Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Happy Birthday to EVERYONE :)

Well - the fact of the matter is that today is my birthday.

I'm 30.

I'm also a liar.

I definitely am 30 multiplied by X, which you will not be able to solve for because I refuse to give you Y. Take that, algebra!

ANYWAY, because it's my birthday, I am celebrating with some friends who are also having a birthday this month - Greg & Angie at Concord & 9th.

Greg and Angie are unbelievably great people, which is the first thing you need to know about them before we even talk about crafting. They are just sweet, fun, nice, hardworking, funny and kind people. Those are the kind of people I like spending my hard-earned dollars with.

Crafting is a complete luxury, and I don't know anyone with an unlimited craft budget, so HOW we spend our crafty dollars is important. And the nice factor influences me heavily, and it's why I'm a huge fan of these two people and their business.

They are celebrating a super important birthday this month - August 9th is their first birthday.

In some ways I can't believe it's only been a year, because they have been so successful and it seems like such a mature company.

In others, it seems like it's flown by in a blur since their first release.

I'm very happy they are part of the crafty industry and I'm grateful to call them friends.


I had a hard time picking what to use for their birthday card today, but a Dare to Get Dirty Challenge on Splitcoast inspired me, and so I chose the Blossom Bundle, because I feel like it best represents their style.

What's funny about what I did though is that this because a sort of never-ending card, because I was doing die-cut inlay with two different materials - one was white cardstock, and the other was watercolor paper I did washes on with my Mijello Mission Gold watercolor.

So what that means, is that on the first pass through the Big Shot, you already have two cards' worth of stuff - an outline and the insides. But then you have to cut a second set so that you can replace either the innards or the outards. Well now you have the stuff to make FOUR cards with.

And on and on like die-cut inlay is the papercrafting equivalent of sourdough starter!

However I had to stop after three cards because I saw a squirrel or something. But here are the first three.

On this first one, I built a background with their Stripe Builder set and Smoky Slate Ink - just overlapping it in my MISTI. I thought the grey would be a nice contrast to me eye-popping Opera Pink watercolor. Then I put the white die-cut outline down, and pieced the watercolor pieces back in with the help of Press-n-Seal. Then I added some clear mini dewdrops - I don't remember where I got them! (Note - as you age, remember to write notes. You'll thank me when YOU turn 30.)

So here's how card #1 came out. I really loved the warm vs. cool.


Then, to use up the inside pieces from the white die cut, I pieced them back into the piece I'd cut the watercolor bits from.

But because I just put the white inside pieces back in, that meant I still had a watercolor outline to use. So that birthed card #3. But now I had to cut a second white one, because the watercolor outline looked better with white pieces pieced back into the outline!





But at some point you have to stop and get dressed and do your laundry and all those adulting things that don't care if you've created a never-ending card process. Jerky adulting things! Funsquashers!

So anyway - happy birthday to my friends at Concord & 9th! And for MY birthday, they are nice enough to let me give away a $20 gift certificate to their store. And since it's MY giveaway, I get to ask you to do something.

So since I am constantly walking and listen to several books a week on Audible, I'm always running out of good audiobook selections. So in order to be entered in my giveaway, I want you to comment with a book that you just love. Please let me know when you comment if it's an audiobook and if you recommend the recording, but paper book recommendations are welcome too!

One lucky winner will get the shopping spree and I'll announce the winner next week!

And if you want to see the rest of their birthday hoppers, each one has a gift certificate to give away too, so enjoy the list here!


I look forward to seeing your books! I'm off to have bacon and see the new Star Trek movie!

Loveyameanitbye.



178 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday to you and Concord & 9th! I don't listen to audio books, but one of my favorite books is The Lake House by Kate Morton.

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  2. Love your cards! Happy birthday, girlie!!!

    As for books, right now I am reading (as in holding a real paper book and READING it) The Lavender Garden by Lucinda Riley. It's very intriguing. There are two stories going on here - the main story and then the story of the generation before. The suspense of what the previous generation is going through during WWII in France has me holding my breath.

    Enjoy your bacon and the Star Trek movie! I loved the movie!!! And the sun came out just for YOU today!!! :-)

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  3. I love this diecut.....it is on my list to order! Beautiful cards! I work at our public library one day a week.....my first love is books.....second is cardmaking.....and trying to balance time for both of them is crazy! Laundry? Cooking? Cleaning? Shudder.......anyway I am trying to think what I have read that you might like since we do dad different things.....how about All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr.....just loved it.....it is a WWII saga set in France. I am sure it is in audio.

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  4. Happy birthday to you! Your card just went in the mail this morning... It has been sitting on my desk for a week. Lol! I love the audiobooks of Ballet shoes, Theater shoes and Dancing shoes. Kids' books, but so well read and lovely!

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  5. I have been eyeing the die you used and matching stamp set. It is beautiful and I love how you cleverly used all the pieces. I am reading My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante (the first of a series of 4 books). It would be wonderful on audio.

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  6. Love, love Pride and Prejudice!!! Even in audio format.

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  7. First of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I love your cards and how it morphs into never ending pieces. The book I read last was called "Odd Thomas" I don't know if it is an audiobook or not. Have a great birthday.

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  8. Happy bday friend!! (Card is in the mail *cough cough*) I recommend Jodi Taylor's series Chronicles of St Mary's - history, adventure and time travel :)

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  9. Happy Happy Birthday! :) It's hard to say which one is my favorite, love them all.

