Friday, April 22, 2016

SSS My Favorite Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to my blog! I am so happy to be a part of the blog hop in celebration of Simon Says Stamp new exclusive release, called My Favorite. The release has wonderful stamps, dies and watercolour cards. You can find the whole My Favorite release here. You should have arrived at my blog from the fabulous Vicki Papaioannou. Don't miss all the inspiration along the hop and there is a prize to be won at every stop.


I made two projects, an art journal page and a card, and took some tutorial photos too. 

Layers of ink - Create Art Journal tutorial by Anna-Karin with My Favorite dies by Simon Says Stamp.
I wanted to use the Birthday Wishes Frame as a Polaroid frame, and found this childhood photo of mine on my desk. Sometimes, I like to include photos in my art journal and that is what I did here, but you could also of course do something similar on a scrapbooking page, or on a card. If your project is not a birthday project, it is easy to simply cut that part of the die cut off. I also used a bunch of other Simon Says Stamp exclusive products on this page. 

Layers of ink - Create Art Journal tutorial by Anna-Karin with My Favorite dies by Simon Says Stamp.
From the My Favorite release, I used the Birthday Wishes Frame die, and I want to show you how versatile it can be. Some of my other favourites from the My Favorite release are: Beautiful Ride (love the bike and sentiments), Sketch Ranuculus (beautiful flowers and sentiments), and these word dies: Painted Kindness and Painted Friend. I love word dies and I will show you a fun way to use them below, turning them into stamps with Sizzix Inksheets. 

I used these four inks on my journal page. Don't they look nice together?

Layers of ink - Create Art Journal tutorial by Anna-Karin with My Favorite dies by Simon Says Stamp.
I started by stamping the Leaf Background with Melon ink twice in my large Dylusions art journal. There was some left-over ink on the stamp which also transferred to the page. I kind of liked it. 

Layers of ink - Create Art Journal tutorial by Anna-Karin with My Favorite dies by Simon Says Stamp.
Continue with the Grid Background and Teeny Bikini ink and finally the Tiny Alphabet Background and High Drive ink. I held all the three stamps in my hand for a more random impression, instead of placing them on a block.

Layers of ink - Create Art Journal tutorial by Anna-Karin with My Favorite dies by Simon Says Stamp.
Die cut the Birthday Wishes Frame three times from Ranger's watercolour cardstock, with the smoother side placed towards the die. Use this sandwich: Sizzix Multipurpose Platform Tab 2, Precision Base Plate, paper with smooth side up, die facing down, Cutting Pad.

Layers of ink - Create Art Journal tutorial by Anna-Karin with My Favorite dies by Simon Says Stamp.
I used Sizzix Inksheets to turn my word dies into stamps. The sheets come in many colours, I used black. You also need an Inksheets Transfer Pad. For more inspiration on Inksheets, check out this Paper Leather and Inksheets canvas tutorial of mine, where you will also find links to other projects. Use this sandwich: Multipurpose Platform Tab 2, Transfer Pad grey side up, paper, Inksheet with matte side down, die facing down, Cutting Pad.

Layers of ink - Create Art Journal tutorial by Anna-Karin with My Favorite dies by Simon Says Stamp.
Ink with Distress Inks and add a little texture with the Distress Spritzer tool and a Ground Espresso marker. 

Layers of ink - Create Art Journal tutorial by Anna-Karin with My Favorite dies by Simon Says Stamp.
Smear Teeny Bikini ink on gloss card and die cut using the Create word. 

Layers of ink - Create Art Journal tutorial by Anna-Karin with My Favorite dies by Simon Says Stamp.
Stamp flowers and butterflies, from the Friendship Blooms set, on watercolour paper.

Layers of ink - Create Art Journal tutorial by Anna-Karin with My Favorite dies by Simon Says Stamp.
Smear Distress Inks on your craft sheet, mist with water and pick the ink up with a paint brush. Then die cut with the coordinating dies. 

Layers of ink - Create Art Journal tutorial by Anna-Karin with My Favorite dies by Simon Says Stamp.
Ink glossy cardstock with Scattered Straw and Pumice Stone and mist with droplets using the Distress Sprayer. 

