Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Layers Upon Layers


When I went to CHA in January - there were a few things that really stole the show and influenced my post-show purchasing. 

The MISTI Creative Corners, the Distress Oxides Inks, Unicorn SPiT, and two things from Altenew that blew my mind. They now have alcohol markers that match their inks - and you know who we have to be matchy matchy, y'all. 

But the first day I got a chance to walk the floor, I turned the corner and the things I KNEW were destined to be mine were hanging on the wall behind my sweet friend May. 

LAYERING DIES. 

And not just layering dies, but layering dies in that signature style of Tasnim and Jenn - a stunning floral, paired with a modern skyline. I love their chemistry. 

If I could have given them my car keys and bank account numbers that day to have those dies, I would have, but sadly, or thankfully - I go back and forth - you can't actually purchase anything at CHA, so I had to wait for them to become available. 

At the time that I received them, I was doing my Cling Wrap Background tutorial with the Distress Oxide Inks, so I had a few of them sitting around and thought they would look spectacular with these dies. 

With the floral, at first I tried white, of course, because I love white + bright. But it didn't have enough punch. So I cut the detail layer out of black and BAM - it was love at first sight. 

You will notice that I don't have sentiments on either card today because I couldn't bear to even cover up a thin strip of these gorgeous designs. So sentiments will have to go on the inside. Is this not amazing?
On the skyline set there are three dies in the set, but instead of using the windows - I wanted to fill in the buildings with text. When I think of big cities, this is always my urge - I don't know why. I just always see the newspapers, the libraries, the signage, and I think of words. Billions of words. 

I have a book I bought from Half-Price Books ages ago that I tear pages out of (book worshipers - avert your eyes!) regularly for my cards - it's called, funnily enough, The Book of Words

So I took another oxide background, splattered Pen White Ink on it, and then cut the skyline twice - once for the outline, with black, and once for the filling - with the text. I paper-pieced the text back in to finish it. 


When I told May these dies were my soul dies, she invited me to be part of their release blog hop, so maybe some of you can win some prizes!

The giveaways are CRAZY this time: Altenew is giving away a $50 gift certificate to THREE lucky winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew blog by Friday, April 14th at 11:59 pm EDT for a chance to win. The winners will be announced on the Altenew blog on Saturday, April 15th.

AND - they are letting me give away a $30 gift certificate to one of you! All you have to do is leave me a comment by April 13th, and I'll announce the winner on the 14th!

Good luck and enjoy the hop - your next stop is Sveta!


There are TWO Lydias on this hop - what are the odds? :) 

Loveyameanitbye.

175 comments:

  1. Great cards! Love the artistic nature of them.

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  2. Such a unique release, so excited to try these dies.

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  3. Beautiful cards! Love the cityscape! Can't wait to get these cover dies!

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  4. Unique. I love your style. Beautiful.

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  5. Okaaayyy girlfriend! Your cards just BLEW ME AWAY! Literally. Poof. I came back to comment :p
    LOVE LOVE LOVE what you did. Thank you so very much for the inspiration.

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  6. Aww.. Such beautiful cards.. loved both of them..

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  7. total stunners! Thank you for such great ideas!

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  8. So pretty! I wasn't sure before but I really want these layering dies now!

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  9. OH MY!! These are AMAZING!!!! I think I like the city card best, but man, that floral one....home run!

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  10. So striking, Lydia! Love the contrast and colors! You rock with the layering dies!

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  11. WOW Lydia, both cards are wonderful and I am totally loving all of the colour!

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  12. Love them both - but I'm getting the florals first!!!

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  13. Beautiful card designs using this new fabulous release!

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  14. I love your idea for the Cityscapes

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  15. I love the black. Very unique.

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  16. Beautiful cards! Love these new dies. Thanks

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  17. Love the drama of these pieces.

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  18. The layering dies are crazy beautiful. Great cards.

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  19. THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR GREAT IDEAS!

