Monday, January 7, 2019

Eyelashes & Allergies + Giveaway

I found out something crazy this week.

My eye doctor has always marveled at the length of my eyelashes - they actually get in the way of those little "this is better or this is better" lens things you have to do when getting your annual vision check and I have to get glasses set that don't touch my eyelashes.

Well it turns out that the gene for long eyelashes is shared with the gene for allergies! Not even kidding a little bit. Read about that here. Do you have allergies and extra long eyelashes? This is also one of the genes that people with celiac disease have too. We are complicated creatures.

Anyway, I have a super lazy technique video for you today with this month's Hero Arts kit which is adorable. It has a sweet, sort of French/Valentine's feel, but is good for the whole year.

I spend a lot of time in my allergy doctor's office (I have to sit there for 20 minutes after I get my shots) looking up inspiration for cards, and one of my favorite things to search for is styles of art. Sometimes I search "styles of modern art" or "historical styles of art" and I just have 20 minutes of pure bliss with cubism and impressionism and who knows what.

One style I love is street art sketching. People who can plein air sketch scenes amaze me - I'm really not good at drawing - but there are a few ways to capture that feeling with stamped images, and this kit image is perfect for recreating that style, so I have a video for you for my first card with that simple technique.

I used the main kit image to stamp the little window with plants, and then I accented it with a Copic Multiliner and my Gelly Roll pen. I used the sentiment from this add-on stamp set and a little heart to finish it off. It's stamped on this beautiful toned pastel paper from Canson.
I always love changing up the way a stamp looks - you know that about me. Here's the video.



But they also have a few add-ons that spoke to my brunch loving heart. 

My sister and I used to go to this amazing brunch place called Olivia that sadly is now closed. It was a local farm to table spot that had its own chickens, grew its own veggies and was packed every weekend. The restaurant business is hard. Tip generously and patronize those places you love - we miss this place. It was especially special because I had a lovely brunch with my Splitcoast peeps - Lori and Jenn and her husband Israel there. 

Anyway they had amazing mimosas and waffles, and so this layering waffle stamp set spoke to me on many levels. I stamped the waffle in Soft Vanilla, Butter Bar and Pumpkin Pie and cut it with the matching dies. I stamped the strawberries in WAIT FOR IT - Strawberry ink. Then I used this brunch themed add-on set to stamp the champagne bottle and cut it with the matching dies, and colored it with Copic markers

I cut a circle mask from masking paper with my circle infinity dies, and masked the center of the panel, then used this stencil to create the pattern around it with Butter Bar Ink and my Life Changing Blender Brushes. The sentiment is from this set. I am definitely a brunch queen.

Finally I had to play with the bike die - oh my gosh is this awesome.

I took a Gel Press print that was super simple with this circle stencil (see another card with this print here) and just added the bike die cut from black cardstock and this sentiment for a fun happy scene.



My Monthly Hero Kit January 2019
[ HA ]
All Add-Ons at a discount
[ HA ]
Color Layering Waffles
[ HA ]
Color Layering Waffles Frame Cuts
[ HA ]
Gal Pal Brunch
[ HA ]
Gal Pal Brunch Frame Cuts
[ HA ]
Bicycle with Basket Fancy Die
[ HA ]
You Are Loved Flourish Messages
[ HA ]
All My Love Decorative Hearts
[ HA ]
Bursting with Love Bold Prints
[ HA ]
Hearts & Flowers Bold Prints
[ HA ]
SA114 Tile Pattern Stencil 6x6 - Hero...
[ HA ]
Chartpak Pickett Circle Templates -...
[ BLIC ]
Life Changing Blender Brush 2-Pack -...
[ PFS ]
Circle Infinity Dies (H)
[ HA ]
Sakura CLASSIC WHITE Fine Line 05...
[ SSS ]
Copic Multiliner Pens
[ BLIC ]
Hero Arts Butter Bar Shadow Ink
[ HA ]
Pumpkin Pie Mid-Tone Shadow Ink
[ HA ]
Soft Vanilla vShadowSoft Vanilla...
[ HA ]
AF334 Strawberry Bold Ink
[ HA ]
Copic 12 Bold BASIC SKETCH MARKER SET...
[ SSS ]
10710-2013 - Canson Mi-Teintes Pads -...
[ BLIC ]
Heavy Base Weight Card Stock- White
[ GNK ]
Gel Press 8 x 10 REUSABLE GEL...
[ SSS ]
Avery 6465 Removable Multipurpose...
[ AMZUS ]
MISTI Stamping Tool
[ MSW | HA | SSS | ELH | MFT | UNT ]
Absorber - Synthetic Cleaning Cloth
[ AMZUS ]
Rotatrim Professional Series Cutter -...
[ BLIC ]
LightView 2in1 LED Magnifier for...
[ BRG ]
Mudder 10 Pack White Buffer Sanding...
[ AMZUS ]
Xyron ADHESIVE ERASER 23675
[ SSS | ART | AMZUS ]
Essentials by Ellen Storage...
[ ELH ]
Die Storage - Clear Storage Pockets...
[ CHC ]
Teflon Bone Folder - Ellen Hutson LLC
[ ELH | SSS ]
Tombow MONO MULTI Liquid Glue Two...
[ SSS | ART | BLIC | ELH ]
Ink Off Cloth
[ INK ]
XL Stamp Storage Pockets
[ ELH ]


