Saturday, June 2, 2018

The 10th Daily Marker 30 Day Coloring Challenge

I was lucky enough to help host one of Kathy Racoosin's 30 Day Coloring Challenge event road trips this spring in New Braunfels.

It was an amazing event, and pretty unique in terms of the format. Instead of teaching the whole group each day - these were large groups - Kathy had the brilliant idea to call groups of about 5 people up to the two tables where we were and give those five intensive lessons for about an hour. This allowed every person to ask their own questions about mediums, tools, processes and was so much more valuable. The student:teacher ratio was perfect for every group and so we really got to spend quality learning time with each other.

That was the first weekend I had used the InkOn3 Fadeout Ink for no-line watercolor, and so the event changed my life in so many ways, but mostly just getting a lot of fun, one-on-one time with Kathy, whom I adore. Here's my favorite photo of her from the trip - we were at Uncommon Objects.

So, I wanted to take the opportunity today to say "Thank Mew" to Kathy for changing the crafty world with your coloring challenge.

Her idea behind the challenge is based on the research that shows that coloring is actually therapeutic. Even coloring for 10 minutes a day can lower your blood pressure, reduce anxiety and more. You can read about those benefits here.

Crafters put a lot of pressure on themselves to create a masterpiece every time they sit down at their desks. The most important message of Kathy's challenge is STOP THAT! Enjoy the PROCESS, approach the opportunity as one with no pressure, not even that of completion. Just color. I wrote about this idea of non-precious art here, in the lead-up to Art Journal Summer School, which is starting again soon.

If you are just starting the coloring challenge, I encourage you to do your challenge works in a sketchbook - for me, they relieve all the pressure, because it's not a card, and I don't have to show it to anyone. Art journaling is the most stress-free creative process I know.

For today's project, though - I have a card.

I posted a picture on Facebook of just the little kitty feet on my desk because it was sort of macabredorable, if I can make up a word. I had colored the kitty with Copics, but I wanted him to be hanging across the sentiment inside the stitched frame, so to make that work I had to cut off all his paws - EEK - and then re-attach them over the little banner. I also added shadows under them to enhance the 3D effect.

For the background, I just used ink blending tools and ink (listed below) and rotated them to get little brightly colored circles. I had a piece of DSP that matted the whole thing perfectly. The kitty is from InkOn3 as well - and this was the first card I tried her black ink on, and I love it. It's very crisp and inky black, and works with watercolor and alcohol markers.

The die I used is this AMAZING, varied stitched die set from Reverse Confetti. This one is always on my desk.

The adorable cat cracks me up - reminds me of the "hang in there" posters from my childhood.
InkOn3 Kitty card by Understand Blue
Purr-ific Kitty Cats 4x6 Clear Stamp Set
[ INK ]
All Framed Up Confetti Cuts –...
[ RVR ]
Bundle Special 3 Essential Inks
[ INK ]
Flirty Flamingo Classic Stampin' Pad...
[ SUP ]
Tsukineko VersaFine Clair SUMMERTIME...
[ SSS ]
Daffodil Delight Classic Stampin' Pad...
[ SUP ]
Lemon Lime Twist Classic Stampin' Pad...
[ SUP ]
Tempting Turquoise Classic Stampin'...
[ SUP ]
Copic? Sketch Cool Gray No. 5 Marker:...
[ ART ]
Copic Sketch Marker YR65 ATOLL Peach...
[ SSS | MFT | ELH ]
Copic? Sketch Atoll Marker: Orange,...
[ ART ]
Copic Sketch Marker YR68 ORANGE...
[ SSS | MFT | ELH | ART ]
Ranger Ink Blending Tool, 1 Inch Round
[ ELH ]
Ranger Ink Blending Tool Replacement...
[ ELH ]
Whisper White Cardstock - Thick
[ SUP ]
MISTI Stamping Tool
[ MSW | HA | SSS | ELH | SBC | MFT ]
Absorber - Synthetic Cleaning Cloth
[ AMZUS ]
Rotatrim Professional Series Cutter -...
[ BLIC ]
Mudder 10 Pack White Buffer Sanding...
[ AMZUS ]
Xyron ADHESIVE ERASER 23675
[ SSS | ART | AMZUS ]
Bone Folder by Stampin' Up!
[ SUP ]
Multipurpose Liquid Glue by Stampin' Up!
[ SUP ]
Sizzix BIG SHOT EXPRESS Gray and...
[ SSS | CST | BMS | ART ]

So today, all the people involved in Kathy's road trips for the 30 Day Coloring challenge are coming together for a blog hop to celebrate the kickoff of her TENTH challenge. Please see all the info on this amazing challenge below and join us! You will have such an amazing month if you do, and you will see so many pretty things along the way if you follow the hashtags, and you will have the opportunity to win tons of prizes.