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  20. What a spectacular background to that layered floral die, I have to go see how you did it. And how original to add text in the building windows, a great contrast to that gorgeous background. So glad you're part of this blog hop, thanks for the inspiration!

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  21. I love the contrast between the colors of the background and the black cutouts that make them stand out!

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  22. Such beautiful and colorful cards! Love these cards and new dies!

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  23. You amaze me with everything you do!! I love this floral die set. I hope I can do it the same justice!!

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  24. I'm glad you fell in love with these dies and that you are part of the hop! You have some great ideas here and the sky background with the distress inks is awesome. I love that you use real book pages (sorry to bring it up again, haha). It looks great!

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  25. Wow! So bold and beautiful. Thanks.

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  26. Now that's different using black instead of white outlines...love it!

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  27. Wow, your cards are so striking, Lydia - LOVE them

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  28. This cityscape card is gorgeous..I love that you used "page from book" for buildings!

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  29. I love these Layering Cover dies!! Your floral card with the Distress Oxide inks is amazing!

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  30. Beautiful cards!! Love that you used black, it really makes the cards stand out!

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  31. Amazing, I love these layering dies!

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  32. I can't blame you for not covering up any part of these cards with a sentiment! Love your cards.

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  33. These are amazing and I can't wait to try the new layering dies! Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful creations on the blog hop!!

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  34. Beautiful Work! Love! Thanks for the inspiration and giveaways!

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  35. Love the idea of your card. Love who they are unique

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  36. Like your style for the cityscape!

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  37. This release is amazing! I especially love those layered dies. And your cards are beautiful xx

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  38. Lydia, your Oxide backgrounds are fantastic and really enhance the scenes you've created with these wonderful dies. Thanks for the inspiration!!

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  39. the layering dies with the black are so wonderful - great cards Lydia

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  40. Your colors really pop against the black. Love it.

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  41. Beautiful layouts. Very original.

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  42. Beautiful layouts. Very original.

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  43. Absolutely beautiful - that gorgeous sky with the inks with that black outline is just stunning. Thanks so much for sharing!! I agree about these background dies, they are amazing!

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  44. Beautiful. Love how the colors pop with all of the black. TFS

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  45. I love the stained glass effect you've achieved with these gorgeous new dies!

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  46. Love your cards, Lydia! the new dies are fabulous. And, the rest of the release is pretty great, too.

    joybird1223@gmail.com

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  47. What cute cards. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  48. Wow - I would have never thought to use black and it's amazing. Love it so much!!!!!

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  49. You're right both of these are amazing and don't need anything else. You can't top perfection! :)

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  50. The Distress Oxide ink backgrounds are perfect for these dies! Bold & stunning!

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  51. Your designs are so bold and striking, absolutely gorgeous!!!

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  52. Loved the use of the oxides with the cityscape

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  53. Great job on your cards. Love the colors.
    natgodfrey4@gmail.com

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  54. Love the floral layering dies and you bring a new twist to all the possibilities of how to use them! Thank you for sharing your lovely cards!

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  55. I would have done the stained glass look great idea.

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  56. I love to see what everyones take is on releases and it never ceases to amaze me on the different talent that is among us. Great cards.

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  57. The dies are incredible and your cards are stunning. I can see why you fell in love!

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  58. Great cards, especially love the cityscape card with the words.

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  59. Love your cards and how you designed the layered dies.

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  60. Your floral die card is beautiful, love the black overlay, stunning :)

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  61. Great cards. Love the floral die and how you made the colors pop with the black. So pretty and the background on the skyline is brilliant!

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  62. Too funny -- I just left a comment on another blog about how a Distress Oxide ink background would look neat behind the cityscape die cut... and here it is! Beautiful!

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  63. Fabulous cards! Love the possibilities with these layering dies! Love your color combos!

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  64. Beautiful cards and a great release.

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  65. Love these! Fabulous use of black. Gorgeous results ♥

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  66. Wow! Both cards are so artsy! I love the City scape one. TFS

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  67. Wonderful ideas. Love the book print - very creative and appealing.