Leave me a comment for your chance to win the monthly giveaway of this kit - tell me what your favorite brunch food is!

122 comments:

  1. My favorite brunch food is eggs Benedict. I agree that bike is adorable. Thanks for a chance to win it.

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  2. Wow, Lydia- love all of the cards! The sketchy style is so fun and love how you used the Gelli Print background with the bicycle. My favorite brunch food is waffles (although I should not eat them with all of those carbs) but I tend to order an omelet :-) Thanks for the chance to win- hugs and Happy New Year!

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  3. What a seriously FUN post! Full of many cool details both about people and the new release. You made me smile wide today! Sisters are a real treasure for sure! Thanks for the amazing cards and post!

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  4. Ohh, I love your cards! This is such a great kit! My favorite brunch food would be my hubby's French crepes! Yum!

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  5. Waffles, Strawberrie and Bubbles, what could be better?
    Great cards Lydia.

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  6. I love these cards and I always learn something new from your blog posts - art/stamping related or not! My son (with allergies) has always gotten comments about his eyelashes from woman who wish theirs were as long as his!

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  7. These are lovely cards, and I particularly like the bicycle silhouette with the bright yellow background. Beautiful! Thank you for sharing.

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  8. WOW, LOVE your card, I didn't even know that Hero Arts had a monthly kit!..thanks for sharing, and sorry to hear about your allergies.....come up here, Snow cures pollen, haha

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  9. Lydia, love your "sketched" card. Fabulous!! And I adore your idea of a pet shop. Such a cute idea. Thanks for the inspiration and great video tutorial.

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  10. So fun to see these different approaches to the kit!! Thanks for sharing.

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  11. my favorite brunch food is fruit.... I love to eat all types of fruit in between meals or as a little meal itself...... have a great day :)

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  12. I found your "mistake" - easily remedied!

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  13. What a great idea of the sketched-card; the second one is a yummy-one, but the third : WOW !!! What an eye-catcher; I love it !!

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  14. You are so lucky to have long eyelashes! My boys both do - and they have allergies, too! (so in a way I'm lucky? no allergies). Anyway - my favourite brunch food is eggs benedict, with a mimosa! It only happens maybe once or twice a year, so I don't feel guilty (well, not much, anyway). I just love your cards, as always, Lydia!

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  15. What an interesting technique, Lydia - enjoyed the video and plan to try this soon. Really like the backgrounds on your other two cards too! TFS!

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  16. Oh, I do love that first card! Such a fun look! Brunch Queen is so cheerful and the bike card would be perfect for several friends! Sorry about those nasty allergies!

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  17. Love your cards......thank you so much for the video....those are always so helpful.....great job. I am so envious of those long eye lashes....Mine are just plain short....LOL.....and I don’t hold a candle to you you as far as alergies....mine are minimal. I hope that the shots help you my dear.....thank you so much for sharing your wonderful talent....I love this sweet new kit...Happy New Year Hugs!!!

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  18. Oh my gosh, your note about the Olivia spoke to me too! Local places are the best, and yes, we need to support them, and always tip generously.

