3.06.2017

Always in Season // Hero Arts

Hello all! Today I'm participating in the Hero Arts March 2017 My Monthly Hero blog hop and sharing chic herb card set!
I know you're gonna be seeing a lot of bunnies from the main kit today, so I decided to show off the beautiful add-on, Fresh Herbs.


For my first card, I stamped all the images in Dusty Blue on a light green card base.


To make sure my sentiment panel matched the ink, I covered a piece of cardstock in Dusty Blue, heat set it, and then smothered it with anti-static powder before embossing my sentiment.


I think that Dusty Blue is just one of the prettiest colors - it's so interesting! Not quite blue, not quite purple - works for different moods, which means it's perfect for me!

Because this stamp set makes me think of something you'd find at some chic stationary store, I wanted to make a matching card. This second card took way longer to make, but I think the pair of them are quite fetching and worth it. ;)


To get the colors to match with the first card, I had to do some tedious stamping. Here's the step-by-step process:
  1. Using the mini MISTI (if you have the larger one, it would work better), I used Green Hills to stamp as many of the images as I could fit onto some white cardstock that I had prepped with anti-static powder.
  2. Not removing my images from the MISTI, I cleaned them off, then used Versamark to stamp the images again. NOTE: I have an Ugly Betty Versamark pad - I use it purely for stickiness and don't worry a whole lot about getting ink on it.
  3. I then added some Clear embossing powder, heat set the images, and then repeated these steps until I had my entire background covered.
Once I had all my images embossed, I covered the cardstock with Dusty Blue, applying the ink pad directly on the paper, and using an inking tool to get into any nooks and crannies.
I then wiped off the excess ink with a wipe, and oila! A background!


I tried saving myself all the steps by just heat embossing in clear on the green cardstock I used for the first card, but because the cardstock is coated, the Dusty Blue didn't show up quite as vibrant.
However, to save yourself from double stamping, you could use some quality light green pigment ink. The pigment ink will provide the color and also the stickiness needed to heat emboss.

For matching sentiment banner, I covered a piece of cardstock in Green Hills, and then heat embossed my sentiment from Egg-cellent (also a new add-on this month) in white.

I topped both cards off with some sequins and adhered the sentiments with adhesive foam.

THE KIT


This month's kit includes:
  • 2 4"x6" clear stamp sets
  • 21 coordinating Frame Cut metal dies
  • 2 Fancy Dies
  • 2 5.5"x8.5" sheets of Chocolate & Herbeus cardstock (brown & green textured cardstock)
  • 1 6"x6" sheet of teal marble paper (color may vary)
  • 1 5.5"x8.5" sheet of burlap
  • 1 Intense Black ink cube (ideal for use with alcohol markers)
The kit value is $75, an amazing deal at $34.99.

The kit is available for a limited time only - once it's gone, it's gone. However, you can now subscribe to receive the kit monthly and never miss one! Kits begin shipping from Hero Arts on Friday, March 10th.

HOP


For loads of inspiration and a chance to win a prize, follow this hop! You should have arrived from the amazing Wanda Guess, and the always stunning Debby Hughes would be next on the hop, after me:


Hero Arts is giving away one kit as a prize to one blog reader - selected from the comments across all of the blogs in the hop. Giveaway closes Sunday, March 12 at 11:59pm, and the winner will be announced the following week on the Hero Arts blog.

SUPPLIES


Cardstock: Hero Arts Foliage Layering paper, Michaels white cardstock (the non-weird kind)
Stamps: Hero Arts Fresh Herbs and Egg-cellent
Ink: Hero Arts Dusty Blue and Green Hills, Versamark
Other: sequins, Hero Arts White and Clear embossing powder

Tools: heat gun, ink blender

170 comments:

  1. Such an awesome idea, and the result is jaw dropping gorgeous. Thank you Clare for sharing your inspiration!

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  2. So pretty! Very inspiring. Can't wait to get my kit.

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  3. They're lovely! Thank you for the inspiration. Take care, Kim :)

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  4. Such pretty cards! I love how you heat embossed the images....love it

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  5. Striking blue and green combo, Clare =)

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  6. Lovely card! The blue and green together look amazing!

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  7. Both of your cards are so lovely. I love how you used clear embossing on the second one and then inked the background... Love the lime and blue together!

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  8. Like the colors you chose for the cards!