Layers of ink - Create Art Journal tutorial by Anna-Karin with My Favorite dies by Simon Says Stamp.
Die cut a Smile Circle and the fun Stacked Hearts from SSS cardstock. 

Layers of ink - Create Art Journal tutorial by Anna-Karin with My Favorite dies by Simon Says Stamp.
 I added some spritzing to the background too, and stamped it with stamps from the Happy & Smiles and My Sunshine sets.

Layers of ink - Create Art Journal tutorial by Anna-Karin with My Favorite dies by Simon Says Stamp.
 Glue the heart die cut behind one of the windows, and add an inky glossy paper behind it.

Layers of ink - Create Art Journal tutorial by Anna-Karin with My Favorite dies by Simon Says Stamp.
 The word dies are perfect for the Polaroid frames.

Layers of ink - Create Art Journal tutorial by Anna-Karin with My Favorite dies by Simon Says Stamp.
Glue a few left-over hearts here and there. The Birthday Wishes Frame, without the die cut sentiment, is a great place for a stamped sentiment.

Layers of ink - Create Art Journal tutorial by Anna-Karin with My Favorite dies by Simon Says Stamp.
I also added some Tim Holtz tissue tape and Deco Tape to the page. There is a white 'create' glued under the pink one, to make it stand out better.

Layers of ink - Create Art Journal tutorial by Anna-Karin with My Favorite dies by Simon Says Stamp.
The small pieces were glued with Glossy Accents.

I also made a birthday card, on a stamped acetate base.

Layers of ink - Birthday Wishes Frame Clear Card Tutorial by Anna-Karin
You can easily layer more than one Birthday Wishes Frame for a great effect. Or use only the sentiment for a card and skip the frame all together. The die cut sentiment is so pretty. The acetate card base was a left-over from another project, and was already stamped with the Tiny Alphabet background stamp and Cotton White ink.

Layers of ink - Birthday Wishes Frame Clear Card Tutorial by Anna-Karin
Die cut the Birthday Wishes Frame three times from three shades of grey SSS cardstock. Cut the sentiment off from two of the frames.

Layers of ink - Birthday Wishes Frame Clear Card Tutorial by Anna-Karin
Use a post-it note to mask off the bottom part of the sentiment on the stamp (from Friendship Blooms) while inking, and stamp on the frame. You can stamp the whole sentiment if you want to, but I didn't want to repeat the word 'birthday'.

Layers of ink - Birthday Wishes Frame Clear Card Tutorial by Anna-Karin
Glue the darker grey sentiment on top of the lighter one, but off-set it a little. Layer the frames together.

Layers of ink - Birthday Wishes Frame Clear Card Tutorial by Anna-Karin
The hearts were stamped with the Tons of Hearts set. The solid hearts were inked with Distress Ink and misted with water before stamping, for a watercolour effect. As you can see, the background stamp wasn't completely clean, so some black ink was stamped on the background too.

Layers of ink - Birthday Wishes Frame Clear Card Tutorial by Anna-Karin
 I also added three Mirrored Hearts to the card.

Layers of ink - Birthday Wishes Frame Clear Card Tutorial by Anna-Karin
Thank you so much for stopping by my blog today! 

Remember that Simon Says Stamp is giving away a prize on every stop of the hop, you just need to leave a comment for your chance to win. The winners will be drawn on Monday 25 april and Simon Says Stamp will contact them. 

Your next stop on the hop is the wonderful Sarah Moerman. If you get lost somewhere along the way, you can always head back to the beginning at the Simon Says Stamp blog.

Happy crafting!

Anna-Karin

Supplies (affiliate links used)



569 comments:

  1. Love this page and the card! You always let me see dies and stamps in a new light. Thank you for the step by step. Lovely!

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  2. Thanks for sharing your talents with us. Very fun journal page and card.

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  3. Wow...the journal page is my favorite!!! It's awesome...so many details and I Love the frame die too!!!

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  4. I love all your creations. I think this is "My Favorite" release from SSS!!!

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  5. I love these, especially the Birthday Wishes frame die!

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  6. Everything is just so beautiful! Thank you for being an inspiration!
    Hugs

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  7. I really love these new dies! Your collage work is awesome! Very nice! Thanks for sharing!

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  8. Love your layout. I like the background stamp that you used.