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  10. What a fabulously engaging post! Your wit is scintillating; your cards, gorgeous! And Happy *30th* Birthday! I’ve celebrate that same one for several years now *grin*. I highly recommend Louise Penny's mystery novels (I believe they come in audio), set in Three Pines, a small village, home to an intriguing host of characters, set in Quebec's eastern townships. Hopefully, you'll become as smitten with her main character, Inspector Armand Gamache, as I have! The first, Still Life, is a fabulous starting point, but you can dive in to any in the series and easily 'connect-the-dots' with who's who. So glad to have 'discovered' you these past few days (evidently I’ve been living under a rock in not having done so earlier!). Your posts are a treat for both eyes and mind! Wishing you a wonderful bacon-and-Star Trek movie birthday!
    ~carol

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    1. I second this. Louise Penny is excellent! (+Canadian!!)

      I also just finished listening to A Man Called Ove by Frederik Backman. We loved it... and I think you would like the humor in there as well.

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  11. Happy Birthday to you and C&9!! Love your "never-ending" card collection above; each one is beautiful. I've never used the "inside" pieces the way you did on the middle, bright water-colored card. It's lovely; I'll give that a try. Thanks for the inspiration in using a die in so many varied (never-ending) ways.
    Hmmm... a book to recommend.... I just read a book my adult daughters had recommended to me called City of Thieves by David Benioff; set in WW II Russia and detailing an event that occurs over a one week period of time. (Not sure if it's on audio.) It's a quick read and really very good. Good luck and happy reading... or as they say in the card making world, HAPPY EVERYTHING!

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  12. Happy Birthday to you!!! Hope you have a wonderful day. Your cards are beautiful. Love the orange and pink color combination. I don't do audio books. I find I sort of get distracted and then I have to rewind to hear what I missed. But I am a big book reader. I love a good mystery. But I did find the Book the "Boy from Reactor 4" very interesting. I totally see that on could make a movie from this story.

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  13. Love your post and your cards! Gray Mountain by John Grisham was pretty good. Would think it's on Audible. Happy, happy birthday!

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  14. Happy Birthday sweet friend! Sounds like you are going to celebrate your special day in style! I love bacon AND going to the movies is my FAVORITE thing! I would go every day if I could! I would! I love how you made three amazing cards with your die cuts!!! They are all fabulous! I am woefully behind in reading since two worlds collided. 1) my husband moved to first shift which means he goes to bed at 7:30 (I used to read in bed, no more can do) AND 2) I discovered stamping and my spare time is now spent at my art table. The last series that I devoured was the fever series by Karen Moning. I think I read on your blog or FB that is probably not your genre. It's not usually mine but she really captured my attention for some reason. They are my guilty pleasure.

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  15. Great cards! I love how you used all the parts from the die cuts to make multiple cards. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

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  16. Happy Birthday to you Lydia! Should we assume that X > 1? :)

    Great cards! I love that every bit was used. My favourite is "Just Because" with the watercolor background.

    I love audiobooks too and so much depends on the reader. It is hard to recommend just one ....... but the series starting with Wilbur Smith - the Seventh Scroll (nothing I would ever have chosen myself..) was really entertaining and well read.

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  17. Great cards! I can see why it was so hard to get back to adulting things. Darn! As for books, I recently read (in hard copy) To the Bright Edge of the World, by Eowyn Ivey. I'm not sure if it's available as an audio book, but it is fantastic!

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  18. Happy Birthday Lydia! First off I don't do Audible books, however I should because then I would have the time I take to read books to do some crafty things right.
    for an audible book, try Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy

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  19. I love how you utilized every bit of that die cut! I can't think of a recent book that I really loved (life with a baby...) but I just got Fervent by Priscilla Shirer (paperback) and I have heard really good think about it so I am excited to read it!

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  20. Pretty cards. I don't have a book to recommend unless you'd like children's books. Reading to the little ones is about the most reading I do (aside from instructions to awesome cards). Have a nice day.

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  21. Great cards! I love the idea of using the positives and negatives in different ways.

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  22. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Love the cards and the colors.
    Books to listen to:
    Watership Down- I've read it many times, but it's such a joy to hear it.
    The Fireman by Joe Hill if you like Stephen King novels.
    Miss Peregrine series - it's like Harry Potter meets X-Men

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  23. I just love "The Shack" and could read it over and over.

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  24. Happy Birthday.
    My birthday is Friday.
    Love the cards.
    The soft gray background on the
    first card is wonderful. Really makes the flowers pop.
    thanks for sharing.

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  25. OMG Lydia these cards are gorgeous!! Happy birthday to you - enjoy your day!! I don't do audio books but I am reading the Mazy Dobbs series.

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  26. Happy Birthday ^-^. For audio books I love me some Sherlock Holmes or Agatha Christie. For non fiction Malcom Gladwell. Love your blog, you make me truly LOL all the time. Thanks

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  27. Love all the different looks you got with the one die. I am so envious of you going to see the new Star Trek movie. I've got to get my trekkie family into their uniforms (yes, we go in costume) and to the nearest AMC at maximum warp. I recommend Angry Housewives Eating Bonbons or Patty Jane's House of Curl both by Lorna Landvik. Don't know about the audio book availability, but they are out in paperback.

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  29. Wow! Your cards are just amazing and that you were able to create three cards with your technique and each one if beautiful. Love the clean and simple look you created and the watercolor background is beautiful.

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  30. Your cards are so pretty!!! Love them and Concord & 9th:)

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  31. Wow! Your cards are just amazing and that you were able to create three cards with your technique and each one if beautiful. Love the clean and simple look you created and the watercolor background is beautiful.