__________________________________________________________
Questions & Answers plus more info on The Daily Marker 30 Day Coloring Challenge can be found here. If you are more visual here is a video. To see DAY 1 of the coloring challenge click here.

If you are new to the challenge …. The premise of “The Daily Marker 30 Day Coloring Challenge” is to color something everyday even if it’s for five minutes. (However feel free to  jump in or out as time permits). Any coloring medium is welcomed. Click here for DAY 1. TO UPLOAD YOUR COLORING  or here on Instagram or here on Facebook (FB is a closed group). Please remember to use the hashtag #thedailymarker30day  and tag @kathyrac . For kids & young adults #thedailymarker30daykids
If you have any questions about “The Daily Marker 30 Day Coloring Challenge” you can refer to this post.  If you want more info on The Coloring Challenge Road Trip click here.
__________________________________________________________

Here are all the amazing humans hopping today!

You are here >> Understand Blue<< You are here  

Have fun hopping.

Loveyameanitgocolorsomethingbye.

166 comments:

  1. I love your blog great use cards and great colors

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  2. What a fun card. I love the adorable kitty image and the circles of colour are just perfect x x

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  3. Love Inkon3 inks! The embossing ink is the best! I try to color every day, and Lucy makes sure there is cat hair in everything I do. What a sweet little kitty!

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  4. What a fun card! Glad your minor kitty "surgery" worked out to make a super cute card!

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  5. What an adorable card and such beautiful coloring!!

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  6. Awesome job! Love how cute that little cat is. :)

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  7. This is a super sweet card, love it!

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  8. That is so cute!!! I love the way that kitty is just hanging there....

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  9. I like your idea to use a sketch book for the coloring. I think I need to go purchase one! Your cat on the card is so cute!

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  10. Oh, this is so cute!! Would love to go on a road trip with Kathy!

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  11. Oh, how cute!!! I do believe I remember the macabredorable cat paws photo! I am going to try to do the challenge! It will be a good exercise for me! I am all about the finished masterpiece and I so want to get away from that. However LOL today I am working on a piece I am going to hang on the wall. It's super quick coloring. I bought a stamp a LONG time ago, loving it for how soothing it was to me but I have never made it into something I could look at and enjoy. Thanks for always inspiring us!

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  12. This is adorable - I'm not "kitten".

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  13. Your cat is cute. The cat in the picture with Kathy... slightly terrifying. And I like cats.

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  14. Such and adorable card! Thank you for the inspiration.

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  15. Such a sweet card, and what a clever way of using the blending tools! :-)Thank you so much for being part of Kathy's wonderful hop and challenge!

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  16. Such a super cute card, and purrfect for Kathy (fun Instagram pic!)

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  17. Ha! I'm totally in love with that cute little kitty. Great job! <3

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  18. Such a cute card and a wonderful way to get color right at your focus point! Loved it.

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  19. Such a cute card! Thanks for participating in the blog hop and sharing your talent!

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  20. love the design of this cute card - CAS but very effective:)

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  21. Love this adorable card and the cat is so stinking cute! Great idea and I can't wait to start coloring!

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  22. That kitty is adorable!! I like the suggestion of a coloring journal :)

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  23. Your kitty card is so cute, love it!

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  24. What a cool card! The kitty is adorable and I love the colorful circles in the background.

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  25. Such a great card - love how you used the ink blender tool to create those circles and the cat looks adorable! I hope Kathy makes her way to my neck of the woods sometime so I can take one of her road trip classes as it definitely sounds like a lot of fun!

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  26. Thank you for sharing! Love the pic of you and Kathy

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  27. OMG!! This is so stinking cute & can't stand it! Love how you cut him up and hung him on the sentiment!!