    LOVE your fresh card, and perspective on Street Sketching! I would never have thought of this style. Love it! Thank you for this inspiration.

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  19. I'm kinda jealous of your long eyelashes! I have celiac and seasonal allergies, but unfortunately my eyelashes are not super long. Bummer, cuz that would be one good thing about celiac! lol Back to the subject at hand ... my favorite brunch food is chicken & (gluten free) waffles. Yummmm!!

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  20. Beautiful cards! I love your technique on the first one. Very cool looking!

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  21. This kit looks AMAZING!!! I love the cards you created, but that first one is just WOW!!!!

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  22. I love southern eggs benedict with smoked brisket and add a little bbq sauce in the hollandaise sauce is sooo yummy. I'm a southern girl so I love brunch and looking at gorgeous flowers. When I saw this kit, I was like Hero Arts is my brain.

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  23. Awesome cards! The second one is fantastic!!

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  24. My favorite brunch food would have to be waffles with some fruit added, strawberries, raspberries or blackberries. I could eat a mix of this fruit daily.

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  25. I think I found your mistake, Lydia. Is it that you forgot to color white one of the top braces? And you put a hash line through it?

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  26. I have a wonderful make-ahead casserole loaded with veggies, eggs, cheese and sausage that we love to have with fruit salad....of course, coffee! Love, love the sunny feel of your cheerful brunch cards!

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  27. These are awesome cards! I don't really have a favorite brunch food. I just like food. :)

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  28. I love your sweet cards today! But you know what I love even more? Having brunch with you. We’ve had some great ones, too. Also, I honestly thought you were going to say that persistent eye dabbing led to long lashes... which would, of course, make perfect sense. #laughuntilyoucry

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  29. I surely love the sketch look of the store front you made. I like that you made the store look like it can be anything and not only a flower shop. Ihave so many ideas that are inspired by your cards. Thank you!

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  30. Love crepes! We make them at home and the kids love them as well!

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  31. The cards look great! My favorite is chicken n waffles :)

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  32. Brunch Queen is so cute. I LOVE the food!

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  33. I'm pretty fond of waffles, or any kind of crispy potatoes or hash. I love that white pen too- especially not that it comes in sizes.

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  34. All of your cards are so different. I am very interested in trying the sketch look. The clean line art look is very cool.

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  35. Brunch is one of my favorite meals! I don't really have a favorite brunch food. I love bacon and eggs of any kind. Your cards are so unique and I love the new HA kit!

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  36. Wow I love your faux sketch technique!! Great cards!

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  37. I love making cards and yours are pretty cool. The hello one is my favorite. I'm new to card making and I think I could make some of these as your explanation is very good. Thanks for the opportunity!

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  38. Oh my word, these are amazing Lydia! You are such an inspiration.

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  39. I was trying to resist this kit but after seeing all of the amazing creations by you talented artists, I had to have it.

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  40. Awesome cards! I am allergic to buckwheat, so waffles won't be on my list of things to eat (I even carry an epi pen due to the reaction I had a few years back!).... But I do love pancakes!

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  41. Love your cards! Especially the street sketching scene! That is such a great way to do that image! Thanks for the inspiration!

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  42. Love the range of colors in your cards--from kraft to brilliant yellow, all so amazing! tfs

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  43. Great cards; I love the bicycle as a silhouette! Fabulous against that bright yellow background!

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  44. I love omelets...love your creations.

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  45. Love all your cards--such different techniques and "looks"! Thanks.

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  46. Love your brunch card, so cute. Nice job. Thanks for sharing!

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  47. I love this kit so much, all of the cards and examples have been so lovely and this kit really can be used in so many ways.
    On a side note, I will never again be sad about my shabby eyelashes... with the "cedar fever" here in the hill country, I don't need any extra lashes/allergies. 🤧😉

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  48. Thanks for sharing these beautiful cards.

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  49. Your cards are gorgeous! It's been so long since I've had brunch, all I can remember are Mimosa's!

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  50. So beautifully coloured on these stunning cards!!!

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  51. Your cards are fantastic. Your first card reminds me of a charcoal drawing. The bicycle card is very vibrant. I'm ready for brunch. That card was my favorite. Thanks for all the examples you created using the Hero Arts January Card Kit. It's amazing!