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    1. Just realized I forgot to recommend a book. Reading this for the second time, Not Dead & Not for Sale: A Memoir by Scott Weiland. He was the lead singer of the band Stone Temple Pilots.

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  32. These are all beautiful Lydia - I can't even pick a favourite - love them.
    I don't think you will like my kind of books, I like true stories/history (but not Bios) and am currently reading A Train in Winter by Caroline Moorehead.
    Hugs, Kia

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  33. Love your card(s)! An infinity technique born right here, ladies and gentlemen :) I am currently reading the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. Received the first in the series from my daughter last Christmas. Being the voracious reader (listener) you are, you may have already read this series.
    Lu C

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  34. Each card is gorgeous and unique! Great inspiration.

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  35. Awe!! Happy birthday! I didn't know it was!! :)

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  36. I'm probably not a good one to ask about books either! I am a Stephen King fan! LOL!

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  37. I love how many times you were able to create cards from this one idea!

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  38. Happy Birthday!! Beautiful cards....what a way to showcase c&9!

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  39. Wow, Three gorgeous card, Lydia! I love how you've used this die in each of them! How fun to get 3!

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  40. Beautiful cards,
    even if they are
    never ending!
    My husband listens
    to the audiobooks
    and loves any of
    the Louis L'Amour
    books.
    Carla from Utah

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  41. Happy Happy Happy
    Birthday to you!
    Carla from Utah

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  42. I haven't read a book in years so I can't recommend one, that's ok if I don't qualify for a prize. I just wanted to wish you a Happy Birthday. I enjoy your blog posts and watching you create. Happy Birthday to Concord & 9th.

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  43. Thanks for sharing your beautiful cards. I'm honestly not much of a reader anymore...do magazines count! I enjoy Midwest Living and Cooking Light.

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  44. HI Lydia first of all I haven't read a book in I don't know when...Honest...pinky promise. I hope this doesn't eliminate me.Unless, there is one book I try to read every day and that is my Bible...
    I do love your blog and I read every one of those because I really enjoy it!! The cards you made for this birthday blog are beautiful and inspire me to try some inlaid die-cutting!
    BTW...HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!!

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  45. Happy Birthday, Lydia! We appear to be of the same age. I've been 29 for many years now. I enjoy being 29 lol. I have so many favourite books, I don't know where to start. But the last book that had me laughing out loud (a lot, according to DH) was The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion. The sequel was also fun but not as much fun as the first part.

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    1. Oh I liked the Rosie Project too. And on a similar theme I also loved The Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime - can't remember the author's name.

      And Malcolm Gladwell is always a good option for challenging our traditional way of thinking of things or Pam Grout and her E2 & E3

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  46. Happy, happy birthday!
    I too love Audible. If you're into moving nonfiction, The Warmth of Other Suns is both amazing and very well-read (and really long, so more bang for your credit!)

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  47. Happy Birthday, Lydia, and at age 30, you've got many, many more to celebrate - enjoy! Don't listen to audio books but I love anything written by Mary Higgins Clark. And, by the way, your three cards are just awesome. I can't wait to try this inlaid die-cutting technique myself when all the household chores are done. Happy Birthday also to C&9!

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  48. Happy birthday to you! There was much card birthing here...love that it was without the labor pains:)
    Favorite Audio books: A.A. MILNE'S WINNIE-THE-POOH performed by Peter Dennis
    SWISS Family Robinson read by Frederick Davidson
    BUD and ME by Alta Abernathy

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  49. Happy Birthday to everyone! My favorite book series is Blue Heron series by Kristan Higgins.

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  50. Lydia, I love how you write like you are talking. I haven't met you but I can picture you easily. You are so entertaining. ....in a good way! I love your cards and I save my die cuts for future use. I think that I'm going to have to weed them out soon because my stash is expanding.....like sourdough starter can. Haha. As for Audiobooks, I love them too but I'm not sure you would like my genre, which is archaeology action adventure like Clive Cussler & James Rollins. But for a book that would entertain you & would appeal to more people 8s a great great book, Fall Of Giants by Ken Follett. The reader does a great job with the voice acting & different accents. It's very easy to imurse yourself in that world. I love listening to Audiobooks while I'm crafting, if I'm not singing along with music. Hope you get the book & enjoy it as much as I did! Luvyabackforrealbye!

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  51. Happy Birthday! Any number deserves to be celebrated in my opinion! Have you read: The Art Of Racing In The Rain? I read the paper book several years ago, and it is told from the dog's perspective. It has stuck with me...

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  52. Happy Birthday!!! Here's to many more. I cannot recommend a book because in my free time I spend too much time reading blogs so it has been a LONG time since I've picked something up and when I have it has been a cookbook! I did like the DaVinci Code. Cheers.

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  53. I am glad I finally found someone older than me!! I have been 29 for the last ( ? ) years and am dreading the big 30 in about 10 years or so.
    I am a big reader and anything by John Grisham is a good read (or listen since most of his books are on audio too) and Nora Roberts books and her alter ego, JD Robb, have some amazing books too! Grisham is more of a mystery writer and JD Robb does an amazing series about a police detective and her rich hubby's adventures in death that take place in 2061 and forward!! Lots of great characters that appear and reappear often in each book so after a while you get to love certain people and look forward to when they appear again! Hope you enjoy these two authors! They are two of my absolute favorites!
    Actually John Grisham has a new book out that you can download for free at snagfreesamples.com. It is about a charity that he is a major part of. Here is the link: https://snagfreesamples.com/?s=john+grisham

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  54. Happiest of birthdays, sweet Lydia! The August-born are the best people! My favorite book of all time is "These Is My Words" by Nancy Turner, and I just checked, and it is on Audible (www.amazon.com/These-My-Words-Diary-1881-1901/dp/B00PR44BS6/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1472064910&sr=8-1). I read it in book form, so I don't know if the narrator is good or not, but I loved this book and everyone I know that's read it thought it was great, too. It's the first of 3 books and the 2nd and 3rd books are good, too.