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  28. So cute...love the colored circles...they pull your eye right to the star...that little kitty!

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  29. What a cutie! Thanks for the inspiration

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  30. Your card is very cute and the home image of your blog is so cool!!

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  31. Such a sweet image and card. I have never come across this ink before but your stamped image does look very crisp.

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  32. Such a cute background! I love the circles!

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  33. Okay then! I'm now more enlightened on the 30-day Marker Challenge idea! I can spend hours on a coloring project ... only to stash it away in disgust or simply never get to the card making with it. This might be for me! LOL Thanks! (And the card is darling, m'lady!)

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  34. This is just ADORABLE!!! I love that little kitten!!! How fun that you got to go on a road trip with Kathy too!!

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  35. Cute card! Thank you for sharing!

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  36. Love how you used the ink blending tools to make those perfect circles. Genius!

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  37. Awww cute kitty card! Love the pops of colour too :)

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  38. You and Kathy need to come to Indiana to teach us all your secret tips and coloring tricks!

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  39. That is adorable!! (And, hilarious picture of Kathy). I wasn't able to attend the day in New Braunfuls and was so sad... I love that all of you are friends, it's like all of my favorite crafty-super heroes forming the Crafty Justice League or something lol
    What is Art Journal Summer School and where can I find more info?

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  40. Adorable! I love the simple background to bring out the kitten.

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  41. Your so right about the "Hang in There" posters... I totally thought of that when I saw your cute card.

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  42. This is so adorable. Little kitty feet are a great inspiration!

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  43. Your card is adorable ! I had already spotted this stamps set (with the Dragons too !) and now I think I absolutely need them - LOL !

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  44. Cute card! Thanks for sharing!

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  45. Love that little hanging kitty! Also digging the background - have a wonderful day!

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  46. such a darling little kitten - fun background for him!!

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  47. Cute card! I love your blog and a road trip with Kathy would be so fun!

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  48. Hi Lydia,
    That's a super adorable card!!! Thank Mew for sharing it!

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  49. Yep...this is ADORABLE! I have completely fallen in love with that kitty. Love your design....love this card ♥

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  50. Super cute card! Also like yesterday’s too,

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  51. SO CUTE! Love how simple this is!! Great inspiration!

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  52. Wonderfully sweet and happy card! So glad the kitties paws are now intact :)

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  53. Cute card! The cat is adorable!

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  54. Awww, what a cute kitty. I really like how you used a piece of patterned paper for the card base. It gives it such a nice contrast to the bright colors on the panel.

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  55. Cute card. I love your idea of coloring in a sketch book and not having to complete it. I will be doing lots of coloring and art journaling this summer!

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  56. What a sweet little kitty although (s)he has suffered a lot for the sake of art. Such sweet eyes

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  57. I like your idea of doing the challenge works in a sketch book, it really would change the pace and intent of what is being created. Thanks for the great post and card inspiration with the cute kitty!

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  58. What an adorable card. Love how you altered the stamp.

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  59. SQUEAL!! BEAUTIFUL Card!! I LOVE the Image and Colors!! THANKS for sharing and have a FABULOUS WEEK!!

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  60. I will forgive you for cutting off the kitties feet since you reattached them so cutely! That was a brilliant idea. If only pressure free creative time was something we all did on a regular basis and not just when Kathy reminds us during challenges. But thank goodness she does or some of us wouldn't make the time at all!

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  61. Cute card, reminds me of my kitties trying to climb on everything.
    Dolores

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  62. Cute card. It does look just like the "Hang in There" poster and you colored the kitty the exact same way. Love it.

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  63. How sweet! Both your card AND that you got to craft with Kathy! WOW! Your colorful card made me smile all the more since my daughter adopted a stray kitty from college - she's all over the house, zipping and zooming! (the kitty, not my daughter - she went back to college! LOL!) TFS!

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  64. Oh, so cute! The card looks very clean but full of life at the same time!

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  65. Adorable card! I remember those posters you mentioned. I love anything to do with cats (they're also great stress reducers!). Thanks for being a part of this fun hop.

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  66. Lydia, this is such a cheerful card! It too reminds me of those "Hang in There" posters....LOL. I am continually amazed at just how much you accomplish within any given day (between SU, the DS Facebook group & making all those splits of paints, as well as your blog,,plus a gazillion other things I probably have no idea that you also do)! "Color" me impressed!

