Monday, October 2, 2017

Elfmojis and Penguins and Kittens OH MY! My Monthly Hero Release & Giveaway

You know what time it is??? MY MONTHLY HERO TIME! My favorite Monday of EVERY month. So this weekend I put on the audiobooks and did some super fun holiday crafting with this month's kit. Now remember - this is a while supplies last kit, but the add-ons live on, so you will see both today. Here's my first card with the kit - the little scenic images in the kit are so incredibly sweet, I was actually a little paralyzed at first about which ones to focus on. But I love making all-year cards with holiday sets, so I thought the little wistful ice images were calling my name for a friendship card. I used two of the Fancy Dies in the kit - mountains and trees - to die cut the background from watercolor paper. The rest is just stamping and watercoloring. I used Schmincke masking fluid and drew a line across the watercolor paper for the shoreline - and another to indicate a snowbank, and then I did all my water and trees. Then I removed the masking fluid and stamped the little fisherwoman and her friend the penguin, watercolored those and the shadows on the snow. The sky is watercolored with fingerpainted clouds with white acrylic paint. All watercolors listed below. The sentiment is from Egg-Cellent, which you can see below.
My Monthly Hero by Understand Blue


Here's a picture of what you get in the kit - LOOK AT ALL THOSE STAMPS!
My Monthly Hero Kit
I love the paper this month too - you'll see more in a minute, but this kit is a $70 value for just $34.99, so don't let it sell out on you!


Now - on to the add-ons - these are available even after the kit sells out. AND - you can buy them all for one click for a 9% discount here. The first one just cracks me up - they are elfmoji! Hilarious little elf emojis saying naughty things. I could not resist. I wish I had these on my phone! Get on that Tim Cook! The set is actually called Irreverent Elf Messages - I love all their irreverent line of stamps. I stamped these in Memento on Crafter's Companion Cardstock and then colored them with Copic Markers (listed below.) I then cut them out with the second smallest Circle Infinity dies. I lined up all the sentiments at once on my MISTI and so I only had to stamp once to get the background done. Then I just glued their little heads all over. Hilarious.
Elfmoji by Understand Blue


So speaking of elves, they also came out with two other elf sets - one is naughty elves, and one is nice elves. Betcha can't guess what I reached for first!!! Yep - Naughty Elves.
Naughty Elves by Understand Blue


She actually does not look remorseful at all, which I guess is what makes her naughty! This is a good card to see the beautiful textured papers that come in the kit. The silver geometric one I cut with the circle infinity dies, and I love the one with the embossed dots - it's beautiful on both sides - the debossed and the embossed.

The companion set is the Nice Elves set - equally adorable and better behaved. Again I used the paper from the kit and the circle infinity dies.

Nice Elves by Understand Blue



And one more with that sassy paper, because I couldn't stop. The adorable North Pole Sign Stamp & Cut bundle was too cute to resist. Very quick and easy card too. I stamped the pole in Strawberry ink and then coated it with the lacquer that came in the kit - it's really nice and thick and dries fast. Wish you could see the shine!
North Pole Sign by Understand Blue



I like how ultra-modern it looks with that shiny silver paper - also a little frosty! I attached the signs with mini dimensionals.

Now we move into the "aww" section of the add-ons.

First up - PETS. I squee'd a little when I saw these and knew they had to be mine. Matching cat and dog stockings - officially called Fluffy Stockings Stamp & Cut bundle! Yes, I used the kit paper again - and if you look closely - you'll see - what - is that a mini brad??? Heck yeah it is. Just wait for the comeback!

Fluffy Stockings by Understand Blue

Fluffy Stockings by Understand Blue



For these two little guys, I switched to hot press paper and my Schmincke watercolor. Oh and yeah I used the paper from the kit again, but it's the last time, I promise! :D They are a Stamp & Cut bundle, so I cut them out and glued them onto the watercolor washes and then added the brads.