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  55. Love that pretty Blossom Bundle die you featured for your pretty cards! I love being able to get multiple cards out of a die cut!
    I just read a review of The Invitation by Oriah Mountain Dreamer. It sounds like the kind of story I'd like, but I haven't read it yet. I really don't do a lot of reading these days!

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  56. Wishing you a Happy Birthday! We must be the same age.... :)

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  57. A very Happy Birthday to you and to Concord & 9th! Love your awesome inlaying! I just finished doing something similar with the Floral and Flutter butterfly. Just love that set! As far as books, I love historical fiction and just finished The Kitchen House and Glory Over Everything by Kathleen Grissom. I think they are available in audio too.

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  58. These are fabulous! I got such a chuckle out of reading your post (several chuckles, actually) - thanks! You brightened my day with the giggles and fab eye candy!
    I know it's a YA series, but as a Sci-fi time-travel lover, I enjoyed it and Kate Rudd did a GREAT job with the voices on the audiobooks.... Timebound - and the rest of the Chronos files series.
    Also enjoyed Shanon Hale's books... the Austenland pair, and also her YA: Princess Academy series and Books of Bayern series. Can't recall if I had any opinion on the Audio quality, but they were before I listened to Timebound and fell in love with Kate Rudd's reading capabilities.

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  59. Happy Birthday! Very cool how you made 3 cards. I just finished a book called A Street Cat named Bob by James Bowen that I enjoyed.

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  60. Happy Birthday Lydia! Great cards! I do read a lot of clean, cozy mysteries but they are Kindle or Nook formats. One of the series I've read is the Donut Shop Mysteries by Jessica Beck and I know that amazon has in Audible format.

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  61. Happy Happy Birthday! your cards are amazing as always!!! And congrats to Concord &9th!!! Much Love

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  62. Happy birthday! Thanks fir sharing your beautiful cards. For audio books, we just finished Powerless. Our kids picked it but the adults were just as hooked to the story telling on audio.

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  63. Fabulous cards, love the different idea's for the die!! And Happy Birthday!! I don't do audio books so I can't help you there. I haven't read anything very good lately, the library hasn;t added any new ebooks lately so i've been going through the free ones I've downloaded in past and most are not all that good!!!

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  64. Happy birthday to YOU! Your cards are beautiful! :)
    I really wish I knew a good book or two, but truth is I barely read anymore. :/

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  65. Well, happy birthdays all around! :) My oldest turned 21 yesterday.

    Your cards are lovely; I really like the orange and pink blending you did.

    As far as a favorite book, I'm sad to say I'm not even remembering the last one I read. I proofread, so by the time I get home from work, my eyes are typically pretty tuckered out. I need to start doing audiobooks, I reckon! Several years ago I did listen to an audiobook that was interesting. It was Carol Burnett's autobiography, and she read it herself, which made it even better.

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  66. Happy birthday 30(ish) year old! Love the beautiful use of the Blossoms die. Each of these cards are so pretty.

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  67. happy birthday!! all of your cards are absolutely lovely... hope you day was, too!!

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  68. Love all of your cards and Happy Belated Birthday.

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  69. Happy birthday Lydia love how each card used the same die but are so different.

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  70. Happy Birthday Lydia. Wishing you the best day ever. Your cards are awesome, but I like your 2nd card the best. I haven't read a book in a long time, the last one if I remember right was A Beautiful Mind by Sylvia Nasar. Thank you for sharing and being part of this birthday blog hop giveaway.

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  71. Happy Birthday! And what a fun request. If you don't mind ugly crying I would recommend Nightingale or When Breath Becomes Air. I think they both are in audio. If you're more up for a laugh, I would go with anything by Bill Bryson. He does the reading for his audiobooks. Every single one I've read (or listened to) has been fabulous.

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  72. Beautiful cards, and happy birthday! I just finished listening to A Man Called Ove and it was very good. Also, A Walk in the Woods is a good audiobook, especially if you can be walking/hiking.

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  73. Happy Birthday Lydia! Beautiful cards!
    And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini, I really enjoyed reading it!

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  74. Hi Lydia ~ Happy Birthday to both you and C&9!! Their unique style is what first caught my eye and has kept me drooling over their newest release too. Your cards are stunning as always but I have to say that your 3rd card really grabbed me. I love the little pops of color on the white. Just beautiful with the black sentiment. Books....I've always loved books of most any kind (growing up, my mom used to take away my books as punishment....flashlights too so I couldn't read under the covers!!) but I have to say that since an accident 4 1/2 years ago left me 75% disabled, I need to read books that make me laugh, much like your post did. (I actually chuckled out loud a couple of times....thanks so much for that). That being said, I have been reading the Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum Series. The antics of the characters have honestly made me laugh out loud to the point of snorting and tears. I need to laugh and this series of books does it for me (and I'm almost 30x2!!). Thanks for sharing....and I always thought it was dumb to put numbers and letters together in the same equation!! (Shhh....don't tell my engineer hubby or architect daughter tho!!). ~BIG HUGS~ for your birthday!!

