Monday, August 1, 2016

Loved the Stars Too Fondly

I'm sure you've noticed how fairy gardens are super hot right now. Just check out this Pinterest search for them, and prepare to spend days scrolling. They are so fun and sweet. I could see getting completely obsessed with them and turning my yard into a fairy garden extravaganza.

They aren't new, of course. In the (unnamed decade)'s, we made very similar terrariums and vignettes on a teeny scale, featuring little red and white dotted mushrooms, gnomes, etc. I always have loved miniature anything, and stories of tiny, unseen worlds, like the world of The Borrowers, or one of my childhood faves - Stuart Little. I love the idea of teeny, tiny benevolent things - as opposed to the not so teeny tiny and NOT benevolent things that live right underfoot here in Central Texas. I'd much rather discover that the movement I saw out of the corner of my eye was a fairy - even one that was up to no good - than a scorpion.

 Speaking of fairies, it's like they designed this month's My Monthly Hero kit for MEEEEEE! It has a Midsummer Night's Dream theme and the images and dies are absolutely spectacular, and speak to my English major's heart. The sentiments in the add-on set Dreams are Made are beautiful, and I especially love the one I used, which is an excerpt from The Old Astronomer by Sarah Williams. The other quotes are from Midsummer Night's Dream.

But in the main kit, there are also three really beautiful inks - my favorite is the Orchid, which I used for sort of a Northern Lights Background, along with the Green Apple. I covered the sky with Night of Navy to finish it off. Turns out that the Orchid Ink (if you loved Orchid Opulence, it's a perfect match!) is nearly identical to Copic V04, so that's what I colored her hair and dress with. There are Stickles in the kit and I used those on her wings.

Before starting the scene, I embossed the clouds and stars right onto my card base and then sponged the inks on. Then I colored and die cut the fairy, and stamped the two silhouette fairies in black to make them look like they are in the background.
My Monthly Hero Kit August 2016 by UnderstandBlue
This card is for Susie William's Dare to Get Dirty challenge today over at Splitcoast - come join us if you haven't already!

Here are all the supplies I used - and just note that the Hero kits themselves are while supplies last.


And since everything is better with friends, they were nice enough to let me link up on the hop today with some of my buddies (below). Hero will be giving away this lovely bit of fairy goodness to a lucky commenter so be sure and follow their instructions for a chance to win! And speaking of Hero, in case you missed it, check out our Crafty Chat with the CEO of Hero Arts - he tells the incredible story of the woman behind that company - we were just in awe.


Now - on to the hop!
The Hero Arts Blog
Yana Smakula
Mariana Grigsby
Clare Prezzia
May Park
Jennifer McGuire
Kathy Racoosin
Laura Bassen
Lydia Fiedler
Jessica Frost-Ballas
Pretty Pink Posh
Debbie Olson
Cheiron Brandon
Alice Wertz
Helen Gullett
Libby Hickson

177 comments:

  1. The night sky you created is gorgeous, I can't wait to try that!

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  2. Such a lovely card! Thanks for the post!

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  3. So beautiful! My first thought is this is so Lydia!

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  4. So beautiful, love what you have done with the kit. Thanks for the inspiration!!

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  5. Beautiful card, love your color choices and attention to detail.

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  6. Beautiful! I love the galaxy look of the background!

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  7. OMG!! I am having a craftgasm over this magnificent creation!! I adore your background and the fairy is stunning!!! Totally drooling here! TFS!

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  8. What a gorgeous night to have fairies flying around. You really outdid yourself with this stamp set. I have a love for and collect fairies and your card is just so gorgeous. Thank you for sharing.

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  9. Such an unusual card. Love the colors.

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  10. beautiful. thank you for sharing.

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  11. Such a rich card. Thank you, I learned a lot and can't wait to try t!
    Penny
    redheadworking at earthlink dot net

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  12. This is just lovely! Love that quote - so perfect for the fairy image.

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  13. Wow! What a gorgeous night scene you created here! I love how it looks like the fairies are creating the starry night!

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  14. Love this kit and I'm so glad you are in the hop! Your card is stunning! I'd rather imagine fairies than more common creatures too!

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  15. Very different then the others in the blog - very creative!

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  16. The entire card is just plain gorgeous. I love the colors in the night sky, the fairy dust, the entire cards. Would love to have one like it for my fairy collection. Thank you for sharing.

