are from the sets linked below, thanks to some fun combinations and a little stamp surgery. 

And finally - a beautiful CAS scene from the kit. Now the kit is while supplies last, so do NOT blame me if you don't get one - here's your chance!

For this card, I used the stencil that comes with the kit, with Clarity Stencil Brushes and Soft Granite Ink, as well as the dies to create this sweet scene.  The stencil in this kit is so beautiful - I could see it for baby cards, wedding cards and general cards - it's just timeless. For the little girl die cut, I just lightly brushed white ink on the left side of the cut to make her look like she was lit up by the moon and the stars and the light was falling on her. This is one of my fave techniques with non-stamped die cuts. I cut the stars with the dies in the kit from glimmer paper


I'm hopping with my TALENTED buddies today for this awesome release, so please visit them and comment for your chance to win this kit (or be reimbursed if you already bought it) - by commenting on each blog post. The giveaway closes on August 13th at 11.59 PM PT.

Libby Hickson


Remember, you can enter my August giveaway of an Arkon Pro Live Streaming Stand - the one I film all my tutorials with PLUS a ring light for the perfect lighting awesome selfies and live streams one of two ways:
  • Place an order in my store any time during the month of August for an automatic entry. BONUS - use host code 4BY7YKR7 on your order to be entered in a drawing for free Stampin' Up! products as well! 
  • Comment on the post link right here (read the instructions there) and you'll be automatically entered. If you place an order in my store AND comment on that post, you'll receive two entries!
And remember - you can always use my code - UNDERSTANDBLUE - at Arkon for 20% off. They sell all sorts of mounts - hands-free phone mounts for the car, GoPro mounts, tripods, you name it. and they are GREAT people and provide great service.

LoveyatotheMEWNandbackmeanitbye.

165 comments:

  1. Wow, Lydia! All of your cards are out of this world! Ha! :) Seriously though, they are wonderful. Fabulous color, wonderful humor and amazing technique!

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  2. Well, your post floored me. Look at all the astronomical goodness here! Yes, you had me at MEWN! I love what you did with all the products. I "NEED" the little astro cats and dogs.

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  3. Thank you so much for the inspiration, I love seeing the specialty paper used because I usually don't know what to do with it! :)

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  4. Your cards are just gorgeous. Love those little space cats!

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  5. Your cards are LOVELY! So inspiring. And I love the kit images.

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  6. Loved all your creations, Lydia. Out of this world!!!!

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  7. Thank you for sharing all the lovely cards very nice. Love the cats.
    Have a blessed day!
    Kimberly

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  8. I love how you went nuts on this month's kit!! Great designs, wonderful creativity!

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  9. Wow! I love all that you have shared to inspire in the use of this months Hero Arts kit. Thank you so much. Your Ketchup post is a hoot. Thank you for sharing.

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  10. So many great cards! I love the planet balloon bouquet.

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  11. Wow! Gorgeous cards! I especially like the planet balloon card.

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  12. Love the Galaxy in the background of your first card the very best... but they are all stellar!!!

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  13. Your cards are just great! I really love this month's theme!

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  14. All of your cards as amazing, as always. That being said, as soon as I saw your Dream Big card, I knew I was done for this month. Planets as balloons?!!!! *LOVE* I ordered the kit with the Dream Big stamp and die add-ons. Can't wait to get them!

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  15. Your cards are beautiful! Love this kit and can't wait to get mine.

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  16. Love your colorful variety of space themed cards. The astronaut cats are fabulous.

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  17. Such amazing cards!! Love the cats!!

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  18. So freaking awesome! I am totally loving every single one of your cards! They are beautiful, fun and out of this world AMAZING! Love the "rejected" background the most! Can't wait to get my kit so I can start playing with these awesome goodies! TFS!

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  19. Love these cards! Awesome! And those space cats are killing me, like seriously how can I resist that!

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  20. I am officially on sensory overload now! I love the first glalaxy where it was just a strip and not the whole background. It's enough to give the idea without overload and it's simply lovely. I am glad you didn't toss the "Mars" attempt. It is also amazing. Thank you.

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  21. These are all great Lydia but the "Hello, I come in peace" card cracked me up! Too cute!

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  22. Such a variety in cards, styles... :) Thank you for sharing!

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  23. Pretty cards. I love outer space too. I am watching star trek deep space nine, right now.

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  24. Oh my word! Your cards are awesome! I especially like how you created the one with all the signs of the zodiac - very creative. Thank you for the chance to win!

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  25. Wow!! Such wonderful and creative cards! I can't pick a favorite!! Thank you for sharing!

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  26. Great cards! I'm partial to the birthday card, as a fellow Virgo. Thank you for sharing.

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  27. Wow!! Your cards are just stunning!! This is an amazing kit and also spectacular add ons this month and I love what you've done with them. My favorite is the one with the astronaut. The sentiment is awesome. But I am in awe how you got the shadow!! Just amazing. Thanks for all the wonderful inspiration.

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  28. Beautiful cards. Thanks so much for sharing.

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  29. Wow, love all the cards~~~ can't wait to get mine!!!