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  75. Interesting tecnique! I don't listen to audiobooks now since the newborn came a couple of months ago, but I would listen to Richard Bach's stories.

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  76. Hope you had a fabulous birthday. Thanks for asking for book recommendations - I need some new titles and this is a great list. I've enjoyed some on this list. I recently read Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

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  77. Happy birthday! I'm reading The Great Gatsby again right now!

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  78. Happy Birthday Lydia' love your cards they are beautiful! Tfs

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  79. Love the trio cards. Happy birthday too!

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  80. I didn't know we had to "adult" on our birthdays!? Who says we do?! lol Love all three cards and your how-to's too!

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  81. Loved your variety of cards using the C9 Blossom die! Oh...and happy 30th birthday! #forgivemeformysin
    I have no clue if this is an audio book, but I enjoyed the easy read "The Light Between Oceans"...due to come out in movie format in September.

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  82. Happy, happy birthday! Being over 30 is wonderful! Enjoy every day! Your cards are stunning. I love all 3 & thank you so much for the inspiration. I don't listen to audio books but am an avid reader. I just finished Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks which was very good as are all his books. So many diverse topics from himm! An old one that I still think about is Blue Heaven by C. J. Box. It is different & very good. Hope you find many new books to add to your list.

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  83. Great cards. I am a mystery/ Dean Koontz fan and some of my favorite books are the Odd Thomas series he wrote.

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  84. Lovely cards! Anything by Jodi Piccoult is good

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  85. Happy birthday!! Beautiful cards! My favourite books are definitely Harry Potter but I never used an audio book before.

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  86. Lydia I love your cards and your blog. I have learned so much about cardmaking and products that make my crafting more enjoyable. I am not much of a reader because I fall asleep. So I have to say my bible study is almost all the reading I get done. If I have extra time I like to use it for cardmaking. Thanks so much for sharing.

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  87. Very pretty and love the colors!! It was great to see the evolution of your cards!! I rarely do audiobooks but love to read. Recently read Kitchen House and the sequel Glory Over Everything. Another good one is The Great Kitchen of the Midwest or something like that. Happy day!!

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  88. Lydia, I LOVE your blog comments AND your cards!! My birthday was yesterday too! And I'm 30+I'mnotsaying also. Anyway, I had to chuckle when I read your post. I will definitely be trying your inlay technique. Beautiful! What a great birthday present it would be to win this giveaway! Thanks so much for sharing with us and for participating in this great hop and giveaway.

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  89. Gorgeous cards, love every single version. I love using the negatives of my dies!
    Hope you had an awesome birthday (sorry I'm late - computer went nuts, which means I was going nuts! lol).

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  90. Paper book....love the smell of books...Gone Girl...great read

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  91. Happy Birthday Lydia!! AND to C&9 as well. I download books to my Kindle...but what I have been enjoying is a Paranormal series by Michael Richan "The River Book Series" It is not everyone's cup of tea...... Hope you have a really great Birthday that includes Chocolate Cake! Big Birthday Hugs!

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  92. Well, happy birthday to you AND Concord and 9th. Your never-ending card bash is terrific. Hope you give at least one to yourself... Been reading through the posts and so many of my favorite books have already been mentioned, so I'll go out on a limb and recommend one of my own--Blackout, by me, Annie Solomon. It's several years old, so only available in digital, BUT, you can get the audio book. I was lucky enough to sit in on a recording session. I love audio books, so it was one of the biggest thrills in my life! Hope you enjoyed your special day.

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  93. Happy Happy Birthday! I hope it was a great day and that it will be the start of an amazing year. Love you cards. Love your humor even more.

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  94. Happy Birthday! Don;t laugh but my favorite book of al time since I was little is Winnie the Pooh. It is how I describe people! They can be Eyore or Tiggers etc. FUnny

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  95. Happy Birthday! My 30 something (cough*cough) was earlier this month. August birthdays are the best! Love all the cards and how you achieved such a variety of beautiful results with just one die!

    As far as audiobooks, I'm an addict! I have several recommendations -
    "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr.
    "A Man Called Ove" by Fredrick Backman
    "Circling the Sun" by Paula McLain
    "The Nightingale" by Kristin Hannah
    "The Boys in the Boat" by Daniel James Brown
    "Unbroken" by Laura Hilenbrand
    and for some light hearted fun, my favorite in the travel trash category is
    all of the # Grave Series by Darynda Jones. There are 10 so far and they do build on each other so start with "First Grave on the Right"

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  96. HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!!! Your cards are simple and beautiful!! Love this die set. It's so sweet. I really loved your color choices as well. I love to read but due to a wrist hand injury four years ago it's gotten harder to hold a book for long periods of time so I just got a small kindle. I was reading on my nook hd or my iPad but same problem there. I love all James Patterson and Patricia Cornwall and several other murder mysteries. I've started reading everybody's fool by Richard Russo. So far a great book!!

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  97. These are amazing cards Lydia. Very pretty.
    I don't do audio books yet but I LOVE a good "paper" one! I have been hooked on Jodi Picoult's books lately but every one has their fav. authors and style of reading materials.

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  98. After doing this bevy of beauties, I'm sure your laundry was done in no time whatsoever. So glad you've finally put a name to this diecutting and inlay process...makes it so much easier to explaing that using lots of dashes and commas when writing it out. And the results are a smashing success. If you like mysteries, I highley recommend the Elizabeth George series, beginning with A Great Deliverance...it is available in audio.