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  17. Yes, the night sky is to die for. Wonderful card.

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  18. What an absolutely beautiful card and background. I just love it. I'm just in love with the beautiful fairt kit!

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  19. Just love your fairy card - what an amazing background with the clouds and fairy dust! Loved the chat with Aaron of Hero Arts too, so inspiring!!

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  20. Awesome fairy scene! Love the dramatic sky!

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  21. Wonderful card and background !

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  22. Your card is beautiful! I absolutely love this kit. I think it may be my favorite so far. That "frame" die is stunning and the sentiments and fairies are gorgeous. Thank you for sharing!

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  23. Gorgeous background
    and love all the
    fairies on it.
    Carla from Utah

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  24. Oh my, this night sky is absolutely magical. What a perfect sky for the sentiment and these sweet, delicate fairies.

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  25. Oh my--what an awesome scene you created.

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  26. This set is amazing. I love what you've done with what Hero Arts has- and I loved the Crafty Chat. Thank you for sharing!!!

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  27. PS- Love that Hero Arts is named after the book... and Hero is also a favorite from Shakespeare as well. :)

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  28. What a beautiful card!! Thanks for sharing.

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  29. Your night sky is just beautiful with the silhouetted fairies! Wonderful way to showcase the kit

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  30. Just love how you embossed the clouds and stars and then did the inking - what a lovely effect! And, of course, the MMHK is just wonderful!

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  31. Very adorable card and background. Thanks for sharing.

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  32. Oh wow! Your card is a dream!!! Absolutely amazing!!! <3

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  33. OMG your sky is fabulous!!! Wow what an awesome card!

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  34. Awesome--love this card and this kit!

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  35. Love the night skies with the fairies!! Beautiful cards!!😃

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  36. Wow love the colours. Very magical!

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  37. Beautiful sky, and sweet card.

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  38. Love what you did here, stunning

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  39. The sky you created is amazing and really sets off the stamps. Very very creative love it.

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  40. Your card is really unique and beautiful. Thanks for sharing your ideas.

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  41. Beautiful card! I love the colors you used; blues, of course! LOL!

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  42. This is a beautiful night scene.

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  43. Great card. Love the background so pretty!

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  44. Wow - your inked sky is amazing! This is a beautiful card!

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  45. I like that you used the add ons. nice to see them.

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  46. love the night sky. And I thought faeries only came out during the day! very oretty

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  47. love the night sky. And I thought faeries only came out during the day! Beautiful.

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  48. Wow, I love your night sky. Great job using the inks.

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  49. Oh Lydia... your night sky is spectacular. Love the colors and this set is fantastic. Thanks for sharing your creativity. Have a magical day.

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  50. oh my! I love the night sky you created!

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  51. A stunning card! I love the night scene!✨🌌

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  52. new to your site, love your night background beautiful. This kit is magical

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  53. What an amazing use of color, Lydia! Thanks so much for sharing with us and for participating in this great hop and giveaway.

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  54. Wow what an incredible enchanting sky for the lovely fairies!!!

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  55. What an amazing sky! Beautiful card!

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  56. Beautiful background for the starry sky. The sentiment you chose is my favorite from the set: "I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night."

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  57. I love your card and I wanted to say that I've been enjoying the Crafty Chat feature on the Online Card Classes site. I think the chat with Aaron from Hero Arts was especially interesting. Hero Arts is to be commended for their contributions to this industry.

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  58. Your card is gorgeous. This kit is beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

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  59. I love the blue and purple night sky. The card is so very pretty! Just love it

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  60. Love seeing the clouds and stars with the fairies. Cool sky. Interest story about Hero Arts.

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  61. I am in love with this kit - who can resist fairies??

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  62. Great card. The colours are outstanding.

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  63. Awesome scene! I loved hearing how Hero Arts got started!

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  64. OMG! Love the crafty Chat with Aaron!

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  65. Amazing background! Love the colors!

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  66. Love the dreamy background sky, just beautiful!