Then - I'd cry if they didn't have paper layering dies, and I can't end this blog post with tears, so... first - a yellow ribbon for a soldier. I took the Santa's Door accessories & frame cuts bundle, and stamped the bow in Butter Bar, and then colored it with Copics (listed below). The next part was really super duper fun. I ran the Paper Layering Wooden Door through my Big Shot on Cold Press watercolor paper. Then I masked off the wall behind the door  with Post-It tape. I painted the door with Schmincke watercolor - Naples Yellow and Yellow Ochre. Then I painted more well defined lines where the notches for the boards are on the die cut with Burnt Umber. Then with both Sepia and Burnt Umber and this crazy awesome brush I got in Santa Fe that has some bristles longer than others - it basically looks like it got a bad haircut - I lightly painted in the woodgrain with long, random strokes.

For the background, I painted on a LOT of Burnt Sienna and English Venetian, and then while it was still very wet, I wrapped an empty watercolor half pan in my damp absorber and pressed that into the wet paint to lift color in that subtle brick pattern. Fun, right?

Then after it was dry, I used a stylus to emboss the back to give texture to the boards in the door and glued the frame onto the card base. Since it's a yellow ribbon, the Welcome Home sentiment in the bundle was perfect! Another all-year card from a holiday set - I can imagine lots of things with this door.
Tie a Yellow Ribbon by Understand Blue
 Tie a Yellow Ribbon by Understand Blue


I love that card!

So finally - this STUNNING Winter Hearth Stamp & Cut bundle. I cut it from watercolor paper, and then painted the whole thing with just two Daniel Smith colors (listed below). Then, while it was still wet, I took my damp absorber and blotted the stone trim and the mantel and footing to lift color and it gives it the look of stone - so fun. And it's impossible to see the dimension here, but I embossed the back of each brick and it's beautifully textured. I keep patting it. :)
Warm Wishes by Understand Blue


So I'm hopping with some friends and the Hero Creative team to celebrate these amazing goodies today, and of course Hero is giving away a kit to one lucky winner (or a refund if you're subscribed or bought it), so be sure and stop by every blog to leave a comment for your chance to win! The deadline to enter is October 8th at 11:59 PM Pacific time and the winner will be announced the following week. So without further ado - please head over to May Park's blog next - and you can see the whole list here!

You are here >> Lydia Fiedler << You are here

Loveyameanitevenifyourenaughtybye.

157 comments:

  1. Love your first card with the beautiful background scene!

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  2. Wow, fantastic cards, love the watercoloring. This is why I love these blog hops so much, each is so unique and wonderful!

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  3. thanks for sharing all of your awesome creations! love all of these stamps!

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  4. Amazing cards! The second one is my favorite!!

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  5. Ridiculously gorgeous and adorable! You are the worst Hero Arts kit enabler! Now I must go buy it...

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  6. What great cards. The elves crack me up. Thank you for sharing.

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  7. Love to see some cards from this kit that aren't necessarily Christmas. Justifies my purchase of the add ons!

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  8. All your cards are wonderful! I really like the first one though. There's just something really neat about it. Thanks for sharing!

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  9. You're so creative! For the life of me I can't figure out why google says I'm unknown. I'm feeling so offended. LOL. Anyway,like I said you're soo talented and I'm teetering on the brink of should I buy this kit or not. Such issues to have. LOL

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  10. Oh my goodness, so many cute cards. I cannot wait to get my kit and get started. Thank you for sharing your talent.

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  11. Wow! So many cards and all of them beautiful!! Thanks for sharing and can't wait for my kit to arrive!

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  12. Oh my, what made you a bunch of gorgeous cards. I cann't say which one is my favorite, although the Irreverent Elf Messages stamps are great! Thanks for al your gorgeous ideas.

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  13. Lovely card ideas! You really rocked this whole release! Love seeing alternatives to just holiday. I like versatility, just hope I remember to go back and use them that way :)

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  14. Beautiful cards, they are all favorites.

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  15. Such wonderful cards. Thanks for sharing ways to use the door and fireplace dies.