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  52. Super clever cards, Lydia! Love the simple outline look to the shop front! Thanks so much for the all the wonderful inspiration and the chance to win!

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  53. Totally different take on the shop and it is awesome

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  54. Gorgeous set of cards!!!
    My favorite brunch food are waffles with strawberries!

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  55. Wonderful cards. Thanks for sharing your ideas and techniques.

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  56. Your cards are wonderful using this fabulous kit! I love BLT's for brunch.

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  57. I have to say I love the first card with the sketchy design. Brilliant way to change up a stamp. Thanks for sharing!

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  58. I love your sketch card! I'm not an artist, but I'm going to follow your video and give it a try.

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  59. Super cute cards. And yes, I have super long eyelashes and horrible allergies.... you are not alone. That is facinating though, I had no idea.

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  60. Love your cards! Thanks for sharing another awesome technique to use with this kit. Brunch would have to be waffles of course!

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  61. I guess I don't do brunch - I either eat breakfast
    (eggs, potatoes/gravy, bacon, toast) or I do
    lunch (hard telling what that might be). If I
    haven't had breakfast, my lunch would probably
    be around the time of brunch. As far as
    allergies go - I've been lucky. Sorry to
    hear about your problems - life sucks sometimes.
    Love the card. The muted colors are
    fantastic. thanks for sharing
    txmlhl(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  62. Love your faux sketch look! So fun! I also had no idea about long eyelashes and allergies so interesting and fitting with my family too.

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  63. Unique cards so bright and cheerful. I don't do brunch, but would if I could. I think my favorite woudld be eggs of some kind, poached or eggs Benedict.

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  64. Fun use of this set, thanks for the ideas.

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  65. Love your cards! :-) although I always look at your post this one really pulled me in with the eyelash allergy headline. I always had extremely long lashes although as I've gotten older they're not as long but the funny thing is I don't have allergies. My mother says I have a constitution of a mule. I do however share your issue with glasses, it is very annoying have your eyelashes sweet Macross for glasses every time you open and shut them and I think this is why I never took to wearing sunglasses. I do however wonder if I have celiac because I have a lot of symptoms in recent years. Not sure if they've always been there and I've just noticed some more or what.
    Can't wait to see your next creation

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  66. I love how your first card is so neutral colored. It is amazing! Long eyelashes and allergies? Who knew?

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  67. Great cards and inspiration! Lovely kit! Favorite brunch food is quiche and some sort of baked french toast!

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  68. Thank you for not only sharing your card designs, but the inspirations behind them.

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  69. It's wonderful how you highlight how versatile this release is. Such different cards but all beautiful. I really love your storefront card. It is quite unique.

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  70. love the street art sketching ... thanks for the inspiraton!

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  71. Terrific idea you had for the first card. I like the look. Very bright and fun cards. TFS

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  72. Such fantastic cards. Love the sketch look on the first card.
    Thanks so much for sharing...

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  73. I love the rain in your store front window and th white you put on your wood...makes a stunny card!!! one of my favs!! I am now going to watchthe video!!!

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  74. Beautiful cards. Your blog title threw me off, but I'm glad I still read you r post!

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  75. I have allergies but not long eyelashes. Your cards look great. At first I thought you had used embossing or paste on that window but then I realized it was ink. Clever!

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  76. My favorite brunch food is crackers or bread with a spinach/artichoke spread.

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  77. Ahhhhh Yes, Brunch....Eggs Benedict Florentine!
    BUT, your card is YUMMY! Thanks for the great tips and simple, beautiful video. It really brightened my day!

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  78. Love the sketch card, you captured the art style wonderfully! I have horrible allergies and decent eyelashes so maybe that gene? Lol

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  79. Love the sketch card, you captured the art style wonderfully! I have horrible allergies and decent eyelashes so maybe that gene? Lol

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  80. Love these cards and your art! My favorite brunch food is putine, yes I know it's not a brunch food but it's what I crave at brunch - and our town has the joints that serve it :)

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  81. I love your bike card and its colors! Great cards. Brunch is great - I love pancakes!

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  82. I think you have amazing cards. I love the sketch card so much.