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  67. What an incredible nighttime sky Lydia! The color combo is amazing and the clouds are dreamy. The fairy looks like she sprinkled her dust around. Thanks for sharing and inspiring. Aaron, thank you so much for sharing your incredible stories about Hero Arts and your Mom, what an amazing lady! I to was raised by a single mom struggling to make ends meet while putting herself through nursing school. She's always been my Hero, and it's clear you share that same admiration for your mom by how much you smiled and the way you spoke about her. I learned of your company through Jennifer McGuire. While on YouTube a few years back I was looking for Scrapbooking ideas and stumbled upon her channel. While watching those videos I then found some about card making and Hero Arts products. I quickly realized that making home made cards for family and friends was definitely some thing I wanted to do, and as they say the rest is history, thanks Jennifer. I love your products and your customer service department is incredible. I love that it still operates with the mom and pop mind set. We appreciate your business and the feeling of the customer comes first. Thank you again for sharing. Lydia, thanks for the video, can't wait for part 2, lol.

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  68. The deep colors are just gorgeous !

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  69. Such a lovely card! Such a beautiful night sky background.

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  70. Lydia, this card took my breath away. Your sky is stunning and those fairies are so precious. I love Crafty Chat. It's a wonderful way to get to "meet" and get to know stampers and store owners up close. I hope you, Jennifer and Kristina will keep that up. Getting to listen to the three of you chat is fun too.

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  71. My girls would so love to play with this kit as we craft for homeschooling! Gorgeous card and kit, just no money to buy ;o(
    Thanks for the chance to win!
    ~God bless~

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  72. Now, that card says, "Midsummer's Night Dream", to me!

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  73. Lydia, this is gorgeous scene!,! Love it!

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  74. Gorgeous! The background is done beautifully.

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  75. Your night sky is gorgeous! Love this kit!

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  76. Gorgeous colors! And I love that sentiment.

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  77. your card is just gorgeous... the night sky you created is beautiful!

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  78. Love the night sky. Very pretty color.

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  79. This card is awesome with the night sky. Love the looks of this.

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  80. I love your beautiful card, Lydia!! You had me at orchid. And as always, love your writing. I had a goal to create a fairy garden with the kids this summer, but failed. I want to me ALL THE THINGS on the pinterest link you shared. And I also love stories like The Borrowers. Have you watched the Japanese animation version - Arrietty? Love it. :)

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  81. Fabulous night sky effect! Beautiful and magical!

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  82. A fantastic card Lydia!
    An incredible background story on Hero Arts! So very proud of 'Jackie' for her ingenuity back in "the day". I love hearing of a story where a woman can make a business from what she loves/believes in! Love Hero Arts!

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  83. The card background you created is amazing. It is really an eye catcher and looks so heavenly.

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  84. So beautifully gorgeous! The colors are stunning together!

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  85. Beautiful card. I never would have thought to put those shades of purple and green together - they are so lovely! TFS!!

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  86. Your background is awesome, love your card!

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  87. I loved listening to Aaron talk about Hero Arts and the start of stamping! I've been stamping since about 1987 and, of course, have purchased many stamps over the years, but the stamps he showed on the flyer are very real in my head! Saw many of them at stamp shows over the years - and, I'm sure, purchased some of them, as well! Thanks for sharing the history!

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  88. What a fantastic background and wonderful card!

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  89. Love your night sky and prettying fairy. Love this kit, hoping the manic rubs off on me

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  90. Gorgeous card--love how the brighter purple and green make everything pop.

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  91. The purples in this card are beautiful and your card is amazing.

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  92. Oh your card is just so beautiful - love every part of it! Thanks so much!!

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  93. Wow, the night time sky is gorgeous. Beautiful card.

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  94. Gorgeous card!! My fav so far in the hop - very magical!!!

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  95. Fantastic.
    Love the shading, the silhouette of the fairy,
    just beautiful.
    thanks for sharing

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  96. What a wonderful world you've made with an awe inspiring sky! Thank you!!!

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  97. I love the back ground of the card! So well blended! Very awesome!

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  98. Wow what a stunning card!!! Sure did enjoy the video with Aaron:)

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  99. Beautiful work as always! I am so glad you are a member of the team that does the blog hops for HA! I was so excited to see the kit but totally forgot it was going live today and you saved me from total sadness (by possibly missing it)! I visit your page often and really enjoy your blog.