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  68. Amazing! Those layers dies are fantastic! Also I like your great idea for using black color.

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  69. Love the black layer - I can't wait to try this technique. You are so talented...thanks for inspiring me!

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  70. I agree the black is a whole new world with these dies definitely a unique spin on using them...I have been struggling lately with covering up cards with sentiments so you made me laugh my daughter says don't put one but it seems like I'm cheating..lol love the new spin on the cityscape and the words. Great work.

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  71. I just love your bold designs and (even though I'm a book fiend) the cityscape card is amazing.

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  72. Every blog I go to has such amazing ideas for these new dies. I can't pick my jaw up off the floor. Gorgeous cards. Just love your creativity!

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  73. Hi sweet Lydia. I just love how you used the text with the city scape cover die.

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  74. The bold black and colours of the ink are so striking. What fabulous cards. Hugs Jo

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  75. Thank you for the wonderful cards. Just loving all of this great inspiration !

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  76. Fabulous new release and gorgeous interpretations! I love the watercolor technique with the new TH oxides. Thanks for sharing.x

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  77. I absolutely agree, these new layering dies from Altenew are stunning, as are your beautiful cards.

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  78. Amazing cards! I really love the skyscrapers full of words - great idea!

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  79. The contrast between the background and black foreground is so stunning!

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  80. Love that black layered floral card...amazing! I also like the word text on the buildings! Great cards.

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  81. Wow! I totally agree that a sentiment isn't needed on the first card! Covering any of it would be criminal! LOL absolutely gorgeous! Can't wait to get the layering dies! I had to stop hopping to place my order! LOL TFS!

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  82. Your cards are fabulous - and two Lydias - that is unusual - as my daughter's name is Lydia, and when she was small and wanted stuff with her name on it - it was never available!

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  83. Spectacular.
    Love the black on the colors.
    The cityscape is wonderful.
    thanks for sharing.

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  84. Wow! Such a stunner with the black and gorgeous flowers! The Cityscape is lovely, too!

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  85. I love blog hops because I get so inspired by all of you amazing artists.

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  86. Fabulous cards! Love the black floral die over the beautiful soft colors, and your cityscape card is awesome! Can't wait to try out these awesome layering dies... so many possibilities!

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  87. Great cards. Thanks for sharing.

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  88. The gorgeous floral card is right up my alley. Beautiful and not very hard!! Love

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  89. I was hoping you would be on this hop! I am in love with the flower layering dies, I can't wait to get my hands on them!!

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  90. Ohhh, the black dies create a stunning affect. Love both cards, Lydia

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  91. Love your cards and your humor!

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  92. stunning cards, thanks for sharing

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  93. These are fabulous!!! And those backgrounds are gorgeous!

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  94. Fabulous cards with these new products!

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  95. Your gorgeous backgrounds paired with these stunning dies...simply WOW!

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  96. Wow...that flower die in black is amazing!!! Great cards - TFS :)

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  97. Very pretty! Love how you created the backgrounds!

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  98. What a fun card - I love the book text inside your buildings. Such a unique design!

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  99. Loving seeing all the different takes on how to use these layering dies as I go through this hop ! Great cards !

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  100. I agree --- The words go perfect in a cityscape! The black floral is gorgeous

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  101. Gorgeous cards! You're right the dies are amazing...it's hard to choose a favorite but you've made them even more beautiful!

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  102. Loved your take on these. New and refreshing!
    Ldyjs@outlook.com

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  103. Wonderful cards. Love the black background. And the words cityscape with the watercolor background in awesome.

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  104. Creative cards. Love how you used the text from an old book page (sure the book would be honored....wink). Your work inspires me!

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  105. I love the colors in the flower dies and the very cool cityscape card! Wow! Thank you for sharing!

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  106. I adore you take on the cityscape - layered over the book page is wonderful! I love the use of the black with the layered flowers too - a very contemporary look!