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  67. This is precious! I love that you used a regular stamped image to create a whole new concept with the hanging cat. Fun!
    Check out my blog to see my fun coloring challenge entry for Day 1 :D https://britedesignsstudioblog.wordpress.com

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  68. Cute card; adorable sentiment. Love the coloring.

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  69. Hi there, another post of yours that i really enjoyed alot. I love your card, especially now that i know how you did the feet (EEK, LOL) I had to order the inkon3 fadeout ink too. It just came yesterday. I cant wait to use it on a bunch of new stamp sets i have been hoarding. I have gotten to the point I can relax when i use copics, not so much with water colors yet. I'm working on it. I have some classes I can go back and take that i never finished. I'm hoping to do that this month. I love the 30 day challenges so much. I"m totally addicted to instagram and you tube and blog hops. This will be fun. hugs, treen

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  70. Love this - your card, your post. You make me smile.

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  71. So cute! I love the paws clutching the sign. Made me chuckle & I'm not a cat person! Thanks for sharing!

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  72. I just love what you created--stunning. I have always been intimidated by coloring but recently purchased some Copics and am starting to enjoy coloring. I need to continue to practice to get better at it but will eventually get there.

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  73. You colored your macabredorable cat to look like all 3 of ours! (Great word!) Thanks for suggesting doing 30 days in my journal, I do need practice. :)

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  74. What a meow-tastic card!! So cute! :)

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  75. Your card is beautiful and that little cat is so so cute, he reminds me of our new kitten. I liked your watercolour landscape you linked, very calm and peaceful. I would adore to go to a road trip day but I'm England we don't get you all over enough x

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  76. Lydia your kitty is so adorable, I love this card. Its way too stinking CUTE!

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  77. Loving this image and the way you mounted him, I remember those posters, lol. I really love the sponged background, how creative. Thanks for sharing.

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  78. Awesome CAS card and its adorable too!!

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  79. Love your kitty card! I couldn’t agree more in the Kathy has changed and helped to bring together this craft world in such a good way!

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  80. Adorable card! I always look forward to seeing your creations. Thank you for sharing.

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  81. Cute, fun card! I would love to try the Arkon stand but not sure how to create videos as far as what software to use for editing both video and audio.

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  82. Really love be you card. It does remind me of the Hang in there signs. Love inkon3 ink. A BIG thanks to Kathy and all of the blog hop participants.

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  83. This cat reminds me of puss in boots, so adorable. Love the simplicity of this card.

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  84. Macabredorable.. ha ha ha Love it. next you will be able to 'google' it! Love the idea of this card. Thanks for sharing.

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  85. What a cute card! The cute kitty does look like the hang in there ones! Thank you for sharing!

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  86. Such a cute card.!
    Thanks for sharing...

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  87. I recently found the Inkon3 and love the
    inks I got from them. Glad to see your
    positive comment. The kitty is darling.
    Cutting his paws off and re-attaching
    was worth the "pain".
    thanks for sharing
    txmlhl(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  88. How cute is that little kitty! Great card Lydia, LOVE it!

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  89. so cute and awesome colors. I like how you did the kitties feet and shading. good idea and fun card.

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  90. What a great idea to use the ink blending tools to create a background! Thanks for the tip!

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  91. Hi, Love your card and I love the picture of Kathy from the road trip, that is so cool that you got to meet her, I would love to meet her one day ( It's on my bucket list,lol).Thanks for sharing your card with us!!!!

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  92. I really love your suggestion to use a journal for this challenge. It really can be two-fold, by seeing your coloring progress and possibly future ideas or actual cards. Thanks!

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  93. It's an adorable card, it brought a big smile on my face.Thanks for your part in the challenge, it’s such fun to do the 30 Day Coloring Challenge again!

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  94. LUHVE the card! This is one of my faves. I love going into Uncommon Objects. You never know what you will find in there, I just don't make it down there that often! I was finally able to pick up a full set of sable brushes, but haven't had a chance to try them out yet, so thank you for the recommendation. Kim in Round Rock

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  95. Ahh, such a cute kitty! I attended one of Kathy's on the road trips in AZ, it was awesome and a very small group, only about 20 of us. But she did work with us almost individually, I learned lots and have improved my coloring greatly.