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  9. Loving all the products you used!!! Going to need to shop again ;) Fabulous projects full of inspiration!!!!

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  10. So many great techniques to try!

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  11. I love the LO! So soft and still modern in colours and motives!
    The acetaat card is so different, but also so original! Have a colourfull weekend!

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  12. That layout is a stunner, Lovely colors in it. I loved your acetate card, will definitely try once :)

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  13. Very interesting use of acetate ... great card!!

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  14. Your art journal page is spectacular! Like your tutorial. I like how you made your birthday card and the use of the acetate.

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  15. love your polaroids and tip to use dies to make your own stamps; thanx for the inspiration and blog candy opp!

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  16. Love the card!! Thanks for share!!

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  17. I've never done Scrapbooking, but I have to say that all the tips you've shown by using these new products in "different" ways is quite inspiring & creative. Thank you!

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  18. WOW! Awesome journal page.
    natgodfrey4@gmail.com

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  19. Lovely page. Great use of the dies.

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  20. OMGoodness, I love the tips you've shared. Your journal page and cards are beautiful and such great attention to detail! TFS!

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  21. So much to see here! Thanks for sharing your talent!

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  22. Lots of idea's - thanks for sharing!

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  23. Both card and scrapbook page turned out really awesome...
    You did a really nice job on both...well done

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  24. Love the products. Love the idea to make an art journal page with these products.

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  25. Outstanding!! The whole thing is just outstanding!!!

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  26. Great projects! That journal page is awesome! So much detail and so many layers! Totally makes me want that die now!

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  27. Beautiful projects love these new die cuts.

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  28. Love the products. Love the idea to make an art journal page with these products.

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  29. Thank you for the picture tutorial. Your ideas are inspiring to me thinking scrapbook page. :)
    Thanks for sharing your amazing talent!

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  30. love your layout project - beautiful soft colors - great design

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  31. Wow I'm not a scrapbooker but this blew me away! Beautiful layout!

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  32. I enjoy seeing how you use so many items in your project. Wonderful ideas.

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  33. Very creative use...love what you did with the background mixture and your use of accents.

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  34. I loved your art journal and card. Thank you for sharing your talent with us

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  35. A beautiful card and an absolutely stunning layout! A very informative post, too :-) love all the sss goodies you used and how clever to use the happy birthday die as a Polaroid frame....!

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  36. Love the acetate card. Great idea!

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  37. Love your acetate card. The alphabet stamping on it is really cool. TFS!!

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  38. So Fantastic! LOVE your Art Journal Page...so creative, so beautiful, soooo artsy! wow!

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  39. absolutely love the layering.

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  40. I love layered cards! This is so beautiful!

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  41. Love your page, very creative. The acetate card is great. Thanks for the idea.

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  42. Love your projects...especially the background of your art journal page!

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  43. Love your art journal page and the card is so sweet! I gotta have this new release!

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  44. Love the ways you used the birthday frame.

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  45. Love it that the frame makes a great scrapbook feature and can be used for a card. Tfs

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  46. Beautiful projects with amazing color and detail!!

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  47. Wow, what an amazing scrapbook page. Thanks for the tutorial on how you made it too:)

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  48. I love your art journal! the layering is fabulous.

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  49. Wow! Thanks for the inspiration!

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  50. you've made some cracking work there! i esp love the offset polaroid frame with the three shades, so much nicer than the stark white i keep using for everything, so thank you for sharing

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  51. Beautiful, thanks for share your talent.

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  52. WOW so many elements on one page, great work!!

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  53. Thanks for showing all these techniques. I can't wait to try them.

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  54. Wonderful layout and cards. Thanks for sharing and stay blessed!

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  55. Love your journal page! Very cool idea to cut out the greeting and add your own!

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  56. I just love the journal page. Well done.

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  57. Another fantastic use of the Birthday Wishes die..what a journal page.

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  58. Wow fantastic page layout and card!!! That Birthday Wishes Frame sure is versatile!! Must put it on my wish list! Btw great photo tutorial!!!

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  59. Fabulous projects, love them!!

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  60. So super impressed with your work! Love love love! Bravo!

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  61. so glad i found your blog in this hop!

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  62. such detailed work…your projects are lovely!