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  30. Wow! Every single one of these is amazing! As a subscriber, I'm now deciding which add-ons I want and you are not helping me narrow the list :)

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  31. Wonderful cards! Thanks for the inspiration.

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  32. I can't believe this kit, it's Fantabulous!! Those add-ons!! I love the Planet balloon bouquet, and I smiled when I saw those cats! LOVE your cards!

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  33. Like the variety of creations. Like the wonderful bold colors, arrangements with celestial sentiments & so much more. Like the Zodiac set.
    Melissa
    "Sunshine HoneyBee"

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  34. love your cards. Great inspiration!

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  35. Loving all your great cards!! Of course, the cats in space one is my favorite!!! I definitely added that set to my cart, lol!!!

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  36. Great cards; with super galaxy backgrounds ! Wow !

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  37. WOW! These cards are space-tacular!

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  38. Wow. Just an amazing set of cards.

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  39. Hahahaha your blog was funny and bubbly! I enjoyed all of them, my favorite would be the I come in peace one. Hahah that is a card to send to my sister or her husband hahaha!

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  40. Wow. More out of this world amazing cards! Thank you and Hero Arts!

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  41. Gorgeous cards!So many creative ideas!The last one is my favorite!tfs :)

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  42. You are very talented the cards you made are very interesting.

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  43. You knocked those cards out of the park!

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  44. Love your bright color choices.

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  45. Adore your cards-especially the space cats--wow! I'm going to have to get this kit!

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  46. What a variety of styles and designs. Funny, serious, mellow, happy. Beautiful bright colors to soft dreamy hues. Great job as always.

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  47. I love all your cards, and the kit is making my fingers twitch...

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  48. Love your creativity - so many cards and so many wonderful ideas to try out. Thanks for sharing:)

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  49. Wow! So much eye candy! I love them all.

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  50. My oh my! Your cards are out of this world! Beautiful creations!

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  51. WOW!!! what an amazing set of cards... you totally rocked the kit!!

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  52. Love...Love...LOVE!!!!! These cards are stunning!!!!

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  53. Outstanding...I really love your card(s)!

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  54. Great cards. I really liked the Zodiac Birthday card. Thanks for sharing....

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  55. Amazing set of cards made from this kit!

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  56. I too enjoyed all of your cards, but the Astronaut on Mars is my favorite!!!

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  57. Yes! Cats who are astronauts!! How can you not love this release! And your cards are fabulous! Love your designs and use of color!

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  58. Oh, my, oh my! Another eye candy overload!! Your universe backgrounds are GORGEOUS!! I LOVE those planet balloons and your cat card is my fav!

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  59. Great cards! I like the Zodiac group one the bet!

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  60. Seriously lady! You've left me speechless. These are all just so fabulous!

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  61. WOW, you've been busy creating gorgeous art!!! Love everything, they are so beautiful. That first card is so stunning.....the colors and design are perfection!💕💖 Thank You!

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  62. Your cards are all so awesome! The cats in space are so adorable. I love the little mice too. Thanks for the inspiration.

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  63. These are some creative and beautiful cards. I love the astronaut's shadow, so cool!

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  64. Wonderful cards. The first one is my favorite. I love the colors.

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  65. Great cards. Great new kit and add-ons.
    Mkschmidt4atgmaildotcom

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  66. love the cats and the astronaut cards - asra k

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  67. love the cats and the astronaut cards

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  68. love the cats and astronaut cards

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  69. Haha. Thanks for sharing the story of saving your card. The shadow made the whole card stunning.

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  70. Wowsa, you did have a good time didn't you?? Love 'em all, but my fav is the one where the background almost ended up in the bin! Aren't you glad you didn't bin it?? SUPER!

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  71. Beautiful cards......such variety! Thanks for the ideas.

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  72. Your cards are out of this world. I ALWAYS learn a tip from you! This time it is adding white to the side of a cardstock die cut image. I wish I lived in your area & could have you as an art teacher. I'll be dreaming of THAT while you dream about space. Wink wink.
    elizabeth.vogler2@gmail.com

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  73. Wow, loved your stenciled background.. and I came in peace. Is so hilarious

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  74. I just adore the kitties in space!

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  75. Really nice cards, the last one is my favorite. Such a sweet card.

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  76. Somehow I got to your Ketchup post and had to read the whole thing and then HAD to subscribe to your blog updates! You are one seriously funny gal! And I adore all of the cards you made with this release! Beautiful!

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  77. Wow !! I can't begin to tell you just how innovative & beautiful your cards are. I can't even pick a favorite because they are all my favorites. Thanks.

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  78. What amazingly, spacey cards. Thanks for the out-of-this-world ideas.

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  79. Oh my!!! This kit is absolutely amazing!!! I'm in love for your magical and stunning cards!!!

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  80. Gorgeous galaxy night skies. Thanks for all the inspiration.

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  81. Wow that's a lot of cards! Great inspiration :)

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  82. A-mazing cards! Love each and every single one, Jo x

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  83. Beautiful cards. So many options and you ROCKED them all :)

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  84. such beautiful cards! you have been super busy. :)

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  85. Beautiful cards and I especially liked the backgrounds you created!