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  99. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR LYDIA
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU...AND MANY MORE!
    Love, "The Shadow of the Wind" by Carlos Ruiz Zafon...excellent audio...check it out on Amazon...
    https://www.amazon.com/The-Shadow-of-the-Wind/dp/B0009MZ7F2/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

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  100. Beautiful cards! And very happy that you asked this question, ad I am making notes of recommendations for my own use! I love audiobooks. :-)
    I have to agree with the suggestion of Louise Penny-- love her series! Also just finished Salt to the Sea, by Ruta Sepety, very good book. W. Dale Cramer is a favorite author, audio available. And, I'm not sure is there are audiobooks from her, but another excellent writer is Isabella Giorello.

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  101. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  102. Yes, you are a liar because I know for a fact that you are 29, just like I am. Lovely cards, of course. I do not need to be in the drawing - I just wanted to wish you HB because I was too lame to get a card out. Or rather make one because I am down to the dregs of my stash, I tell you! Also, book-wise I recommend an oldie but goodie. If you have not read Galileo's Daughter, you will love it. It is based on the letters between Galileo and *spoiler* his daughter. I have no idea about the audio. Best wishes on this merry day! XOXO Jen

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  103. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR LYDIA
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU...AND MANY MORE!!!
    I love "The Shadow of the Wind" by Carlos Ruiz Zafon...great audio! Here is the amazon link...
    https://www.amazon.com/The-Shadow-of-the-Wind/dp/B0009MZ7F2/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

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  104. I just finished listening to Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. I don't normally listen to sci-fi, but someone recommended it - and I loved it. I listen more than I read these days, it seems!

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  105. Squirrel!! I love the never-ending cards... you are so very clever. I've already given you all my recent audiobook suggestions, I don't have anything new to offer.

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  106. Loved your cards but your statement, "do your laundry and all those adulting things" made me laugh out loud!! Yes I have a love of making cards and layouts, but those "adulting things" seem to get in the way!! Glad to hear others have the same problem!! Love the Concord & 9th set you used because I wasn't familiar with it as much!! Gorgeous with the watercolors and so many ways to use it! As for my type of books, I listen to mysteries sometimes but mostly read and almost all of those are classics which are actually free. Sherlock Holmes of late is my favorite. Before that, all of Jane Austin, Agatha Christie (not all are her best), Oscar Wilde (these are fast and funny), to name a few. I delete them off my "Paperwhite" and continue to go through series. Enjoy your birthday week!!!

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  107. I'm wishing you a very happy yesterday birthday and also to Concord & 9th. I "met" them on Crafty Chat and like you, I want to spend my money with such lovely people. I want to take this opportunity to tell you what a great job you do as moderator for Crafty Chat and I hope it continues. It really is nice to get to "know" the people behind the scenes. I got a chance to meet and talk to Heidi at Stampaway because I "knew" her from the Chat. I love your birthday card for C&9 and I get a kick out of your humor. Books by Janet Evanovichs are laugh out loud funny but my favorite book of all time is by Eckhart Tolle called The Power of Now. Really makes you think. I have a hardback from 1999.

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  108. Love these cards! I like the contrast of the grays and pinks!

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  109. Happy birthday to you... Be happy and stay blessed...
    Lovely cards and tricks to use delicate die cuts...

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  110. missing presumed. freaking loved it and i don't normally read from that genre

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  111. I love what you did with this new die! Gorgeous cards!

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  112. The Charley Davidson books by Darynda Jones. What snark and she sees dead people and has major love affair with coffee.

    Mary Cook

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  113. Hope this isn't a duplicate post. The Charley Davidson books by Darynda Jones. What sass and snark all through the series. Charley is a PI and she sees dead people. She's also highly addicted to her coffee.

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  114. happy bday, lydia! you make the world a much better place!

    my favorite book of late was The All Girls Filling Station Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg. having lived in the South for a decade now, i thought it was time i read something by this famous author. the character development is wonderful and it is a story of family love.

    i also recently reread a favorite of mine: Rookie by Jerry Jenkins. this book about a young boy who is obsessed with baseball was one i read only because of the author's reputation. i ended up loving it though because the characters were so well developed and the plot was so engrossing that i lost myself in it.

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    1. I love ALL of her books! She's terrific and I'm a Yankee.

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  115. Happy Birthday! Love your cards and love seeing all the book recommendations! I don't do audio books, but just finished a good e-book, "The Nightingale."

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  116. Awesome cards:-) And Happy Birthday!
    I do listen to audiobooks when I'm cross stitching, mostly Ed McBain and his 87th Precinct novels.

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  117. Fabulous cards and Happy Birthday!!! My favorite book series is The Mark Of The Lion series by Francine Rivers. Not sure if it's on audiobooks, as I've never listened to one before. :)

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  118. Love love love your cards! Thank you for sharing :)

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  119. Because I missed your Birthday...sneaky that FB did not remind me ;) I feel you need a good Book Neal Stephensons~ Snow Crash Happy Birthday and I always love every card you do! Hugs and Kisses!

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  120. Such lovely cards! And a great way to use the various parts to create three cards. Happy Birthday!