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  63. Love how you have used this new release!

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  64. Your art journal page is awesome. I love using old pics in mine too and this is a great way to do it. Thank you Anna-Karin & Simon Says Stamp. :)

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  65. Awesome projects. I like the frame.

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  66. Simply beautiful. Love them both!

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  67. Wow! that's a lot of work and inspiration too!

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  68. The layout page is beautiful and the birthday card is so amazing. Gorgeous use of the stamps!

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  69. So detailed and beautiful colors.

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  70. Great projects and thank you for sharing your how-to ☺

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  71. I absolutely love the pretty birthday card and beautiful layout!

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  72. Wowser! You have done it again with all your artist talent. I love the journal page, so much to much in it and not the least overdone. I just keep looking at it over and over and will have to come back again Anne to do another take of it. Thanks so much for sharing your talent with us!
    Hugs,
    gretchen

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  73. Love the page ... So many ideas!

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  74. I love your idea of putting a word or phrase at the bottom of the Birthday Wishes frame. Thanks for sharing.

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  75. Anna, your art page is superb! Love all the colors, layers and textures. Your cards are cool - love them too. Thanks.

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  76. Lots of inspiration - thanks for sharing your superb talents!

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  77. Layering ideas to add to my list. Thank you.

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  78. So many great details, thank you for so many creative ideas. I love the acetate card base!

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  79. Really enjoyable projects! Thanks so much for sharing them :)

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  80. Very creative! Thanks for the inspiration.

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  81. Wow!! So many fun ideas to try!! Thanks

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  82. Your card is so beautiful!
    Cristina
    thehouseoftheblackbirds.blogspot.it

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  83. Wow@! You gnaw how to think "outside the box" and I love both projects!

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  84. I love the acetate card and your layout is wonderful.

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  85. Love what you did with the new SSS release. So many beautiful set to pick from.

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  86. Lots of creative ides on one journal page. Thanks.

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  87. I have been Scrapbooking a lot lately, so I thank you for the inspiration! Your background is incredible, and loved seeing how you created the layered with your stamps, gorgeous!

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  88. Beautiful art journal and card! Love the ideas you have given me! These dies are a must have!

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  89. What an incredibly wonderful project!

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  90. Those ink sheets are new to me. They look very interesting. Fun

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  91. Love your page AND your card, super talented!

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  92. Wow! Awesome! Pack full of great techniques to try. Thank you so much for sharing!

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  93. Wow - great post full of ideas! Love this die!

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  94. Love your art journal page and cute card:-)

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  95. I liked that you used so many items in ways I would not have thought of. Thanks for the inspiration.

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  96. Love both projects!
    Thanks for the chance to win.

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  97. Fantastic! THANK YOU!
    Penny
    redheadworking at earthlink dot net

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  98. Thank you for sharing your creativity!

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  99. Love your background stamping. Very pretty.

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  100. Wonderful projects. These dies are awesome.

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  101. Loved how detailed your post is. Lovely layout!

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  102. Great projects. Love how you used the dies.

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  103. Fabulous use of the new stamps/dies! Love your creativity.

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  104. I love seeing another use for dies and stamp sets other than card making. Wonderful use of the new products - another great release from SSS.

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  105. Beautiful. Amazing color and detail!! love your projects.

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  106. Such unique inspiration you bring to this hop, amazing!

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  107. beautiful lay-out, love the colours

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  108. More beautiful work. Thank you

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  109. Wonderful projects !! Loved the journal page n acetate card !

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  110. Wonderful projects !! Loved the journal page n acetate card !

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  111. Thanks for sharing the nice work. Fun ideas!

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  112. the birthday wishes die is awesome. love how you used it on your projects.

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  113. You are so creative with the Simon Says products.

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  114. Wondeful projects that die is just great !

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  115. How fun to see the Polaroid die cut used in different ways. Ilove them both!

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  116. Great use of the Birthday Wishes Frame!

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  117. Very nice projects ! And what a work ! Thanks for sharing.

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  118. A piece of art! I hope you frame this and hang it. Do you ever teach anywhere?

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  119. Just gorgeous! I love all this color and all your pretty details!
    Take care!
    Michele

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  120. The art page is amazing and there are so many things to look at. The card is wonderful. Thanks for sharing.