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  16. All of your cards are outstanding! It is an amazing kit to start with and your cards have just added to the "want it all" factor.

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  17. I love how you created a non-holiday card with the kit!

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  18. So many cards, all so cute! I love the elves, too funny.

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  19. Wow, you went all out!!! so many fun projects... I don't even know where to begin to compliment you... Thanks so much for the inspiration!

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  20. Nice cards, it's amazing how you found a way to use all the stamp sets.

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  21. What a fantastic set of creations!! Lovely!!

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  22. very fun and lots whimsy to your cards. I enjoyed the fireplace and use of the add ons also

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  23. Your cards are absolutely fantastic !! You know what you're doing with these watercolors !!

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  24. Your mountains have me SOLD! Oh my goodness!!!!!!!!!!!

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  25. This kit blows me away with its creativity, and your creations make me want it even more.

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  26. Wow!! So much to see! Great creations!

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  27. Love the brick/stone effect on the fireplace!

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  28. These are all amazing. Very cute and whimsical.

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  29. Beautiful cards, lovin this release.

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  30. WOW! You cards are amazing! I especially loved that elf card--it is so much fun!!! Thank you so much for sharing! (Peg)

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  31. Unbelievable release...love your cards!!

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  32. All of them are so cool - however, the elf one is the best! thanks for the ideas!

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  33. What a lot of awesome cards. This is a great release. Thanks for sharing....

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  34. Amazing cards! The elf card and the fireplace card were my favorites! Thank you for sharing!

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  35. All your cards are just darling! Favorites are the cat and dog of course.

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  36. I like your friendship card made with this set as another option besides Christmas cards. Your other cards are also pretty. So many stamps & so many ideas shown.

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  37. Each card is cuter than the next! :)

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  38. Great kit bought it!! Great cards.

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  39. Fabulous cards! This kit has such a great variety of stamps. Love it!

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  40. Wow, your talents know no bounds. These are amazing cards, love your water coloring.

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  41. Wonderful cards, thanks for sharing

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  42. Great kit and very creative projects!

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  43. Your projects are great! I love this kit!

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  44. Wow- Thanks for the wonderful examples of all the fabulous pieces of the Christmas kit!

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  45. Awesome cards, Lydia! Looks like tons of fun!

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  46. Beautiful cards, I love this whole collection. Thank you for sharing.

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  47. Great cards and looks like a wonderful kit!!!!

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  48. You are so ingenious and a work horse!!! So many clever and hilarious cards!! Great designing! Am amazed at all the possibilites with this fantastic Hero Arts kit and add on's!!

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  49. So many awesome cards and so many awesome ideas! You rocked this!!

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  50. Wonderful designs, Love the sign post one!

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  51. Love your watercoloring on the stocking card and background

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  52. I love your cards. I'm not a scrap booker but I love making cards.

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  53. I always love your cards Lydia, yes you are a rock star! But especially love the first one, what a sweet scene with the little fisherwoman. It reminds me of the Canadian Rockies where I just went on vacation!

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  54. Awesome, you're so clever. I'm loving your blog

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  55. Your card's are adorable. This is an amazing kit, I can't wait to get mine in the mail.

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  56. These are so cute, the little ice bergs are precious

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  57. Love all of your creative cards.

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  58. The watercolor look on the die cuts is wonderful - I adore Green Apatite, also!

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  59. WOW! Tons of FABulous inspiration! Love everything!

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  60. Amazing cards, Lydia. Your designs really showcase this amazing kit. TFS.

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  61. super fun cards ... what a great kit! Would love it for holiday cards - along with several add-ons too.

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  62. Beautiful cards, I love your watercoloring and color combos. What a fabulous holiday kit and LOVE your non-holiday friend card, so clever and pretty.

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  63. Wow fantastic collection of cards using these stamp sets! I really like the small elf message card! So funny!

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  64. Wow--you have been very busy creating with this kit. Love the mountain scene on the first card.