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  121. And I hit "publish" before remembering to mention my book (such a great idea, by the way...): All the Light We Cannot See
    by Anthony Doerr

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  122. Firstly, Happy Brithday, to you and to Concord and Ninth! Having hit "30" myself I completely understand. . . Lol! I hope you are having a really terrific day and not having to do too many responsible adult things, like chores, which just ruin birthdays (and most days!) as far as I am concerned 😉
    Now onto your request about books, both audio and paper- I wish I knew your tastes in genre better so I could tailor my recommendation better. . . I LOVE the series, "When Calls the Heart" on Hallmark, reminds me a bit of a more updated and hip "Little House in the Praire". The books that it is based on are wonderful and they come in audio and paper versions. The first book in that series is titled "Where Courage Calls" and is written by Jannette Oke and Laurel Oke Logan. If that type of thing doesn't appeal to you, I highly recommend Wendy Wax, whose books are also available in both formats. I started with her "While we were Watching Downtown Abbey" and quickly got hooked on her and went back read everything she has written. She also has a great series that starts with "Ten Beach Road". It is sorta Chik-Lit, but really well written and funny, as well as heart warming and uplifting. As an aside, since you mentioned how much you respect and like the owners of Concord and Ninth, I should say I have had the privilege of meeting Wendy Wax and felt the same way about her. She is the real deal, and I love to let people know about her books because she isn't a huge name, but she should be! Anyway, this is already a super long response, but I guess you can tell I love to read (as well as listen to audio books!) and like to share what I have found enjoyable. Hope this helps.

    Hugs,
    Maureen

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  123. I LOVE A Thousand Splendid Subs by Khaled Hisseini. Also two Barbara Kingsolver books, Animal Vegetable Miracle which is non fiction. And The Poisonwood Bible which is fiction.

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    1. Poisonwood Bible has to be one of my all time favorite books.

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  124. If you haven't read (or listened to) any books by Susan Vreeland (remember Girl in Hyacinth Blue?), you must try them ALL because...Vreeland centers her books around ART! I love Luncheon of the Boating Party, a painting by Renoir. Here's a brief snippet of The Boston Globe's review: ...depicts a gathering of Renoir's real friends enjoying a summer Sunday on a café terrace along the Seine. Narrated by Renoir and seven of the models, the novel illuminates the gusto, hedonism, and art of the era. With a gorgeous palette of vibrant, captivating characters, Vreeland paints their lives, loves, losses, and triumphs..." Vreeland's books are available as audio books, although I have only read (and own!) the books. Happy belated birthday--and I love your cards for this blog hop! A bit of rainbow sherbet-y goodness! :)

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  125. Love these cards! I can't decide which technique I like best. Thank you for the inspiration.

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  126. Happy Birthday! So pretty! Fave book is The Devil in the White City!

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  127. Happy Birthday to you and to Concord & 9th! I love your cards and how you use all the pieces. The colors you used are my favorites! I'm currently reading The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah.

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  128. Happy Birthday, dear Lydia!! ♥ I loved, loved, loved 'Big Magic' by Elizabeth Gilbert. It was wonderful to hear the author's passion as she read on the audiobook. I also had a copy of the book, so I followed along and highlighted my favorite passages and quotes. My all-time favorite book is 'Martha's Vineyard Isle of Dreams' by Susan Branch. Part of her memoir trilogy, this beautiful book tells how Susan ran away from a broken marriage, bought a little house of her own, and with much determination and creativity turned her watercolor painting into a career. It is soooo inspiring!! The entire book, based on her diaries, is handlettered, watercolored, and filled with the most amazing quotations. It's a treasure that I will read over and over again! ♡

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  129. I LOVE books by Dean Koontz and his book The Door To December is a great one. I'm not sure that it comes in audible though.
    Your cards are beautiful and Thank You for sharing

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  130. I love Sophie Kinsella books especially the Shopaholic series!
    your cards are great, they are simple but yet elegant thanks for sharing

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  131. On Monday I finished listening "Truly, madly, guilty" By Liane Moriarty. I have a long commute every day, so I love listening to audio books also. One that I always recommend is "All the light we cannot see". I work at the Public Library and I wish I knew what is your favorite genre so I can tailored my recommendation. I prefer mystery and non-fiction. Happy birthday to you and Concord and 9th!

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  132. Lovely cards. I especially like the gray stripes. I don't do audiobooks, and the only books I've read in quite awhile are on parenting. : )

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  133. Beautiful cards live the grey background with the pink and coral flower. Gorgeous.

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  134. Happy Birthday! Lovely cards. The die is fantastic!

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  135. Belated birthday wishes, Lydia! Lots of important birthday this month - including mine...I just hit 30, guess I am gonna stay that from now on..:P
    My favorite book..quite a few, but I am naming only one here, since I know that there are audio books for it - Mistborn from Brandon Sanderson..good book if you are into fantasy! :)

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  136. Happiest of birthdays, Lydia! Thanks for all the good book ideas and your sourdough cards. No giveaways needed here, just enjoy your blog and creativity!

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  137. Happy Birthday fellow Virgo! My b/d was today (8/25) -- hope you had a wonderful day!!

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  138. Happy Birthday!! I hope you have a great year! Books, anything by Stuart Woods, especially his Stone Barrington books.

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  139. Beautiful card! This is a sad, yet inspiring book, but I really loved reading The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch.

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  140. I love your posts Lydia. You are really funny! Love the cards and also the idea of doing a threefer. I love reading, both paper and Kindle. My current favorite is Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. I read it once and now re-reading it.

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  141. Happy birthday to you both! Yay!!! I love getting Mary Higgins Clark books on audio, it's great suspense and I like the mystery murder types.

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  142. A very Happy Birthday Lydia! Enjoy your 30's!
    I would recommend the book : The Power of Now

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  143. I love your work! The grey stripes are wonderful, the third card with the cut out only is striking, it's all good. If you haven't tried the Bruce Alexander books you might like them. Best read in order. They're based on fact, Sir John Fielding (Henry Fielding's brother) sets up the first police force in London but it's all about his melded family and the times. Fascinating. I haven't been happy with audible books yet. I read faster than they do but when I speed up the voice its higher and rushed sounding. Maybe I just have to keep experimenting...