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  86. The Dream Big balloons took my breath away! The watercolor effects you created on the globes are amazing!

    Simply.... Thank you!

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  87. Super duper out of this world creations for sure - TFS

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  88. Beautiful cards. Love all the different galaxy backgrounds

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  89. Wow, amazing cards, love them all but the first one is my fav!!

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  90. You really nailed this kit, Lydia. I love all the backgrounds you made for these cards.

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  91. Beautiful cards, love your coloring.
    Dolores

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  92. Awesome variety of fabulous cards showing off the kitwith amazing coloring!

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  93. Such beautiful cards! I love all of them!

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  94. they are so gorgeous lydia! I love them all! well especially the cats!!!

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  95. Great cards! I think the astrological card is my favorite. Another add-on in the cart--have to work overtime to pay for it! :)

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  96. Awesome cards with beautiful coloring! I love the cats!

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  97. all of the cards are wonderful ... makes me want to make them too :D

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  98. Very beautiful cards. Thanks for sharing so many different cards.

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  99. All of your cards are really amazing and gorgeous! I love the astrological card, it is so cool and really creative, such a fantastic idea behind it. Your cat astronauts made me laugh and reminded me of a Saturday Night Live skit, and your last card is so sweet and gentle...really love them all!!!

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  100. These are really the most beautiful galaxy backgrounds. Excellent job.

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  101. So many stunning cards!!! This kit is too much fun - I can definitely see how much you enjoyed it! the kitties are just BEYOND *love*
    Thanks for sharing!

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  102. Just Beautiful cards. Like the brightness you brought into your cards. Really really great job.

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  103. Everyone of your cards are FABULOUS but my favorite is the girl with the balloons. So colorful and so typical of what my daughter would have chosen as a child. I am 85 yrs. old and I thank you for bringing back memories of when she was little. TFS your God given talent to all of us who love papercrafting.

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  104. Wow, I really cannot choose which card I love the most., but the galaxy stripe in the first card has something very delicate and the birthday card with the zodiacs on the galaxy background is simply great.

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  105. Wow! All I can do is echo the sentiments that others have used - Gorgeous Cards! I really don't know which one is my favourite. I love how you have used the zodiac stamps. I really won't have thought of that. Beautiful and inspirational! And your shine bright card is so simple but lovely. I really like that sentiment and it is in the kit, not an add-on.

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  106. This is another fabulous card kit release from HA. Thanks for the inspiration. I hate when I miss a kit that has something in it I REALLY want.

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  107. Such beautiful cards!! I love all the galaxy backgrounds! Thank you for sharing such beautiful inspiration!

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  108. Great HA kit and love all your wonderful creations - such a nice variety of cards !

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  109. Amazing!!! They are all so lovely!!! Thank you for the inspiration!!

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  110. Beautiful sky on your astronaut and zodiac cards! This release will such fun.

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  111. Beautiful cards! Thanks for sharing!

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  112. Love the card, wonderful kit! Thanks for sharing

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  113. 1Awesome cards! I especially love the first one with such pretty planets

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  114. Love all the backgrounds on your cards!

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  115. Love the cards!
    Thanks for a chance to win!
    ~Nicole Ligaard Jensen

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  116. Each of your cards are so different from one another that I truly cannot say which one I like the best. Thank you,

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  117. Thank you for sharing your great cards...this is a wonderful kit.

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  118. My fave is the card with the little girl, cute

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  119. I can see why you love this kit, your work are FABULOUS!

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  120. beautiful cards thank you for sharing

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  121. Gorgeous cards, all of them!!! And I can't believe you were going to toss your galaxy background... the Mars card turned out FABULOUSLY! Thank you for sharing!

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  122. What great cards. Especially like the astrological one.

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  123. Your cards are amazing! So many fun elements! Great kit HA. Thanks for sharing!

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  124. Such awesome cards and an amazing kit! It's sold out way too fast!

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  125. HAHA...Astro cats...I come in peace! Love them!!

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  126. Love your space cats. They look like my ginger, Bjorn. He's the only one I don't want to send to outer space, though. The others? I could drop-kick them to the moon any day!

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  127. Your water colours are amazing.Love those cards.

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  128. Oh Lydia -- you have OUTDONE yourself!! These cards are fabulous!

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  129. Wow your creations are amazing.

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  130. Love the cards and I agree there is nothing better to add to anything than cats!

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  131. so many awesome cards!! Love them all :)

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  132. Great use of the kit. Good creative ideas!

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  133. Fantastic cards, love the galaxy backgrounds. This kit looks amazing and the add ons add so many fun ideas for cards!

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  134. CATstronaut! Too much fun! Great cards, love the Mars idea and the final card is so sweet!

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  135. Love all your card ideas and creativety

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  136. I love your shine bright card! It is so adorable!

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  137. I love the cards, there are different and multiple techniques used yet your style comes through. Very creative, thanks for sharing your handmade masterpieces!

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  138. All your cards are so cool! I showed my son your cat card and he loved it (we are reading a cat warrior book series).

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  139. Wow! Love your creativity with this kit. Such unique cards.

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