    Linda D.

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  121. So glad I found your site. Fun ideas! Thanks! Love your use of the dies.

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  122. The page is wonderful with layers & variety to look at. Have a BEE-utiful day!
    Melissa
    "Sunshine HoneyBee"

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  123. Love how unique and rustic your page is!

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  124. What lovely work..makes me wish I had time to do the pages and not just cards..but at least I have your work for inspiration on what ever format I use!! Thanks for such inspiration!

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  125. great LO, love the cards that you made also
    debpeslinger at g mail dot com

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  126. Love that journal page! What a great idea to include it.

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  127. What amazing ways to use all those goodies from this new release! I love your layout so much!!! And your card rocks too!! Thanks for sharing your versatile inspiration with us today!!! Very cool!!!

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  128. LOVE your work...when I grow up and let go some maybe I will get some better results!! Off to stamp a little!!

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  129. Great page design! Never thought of using a clear card - NICE!

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  130. Both of your projects are absolutely fabulous! Love what you did with your journal page and I always did like acetate base cards, haven't made one in a while will have to give them another try. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  131. Wow so many different creations with this Birthday Fun Frame.. Love them all!!

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  132. I am so happy to see an example of the new(and older) release items being used for a scrapbook/journal page. Would love to see more of that!

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  133. Awesome page and cute card! Tfs!

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  134. love your journal page - and such a fun card - thanks for sharing

    Barb Housner

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  135. Great projects and adaptations of the dies!

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  136. Love your journal page with the new dies...so many ideas now, Thanks for sharing!

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  137. Super die! Fun color of ink - and lots of wonderful talent to make creations - you did superb! TFS

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  138. Love your layout page!! Great ideas!

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  139. What wonderful projects! Thanks for sharing techniques too.

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  140. WOW! Absolutely stunning! I have soo many ideas running around in my head! I loved BOTH of your cards. I love how you layered the birthday wishes die to get a shadow lettered effect! Both cards are gorgeous. Well done!

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  141. Love this new release! Thanks for the inspiration!! :)

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  142. Thanks for such unusual and gorgeous projects. And thanks for the step by step instructions!

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  143. Love your layout and your card. This is such an amazing release. Thanks for sharing.

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  144. The acetate card is simply gorgeous! And I loved that you used the frame as a Polaroid--I would have been tempted to do the same :)

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  145. WOW! What great inspiration! Thank you!

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  146. Stunning layout of treasured memories, displayed with incredible beauty and detail. WOW!
    ~carol

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  147. Great inspiration! I like the triple frame on the card.

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  148. You are so talented. I love all the inspiration on this post.

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  149. Great cards, thanks for all the ideas!

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  150. WOW!!! You've done SO MANY FABULOUS PROJECTS!!! From the scrapbook layout to your cards!!! SUPER JOB! LOVE that die too & I also LOVE your use of dies to stamp! SUPER NIFTY!!!!!!!!! ;) THANK YOU!!!! ;)

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  151. Wow ! s many projects and all wonderful. I love that frame with the Happy birthday.

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  152. Such creativity and talent! Love it all!

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  153. Such creativity and talent! Love it all!

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  154. Such great detailed instructions. I don't scrapbook, but I picked up some great ideas that I can use on cards. Love the gray card, with Birthday Wishes. So fresh.

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  155. Amazing page and card! Love all the details and layouts.

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  156. Love your art journal cards, great ideas, thanks for sharing!

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  157. Thank you for the art journal inspiration! I often use my stamps in my journal but rarely think of using my dies.

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  158. Stunning layout...so much incredible detail. Just wonderful. As is the acetate card you've made.

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  159. Amazing! I love your interpretation of these materials and tools - just blew me away! Thanks for sharing...

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  160. Your projects are both so beautiful. Great tutorial, too.

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  161. Your butterflies are amazing so much nicer than any I have yet made. Thanks for the help.

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  162. Beautiful layouts! Thank you for sharing!

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  163. Great ideas! Thanks for the inspiration on using dies and stamps!

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  164. Wow! You bring a whole new look to the table! I love your use of layering and multiple elements! You are gifted and your SSS blog hop release projects are inspiring!

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Thank you so much for leaving a comment! Happy Crafting!