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  107. Greta idea! The color behind the black die cut. Simply wonderful

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  108. You're right, those Oxide inks really pop with the black overlay. I wouldn't cover it either.
    Brilliant to use words in the city scape. Very nice cards.

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  109. Striking contrast here in the way you used the new Altenew release! Thanks for the inspiration.

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  110. Beautiful! Beautiful! I love the black floral die-cut against that gorgeous Oxide Ink background. I also love the newspaper cityscape you created. I can't pick a favorite this time.

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  111. Your cards are pretty cool. I saved the cling wrap technique to look at later. It seems really cool! Can't wait.

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  112. Love the contrast of the black floral die with the oxide background.

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  113. Love the black with the colored background.

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  114. More beautiful cards from a really great release.

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  115. Awesome art, Lydia! Thanks for sharing and showing new products.

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  116. Wonderful cards, love how you matched these dies with the beautiful Oxides.

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  117. i just love your text buildings! and that background about killed me. Gah its stunning!

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  118. Your first card is stunning with the black over those gorgeous colours. Love the print paper in the second card. Very unique

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  119. It's interesting to buildings as frame and words as background. Very creative! Thank you for sharing! :)

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  120. I am NOT a city person but that cityscape die set just calls to me!

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  121. Stunning cards! I love how the black really lets the oxide inks shine.

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  122. Cute cards! I especially like the one with the buildings. Very clever idea! Thanks for sharing!

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  123. Both your cards are stunning and really stand out! Love the new release. It is absolutely amazing!

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  124. I've always been a huge fan of bold pastels paired with black, so I'm instantly drawn to your first card. So striking! Love it!

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  125. What a fabulous color combination. I have never used black for a flower die cut before, but your card just convinced me. I love it.

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  126. Love the punch of the black. Thanks.

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  127. Love your bold and striking cards:)
    Jenni

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  128. Stunning - love the black - it really pops! Awesome cards!

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  129. So different from the other participants in the blog hop! I just love them. I wouldn't have thought to use the background you used for the skyscrapers. Very inspirational and makes me need to look at my craft supplies (and bookshelf!) in a different light.

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  130. I love your cards! Thanks for the inspiration, I can't wait to begin designing a few cards of my own!

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  131. Oooh, thanks for such fun inspiration and and to Altenew for the giveaway!! Your cards are so simple but so striking!

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  132. The black diecuts really show off your flowers and the paper print is also a creative idea for the cityscape dies!

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  133. Beautiful! Love your ideas and the new dies

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  134. I am absolutely in love with Altenew products. Wish I could afford them all, but little by little
    The stamps and dies are fantastic.

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  135. Both of your cards are gorgeous! I love the floral layering detail die in the black, it really looks amazing.

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  136. The black die it make these look like stain glass windows!

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  137. So much fun! I love these dies!

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  138. Love the background on your beautiful cards.

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  139. The skyline card is awesome I love it!!!!

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  140. Absolutely stunning and creative!

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  141. Such a versatile die

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  142. I love the cityscape card!Thank you for the inspiration!

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  143. I'm impressed by your colorful cards. I like the text paper for the buildings in Skyline card.

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  144. you don't need no stinkin' sentiment on the front when you already have all the gorgeousness on front. I skipped my sentiment on my Easter cards this year.

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  145. Love your cards, the layering dies, and LOVE the Oxide Distress inks!

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  146. Did you pick/publish a winner as yet? If you did, I missed it.

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    1. I did - but it's on Tuesday's scheduled post - I just got home from my fourth trip in April so I'm a bit behind :)

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  147. So pretty! I love the layering dies

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  148. Oh my goodness Lydia I love these layers of dies. The sisters oxide colors are amazing through the doors. I can see why you would not add the sentiments I could not cover the amazing color either. Beautiful cards. Hugs!!!!

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  149. How cool is this? I like the buildings one with the print!!

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  150. I'm off to try one of my own. These are beautiful!!

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  151. Beautiful cards... Awesome technique!!

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  152. Such a fun technique with some much wow power!!

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