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  96. I am now going to have to check out that stamp set! Super cute card!

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  97. Such a cute card and such a cute kitty!

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  98. What a fun card! That cat hanging there is so sweet.

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  99. that's adorable. i may need to find this road trip. . .

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  100. The black and white card base really makes the front images pop.

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  101. What an adorable card to say thanks! You are so talented. I enjoy your blog.

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  102. Poor kitty! But I am sure he forgave you when he saw how darn cute he looks! Thanks.

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  103. Cute cat card. It is great to know we are actually getting "therapy" when we color. I guess this research lead to a lot of the adult coloring books that are out there. I know I find it very relaxing.

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  104. Am so inspired by your perfect rainbow backdrop! Love that little kitty, hanging on for dear life! Great shading too!

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  105. Such a cute kitty and I like the colorful circles in the background.

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  106. I have loved all the inspiration from the wonderful blog - but along the way I learned a bit more about each of these wonderful women! What a great bonus - and kudos to all the talent and support of Kathy's 30 day challenge.

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  107. Such a cute kitty...love the circles of colour.

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  108. Kathy’s events sound amazing. Your card is cute. I recently was gifted the ink on 3 stamp pads but haven’t had a chance to use them.

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  109. Cute card! I laughed when you suggested newbies use a sketch book ... I’m so artistically challenged that just the term ‘sketch book’ makes my blood pressure go up! LOL

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  110. I loved reading about the road trip with Kathy. My Mom has Alzheimer’s and they use coloring as part of her therapy. I’ll use that as my excuse to absolutely enjoy the coloring process. Your card is just soooo humorous!

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  111. That is such a cute card!!

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  112. What a cutie! I love the coloured circle background too! Fab design:)

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  113. Lydia your blog is always one of my favorite stops. I love that stamp set and your card is adorable. I'm a sucker for cute kitties! Thanks for sharing!

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  114. Wonderful summer colours in the background & that kitty is so cute. I remember those posters too!

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  115. Wonderful summer colours in the background & that kitty is so cute. I remember those posters too!

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  116. Your hanging cat does remind me of those posters that they had in my youth. Pretty cute :)

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  117. Super cute, love how you added the colors in the background!

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  118. The image is darling, and I like what you've done with him. I like the CAS card with the black and white patterned mat. Thank you for sharing the details.

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  119. Adorable card. Must check out InkOn.

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  120. Cute card, love the circles of color and that cute kitty!

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  121. Love those polka dots to add extra color!

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  122. Your card is so much fun. Thanks for sharing.

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  123. Love that adorable kitty cat! Precious!

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  124. Your card is adorable! I just love the kitty :)

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  125. And thank mew for reminding me what the coloring challenge is all about. I tend to get so wrapped up in and stressed out making sure I do some coloring every day that I forget why I am doing it in the first place.

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  126. Super cute and love your design!

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  127. This card is adorable!Love the pop of color in the background

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  128. Love the pop of color in the background with the ink blending tools! Clever!

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  129. Lydia, your card is SO CUTE & PERRRFECT for your memories of Kathy's Road Trip! LOL I clicked on the link & I see WHY it is your favorite for the trip! ;) AND you are a kitty person too, I remember! ;) SUPER JOB!!!!!!!!!!! ;)

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  130. Such a cute card and great background!

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  131. This is so adorable, despite the somewhat grotesque image surgery you had to do. And that photo of Kathy is AMAZING. Thanks for supporting her and the challenge; I have enjoyed it every time I've participated.

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  132. Awww!!! What a darling and sweet card! Beautiful colouring!!!

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  133. Love that cute kitty! Pretty colors for the background on your adorable card!

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  134. That’s a beautiful card with an adorable little kitty !
    [margessw(at)icloud(dot)com]

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  135. Your tiny kitty is so adorable and yes, it looks like the Hang in There posters that I remember. I love that you used my favorite color in the whole wide world, yellow, in your card and I love how you made a frame around the kitty. I do not have a die cutter so I couldn't make the frame. I love this!

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  136. Your card made me smile. The kitten is so cute. Thanks for being in the hop.

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