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  83. This kit is so gorgeous, just love it! Just looking at the wonderful cards that have been made makes me happy! My favorite brunch food is a mimosa (does that count?)

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  84. In Cleveland, there is a restaurant (The Vault) that has a fabulous brunch. There are many delicious items that i love, but my most favorite is their prime rib.
    Very cool that there is a long-eye-lash-gene! Too bad it comes with allergies! But a lot of people are subject to allergies and don't have the bonus of beautiful long lashes!
    Love your work. Thank you for sharing and for the opportunity to win fabulous stuff!

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  85. My favorite brunch food is a Belgian waffle with fruit, paired with a mimosa :) Also, I love hearing about how you find inspiration for your cards. I really struggle with that sometimes so any tips or tricks I find make me very happy!

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  86. Nice job on these. Love the bright and cheerful last two the best.

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  87. I love eating cinnamon rolls for breakfast!

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  88. Interesting to learn about the eyelashes. Love your card!

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  89. your card makes me want to make brunch plans!! Adorable cards <3

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  90. your cards never fail to amazing and this time is no different! love the very first one... absolutely gorgeous in those neutral tones!

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  91. I love your doodles on the shop! And that sunny disposition card is amazing! I've gotta have those waffles!!

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  92. Such a cute card! I love this kit and the add-ons too!

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  93. Love your cards. Simple and eligant to bold and bright!

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  94. My favorite brunch food is French toast and bacon! Your cards are awesome, I really love your sketch card, it's the only one I've seen where it looks like glass in the window... Absolutely beautiful and so creative!!

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  95. The second and third cards are stunning, love the BG.

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  96. I like how you used the sketching technique to do a quick and different version of the shop stamp.

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  97. Love the gelli print used on the last card. Your brunch card reminds me of how long it has been since I have been to a great brunch, and I love the wonderful sketched look of the first card. Great job on them all!

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  98. I really like the sketch card you made and a fantastic idea to put it on the color cardstock you chose. I am going to try this technique this weekend!
    I don't have allergies per say but do have a drippy nose once the seasons change. I hope you are able to muster thru and get some relief soon. I have recently put elderberry syrup in my preventitve arsenal-don't know if you would like to try that to help or no.
    I don't have long eyelashes so enjoy them as I am sure you do. Most gals would kill for 'em. My son has long ones, daughter too so at least they have them. Thanks for the interesting tidbit and tie in. Cheers!

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  99. My daughter went to Europe about 18months ago and I’m still yet to scrap an album for her. This kit would be absolutely perfect to do this. This kit would do justice to all of the amazing scenery of the wonderful countries that she was lucky enough to visit. Thank you for the opportunity.

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  100. Nice cards - love the color choices on the faux sketch card and that waffle add on set is to die for - fave brunch food is Eggs Benedict and any type of breakfast potato.

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  101. They are fabulous projects with this MMH Kit! I love them all.

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  102. My favorite brunch food is any kind of omelette! After watching the video, I'm going to try the crosshatch technique. Great effect.

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  103. I love your designs! I love breakfast food and will eat it anytime of day. Waffles are a favorite when they are crispy! Thank you for sharing your talents!

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  104. Great cards. I like the sketchy look of the first one.

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  105. Great range and such novel ideas for this kit. I think even I could recreate your first card, so thanks for the inspiration and technique video. I'm partial to a Mexican omelette.

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  106. This is such a clean card, simple and elegant.

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  107. WOW! I love how you interpreted this kit! So beautiful and creative!

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  108. Amazing cards! Love that you research artistic 'styles' and pass them on to your readers. Thanks for sharing your creativity and wonderful videos!

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  109. Very nice cards! I love that last card and how bright and vibrant it is!

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  110. thanks for sharing that information about long eyelashes. I like your cards and how you use the different elements of the kit. The kraft card with the white details very striking.

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  111. What a great post and video. I love this kit and really enjoyed watching you take the stamped image and add your own personal touches to it to make it your own image. Love the Gel press background as well! Lots of great add-ons. TFS!

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  112. Such great cards! I love the neutral colours on the first card, and the bike card is amazing! Thanks for sharing.

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  113. Toastie with cheese and bacon...and fresh flowers from that little shop you made!

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