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  65. I love the North Pole card. So simple and cute!

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  66. Wonderful cards, so much fun reading your posts, you are fantastic!

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  67. Wonderful projects. The Irreverent Elf Messagesare hilarious.

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  68. I love the little guy ice fishing on an iceberg. Thanks for showing a different take on what could be done with this amazing kit.

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  69. Wow! So many great projects here! I especially love your first card and that beautiful wood-grain door card!!

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  70. Loving all the cards, such great ideas.

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  71. Such great looking cards! I like that you created several different cards with so many different images and dies.That cat and dog in the stockings is super cute and I had my eye on the fireplace so I'm glad you used that.

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  72. Great cards! Thank you for listing ALL the COPIC markers you used to create your cards in the Supply List! Makes Great Reference especially when shopping for COPIC markers.

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  73. Love your cards! The dog and cat in the stocking are adorable...love the watercolor!!

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  74. Those elves - what mischief, what fun! :)

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  75. Wow all of your cards are amazing!!! I love this card kit!! By far the best one I have seen yet!!!! Thanks for sharing Lydia!
    Hugs,
    Jo in Jersey

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  76. Wow! Beautiful Xmas kit!
    Love your stunning cards!!!

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  77. YOur cards are awesome. So much inspiration here. Great kit.

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  78. Adorable cards and love the fireplace and door cards! Those dies are awesome!

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  79. This is such an awesome kit for Christmas! I love the many possibilities
    within this kit. Your cards are so much fun Love those elves. lol And the
    backgrounds you created are AWEsome!

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  80. Wonderful Cards, just love the puppy & kitty. Great release, thanks for sharing.

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  81. Oh my! Your landscape is gorgeous. Love these dies... but missed buying the kt

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  82. Wow, what a collection of cards! There is so much creativity in this post. I love how you are rocking those watercolors!

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  83. I've been too busy last week to take a peek at the new kit, but it's pretty impressive. And I love love love that first card of yours!!!

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  84. Super cards. I love the landscape one, the mountains are wonderful. The hearth one could be used in so many different ways. Great release.

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  85. Love this months kit! Your door 🚪 and fireplace are awesome!
    I am keeping my fingers crossed in hopes that my new debit card arrives soon enough for me to order this! It got hacked last week and all my money is sealed in my bank tilll the new card arrives! Ugh! TFS!

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  86. OMG what an incredible amount of eye candy - I am so inspired:)

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  87. There are so many fun things in this kit! Your cards are awesome.

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  88. Great cards. Love the fireplace. Love the Release.

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  89. I thought I'd never find the end of the fun projects, Lydia! Amazingly fun! I adore each of them, but I particularly love the first one. <3

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  90. You are right--this kit is so versatile you can use it all year-round! Love the dimensions on the door and fireplace. Great cards!

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  91. So much inspiration for this month's kit! Those little elfmojis are hilarious! Thanks for the inspiration!

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  92. Such a cute and different take on the kit!

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  93. Great cards - so many ideas for a fantantic MMH kit. Love them all!!

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  94. Love the cards Your scene card is my Favorite

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  95. I love the different scenes you have made with this kit, showing off it's versatility. Gorgeous!

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  96. Lots to choose from

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  97. Great cards,so many cute images in this kit.

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  98. What a great kit! I love your cards!

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  99. Beautiful cards. The Ice-fishing card touched my heart. Thank you for the inspiration!

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  100. Great cards, love your ideas,
    Di

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  101. Tons of great cards but my fave has gotta be -- the naughty little girl, skeptical reindeer, I can explain card. All good!

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  102. Nice group of cards..all are awesome and have great creative ideas for me to use!

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  103. Delightful cards! Love that kitty in a stocking!

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  104. Great cards. Love this kit and release.

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  105. Wow! You really showcased the flexibility and variety in this month's kit and add-ons. Thanks for sharing. And yes, I'm waiting patiently with my stash for the brad comeback!!!! :)

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  106. Gorgeous cards, the colours and the images are so beautiful.