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  144. Happy birthday Lydia!!! Gorgeous cards!

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  145. What beautiful cards! Happy Birthday! I have read Corrie Ten Boom's the Hiding Place, very poignant.

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  146. Happy Birthday to you. What pretty cards you created and what creativity using all the parts! I don't read a lot but I do read some. The two I would recommend is Orphan Train or The Help.

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  147. Happy Birthday to you both - it's always fun to share a birthday! It's amazing how differently your cards turned out just by changing how you color them.

    Noreen
    Crafty Journal

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  148. Oh happy birthday, your cards are gorgeous!

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  149. anything by Tana French. psychological thrillers and they're so good!

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  150. What great cards! I love dies, and the inlay technique is great, and definately lends itself to never-ending card layouts! Especially if you plan it right! happy 29th (again) or 30th and some months! Concord and 9th have great products!

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  151. I enjoyed listening to The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer; I heard they're in the process of making it into a movie.

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  152. What a gorgeous card. I love the background. I just finished reading Sheldon Siegel's Final Verdict. It is a book on my Kindle. Nice mystery and good author, whom I had never read before, but I will look for his other books. Thank you for sharing your creativity. Happy Birthday Concord & 9th.

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  153. Happy birthday to you & concord & 9th!! So fun and your sourdough starter of cards is really amazing! I love when I can create so many like that!!
    I read Boys on the Boat last summer- I read paper version but I would guess it's on audio too- a really phenomenal read. I listened to Austenland (Shannon hale I believe) earlier this summer and it was light and entertaining- and if you've ever watched pride and prejudice with Colin firth (and fell hopelessly for Darcy- even more then when you read the book because he was PERFECT for the role!) then you may enjoy it too!
    So many great suggestions here- and I am definitely loving saying that to algebra since I'm above 30 too- will have to reference this later since I won't remember them!!

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  154. Happy Birthday to you! Your three cards are fabulous! I love how you didn't waste a thing and just kept creating!

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  155. Happy, happy birthday, cupcake! My recommended audio book is The Golden Compass. Amazing narration! It's a fantastic story and there are tons of different voices reading the various character parts.

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  156. Lydia, these are beautiful creations!!

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  157. What an a lovely card l love your idea to use die cut

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  158. Happy belated birthday, Lydia! I hope it was fantastic! LOVE how your cards all come from the same idea, but look so different! Have you read the Jan Karon Mitford series? Probably my all-time favorite series, there are 9 of them, and she added 2 more to those recently. I'll bet that they can be had in audio books, too.

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  159. Happy belated birthday! Lovely cards! Really clever to use the insides and outsides for more cards.
    I love the Flavia Deluce book series. I have found some on audiobook (which are delightful to listen to.)

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  160. I have this die and you used it beautifully and fully! Happy birthday to you and to Concord and 9th! Hope you have had fun celebrating with them. :) A book (series) on audio is The Narnia Chronicles produced by Focus on the Family's Radio Theatre. It is truly a theatre of the mind! Stunning, if a book series can be...and 19 hours long! Plenty to listen there for a while :)

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  161. Happy birthday, hope it was a good day and is a good year.
    Read by both of us courtesy of our localnlibrary, whilst on holidays and thoroughly enjoyed: Mr Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan. Also available on Audible and in Kindle format.

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  162. Love your cards...the inlaid technique looks wonderful on all of them! I don't listen to books, but I do read them and my favorite of all time is "A Walk To Remember" by Nicholas Sparks. He's a romance novel writer. I actually enjoy reading all of his books~

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  163. I just finished "Secrets of a Charmed Life" and cannot recommend it enough. Great story!

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  164. Those cards are fun! I listened to a funny audio book called Atomic Lobster a while back and a lot of it stuck with me, lots of hilarious little bits and the narration was amusing, too.

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  165. Happy Birthday to you (and Concord & 9th!!). I don't use audio books, but I have particularly enjoyed the book I am currently reading "A Murder in Time" by Julie McElwain. It was been a fascinating read about a modern day female FBI profiler who somehow hurtles back in time to England during early 1800's and tries to solve a murder among the "ton." Very interesting!

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  166. Happy Birthday to you (and Concord & 9th!!). I don't use audio books, but I have particularly enjoyed the book I am currently reading "A Murder in Time" by Julie McElwain. It was been a fascinating read about a modern day female FBI profiler who somehow hurtles back in time to England during early 1800's and tries to solve a murder among the "ton." Very interesting!

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  167. Happy Birthday!
    Really like the way you used the same die
    & the extra pieces for other cards!

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  168. Very beautiful cards! I just ordered this die...and I can't wait to try some of these techniques. I don't listen to a lot of audiobooks, but one I just loved was "Founding Fathers, Uncommon Heroes" by Steven Allen. There are some fascinating stories about George Washington, Ben Franklin and more...that I've never heard before. I found myself laughing at lots of them. A very fun book, that's non-fiction. :) Thanks for your inspiration here!

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  169. Happy belated birthday to you both!! (It's a great month for birthdays! Mine was the 3rd! ☺️) I LOVE your cards, Lydia!!! I must admit that I'm not much of book reader (or listener), but I do have a couple of suggestions that I truly loved. First, I thought The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy was hilarious!!!! Lastly, I really enjoyed The Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher. Thanks for the inspiration!!

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