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  100. Gorgeous card....and I am so happy to see you refer to "The Borrowers"--one of my favorite childhood series of books

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  101. This is a different touch with a dark vibe but still looks so good! This kit is a mixed of elegance and magical vibe! I love it and it is perfect for my card making projects. I've been sending letters to different part of the world and my letters will look so beautiful with the use of these stamps! The Shakespearean Poetry Stamp is one of the stamps that I liked the most because of poetry and words on it but I also like the Fairy Stamp and Dreams Are Made Stamp because they are very detailed! I really want this kit and I can't wait to use them and share them with my friends!

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  102. Love the deep, bold colors. Great change from all the cutesie cards. Wish I could do ink like this!!!

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  103. LOVE LOVE LOVE your color combo, my favorite colors!! Thanks for such a beautiful card.

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  104. Really love the colors and the background that you created, so amazing.

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  105. Really beautiful card! I love your background, the color is so vibrant. Thanks for the inspiration. ;)

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  106. Omg you card is soooo dreamy. Love everything about it.

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  107. Very pretty. Love the rich colors of your card. This kit s great.

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  108. Wow! This is the most amazing card! I love, love, love what you did! This looks like one of those very expensive Hallmark cards. Can we call this a card by Lydia? Thanks for giving us the chance to win this card set. I'm nursing a broken foot and can't afford any extra expenses.

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  109. Your card is absolutely lovely! Also I just loved your intro it was fun to read and who didn't love Stuart Little, i can't wait to show the DVD to my Grandson 😊 Ironically I have to mention earlier today I was on Jennifer website and then onto the crafty chat with Aaron! Wow an hour well spent in laughed, i cried, i was wowed and i cried again, I'm such a softy 😊 this is a must watch interview! Well done! And thank you!

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  110. So nice, I really love what you did with it. Such an amazing set, such an amazing card.

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  111. Love the sky and purple the fairy

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  112. Absolutely stunning card!!!!!!! Looks like a lot of love went into it!

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  113. WOWSER!!!!!!! I'm still holding my breath, this is stunning, the coloring of your sky is awesome and I can't say enough about it. Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful masterpiece!

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  114. Beautiful card! Your sky is simply stunning!

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  115. Love how the evening sky "glows" with the beautiful colors you used.

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  116. Do I dare say it?? This is one of my absolute favorites, catches the them very nicely. I'm going to get the kit a.s.a.p. well............after I finish looking at all of these cards!

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  117. Hi Lydia!! I'm a great fan of yours since
    "Meeting you" via CRAFTY CHAT!! I love those chats! I am in total awe of this Hero Arts kit, you, and what all the designers are creating !! I've come back to your post here several times already just to look at your card !! It is absolutely amazing! When I get my kit, your card version is the first one I'm going to make with it!! You're a wonderful gal and I absolutely love your SENSE OF HUMOR!!! OMG!! You are so funny in a very unique kind of way !!! Thanks for all you do for us card making gals!!! Hugs from Veronica in CANADA :) :) :)

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  118. Such a sweet card! Add a little light green and it would really look like the Northern Lights in Alaska!

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  119. Gorgeous background you could just have made the background with the fairy and the card would of remained gorgeous . Tfs

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  120. Gorgeous card, I love the background!

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  121. I love these two stamp sets used together. They are just a perfect match. Your card is so lovely and I know that every project made with this new release will be just stunning. Yay, Hero Arts, for setting the standard so high and creating such beautiful projects to inspire us all. And you too, Lydia!

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  122. Gorgeous night sky and love these fairy images.

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  123. Once again Lydia, you designed and created a gorgeous card!! So talented!!! Thx for sharing your creativity!

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  124. I love the background you created! Your card is beautiful!

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  125. Love the dreamy scene and the background color in general, great card

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  126. I rarely say this - Your card looks AMAZING! The colors are so intense, the clouds, the details and shadows of fairies. EXCELLENT!

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  127. love this card! the deep blues and purples are just beautiful!

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  128. Love the nighttime dreamy scene, Lydia! Beautiful card.

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  129. Fabulous card. I love that glowing background.

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  130. This is very soothing to look at! I love the colors!

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  131. I'm a blue girl, too, and your card took my breath away!

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  132. Wow! That background is amazing! Such a great card!!

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  133. Gorgeous. Such a fanciful night sky!

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  134. Wow just stunning I love the colors you different the sky beautiful card.

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