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  107. These are all amazing but I like the first one best!

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  108. All of your Christmas cards are wonderful!

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  109. You are the first on this blog hop to use the door and the fireplace hearth. Wonderful cards. Can't believe all the add-ons that are available! Hero Arts really outdid themselves this month! Thanks for showing us so many cards!

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  110. WOW! Love all your projects. My favorite, though, is the first one - such a tranquil scene!

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  111. Love the fishing scene.
    that one will be for my son.
    The snow on the mountain is a
    great idea.
    so many wonderful cards.
    thanks for sharing.

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  112. Absolutely beautiful cards ... truly stunning!!! I love how you shared a variety of different and unique ideas for this kit. It seems like such a wonderful value I am bummed I missed out on it! Thanks so much for your inspiration! :)

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  113. Love the specialty papers in this kit. Fabulous !

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  114. Your projects are usually some of my favourite on these hops. Always something surprising in store. Thanks for sharing.

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  115. Wow!! Your cards turned out amazing

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  116. Wow! Love all the variety of your cards. You did a great job showcasing this kit and release.

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  117. So many fun cards. Especially loving how you used the elves!

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  118. Totslly blown away Lydia! So many great designs and fun ideas! Thanks for sharing!

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  119. Wow you have been a busy lady with all these cards, thanks for the inspiration Lydia!

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  120. I really enjoy your art and am consistently inspired. I like the yellow door to your Hobbit hole!

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  121. Your watercoloring is inspiring!

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  122. Especially love your first card. Must give your watercoloring and layering a try. There are so many options with this new kit and add-ons. Thanks HA!

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  123. Lydia, totally LOVE your CAS cards using this kit!

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  124. I love your cards! You are so creative.

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  125. The paper on the background give it a lot of character. Love them.

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  126. Such a fun kit! Love the scenes you created with it! 😍
    God bless!

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  127. Love Love Love! Great cards and so creative. This kit looks like it's so much fun.

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  128. You are so talented!! Love looking at all of your card designs!!

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  129. I almost signed up for the kit last month so it would have started with this month......I so wish I had. I think this is my favorite one so far.

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  130. Love this kit and yes I did miss out, it sold out before I got to order. Love your ideas with the kit. Really enjoying discovering new artists. Cheers Robert

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  131. Love the cards you created, there so much fun

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  132. All of your cards are super cute! I can't wait for this kit - I have so many ideas already!

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  133. This kit is amazing; it can be used in so many original ways!

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  134. Fantastic cards. That first one is a true work of art!!!

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  135. Beautiful creations! I especially love that first one.

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  136. What gorgeous gorgeous fun cards!!! Thank you so much for sharing!

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  137. Wow, wow, wow! I love the silhouette card. They are all just wonderful.

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  138. Your blog on the hop was an unexpected breath of fresh air! I simply love your use of colors, textures, stamps, and dies... It's made me rethink my ideas for if I won the giveaway, BTW, please enter my name in the drawing? I would love to have this set, and I am trying to win it since I haven't been able to work due to circumstances beyond my control. I'm not asking for a handout, just explaining myself. Wrong topic! lol!!! Beautiful cards,thank you for teaching us how you've achieved the finished designs, they're absolutely wonderful!

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  139. This kit is amazing! I'm sad i missed out, it would have been the perfect set coming up to Christmas.

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  140. Wow, you've been busy playing with paper!! So many wonderful cards!! The design paper in the kit really is fabulous and I understand why you just kept using it. The little kitty and puppy in the stocking just melt my heart. They are sooo adorable! And I LOVE the mini brads and still use them all the time!!!

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  141. You created a lot of cards! But, there is so much in this kit to play with, I can really see why you were so busy. Beautiful cards and great ideas. Thank you!

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  142. I just love the landscape in the first card and how realistic that door and brick wall look!

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  143. So many cards! Nice job! Thanks from r the chance.

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