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  9. I'm confused... my dusty blue is much lighter than yours?

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  10. Lovely color combos! The herb stamps are so fresh and fun!

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  11. Just love both cards, Clare - what a great background you've created with the herbs!!

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  12. Both cards are lovely but the green on the blue is really striking. So fresh and vibrant.

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  13. I love your use of stamps to make a background. Both wonderful cards, but the second is particularly eye-catching.

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  14. Oh I love your cards. The colours are just beautiful. Thank you for the inspiration.
    Take care
    Tracy

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  15. Love seeing stamps used to create backgrounds! Very beautiful cards

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  16. This kit is marvelous and one lucky winner is going to be so excited to win it.

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  17. Just lovely Clare and the sentiment is beautiful!

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  18. What cute cards, The herbs are my favorite from the release

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  19. The herbs combine to make an awesome book front!

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  20. The card is nice and simple, but it makes a bold statement with the color choices.
    Thanks, Erica K.

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  21. The cutest kit ever! Love your herb cards.

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  22. WOWSERS! Your green and blue color combo is just gorgeous. I just love the herb stamp set too. Thanks for sharing ;)

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  23. Love the use of stamps for the backgrounds! Terrific!

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  24. The colors of the cards are just my style, love the herb set.

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  25. Love your cards! The colors and designs are great. Funny...I have that same kind of Versamark ink pad!

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  26. It does remind me of designer stationery! Beautiful.

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  27. Fantastic idea! Love the cards!

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  28. I really love what you have done with this kit, so beautiful, I am definitely going to have a go at making these cards xx Thank you for the inspiration xx

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  29. Gorgeous Cards! Love what you have done.

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  30. Love the bold colours together! Beautiful!

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  31. Both cards are fabulous, but I <3 that blue one!

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  32. I love both cards but will probably do the easier one. Lovely. Thanks.

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  33. Love the blue and green together

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  34. Love your color combos. Love that gorgeous blue too. Very nice cards.

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  35. Ooo I really lvoe the look of your blue background. Very cool

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  36. WoW! I don't even want to think about what all went into doing a "reverse color" card, but it was worth it! Totally cracked up over "ugly Betty," I hadn't heard that one, but I can relate! I keep making a mess of mine. Fortunately, I don't do too much embossing, and I managed to snag a bunch of embossing ink pads off a clearance rack, so I have back-ups when I need a pristine one! Thanks for sharing this fun one.

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  37. I like your cards but that green on that blue is spot on gorgeous. I love that color combo and the card.

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  38. The color combinations are amazing!

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  39. Love the herbs add-on to this kit. Your color choice is perfection! TFS

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  40. I was ready to say the same thing as Cynthia above me! The blue green combination is great! Like the design, too.

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  41. Very pretty I love the green and blues. I also love the one with just embossed images. Great look.

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  42. Love the color combinations you used.

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  43. Love the colors on this fabulous card!

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  44. That navy card with bright green ink is to die for! Beautiful card!

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  45. Love the colors you have used with the herbs. So unique!

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  46. Love the colors on this pair of cards.

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  47. What stunning coloured card combinations! The blue is my favourite because of the high contrast but the lighter card is equally as elegant. Fabulous!

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  48. you've created such wonderful backgrounds - love all those herb stamps the most in this release!!

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  49. Always looking for fresh ideas and you have them

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  50. I love the color combination.

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  51. Blue and green is one of my favorite color combinations. Love your cards.

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  52. Love the fresh herbs stamp set! Thanks for sharing your wonderful cards on the blog hop!!

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  53. Nice color combination for lovely cards! Indeed an all-season stamp set!

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  54. VERY PRETTY!!!! AND I also LOVE the colors you've used on your cards! PERFECT for Spring! ;)

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  55. The colors on your cards is amazing! So beautiful!

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  56. WOW your color combinations are wonderful, beautiful cards!

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  57. Beautiful cards. I'm drawn to the one with the blue background. It really allows the herbs to stand out.

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  58. Gorgeous stamped backgrounds! Especially love the green on blue.

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  59. I love the background! Very nice!

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  60. I love both cards especially the dark blue with the green embossed herbs! Really gorgeous, I can't wait for mine to come!!

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  61. I don't usually buy kits...but I'll have to make an exception with this adorable kit. Thank you for the inspirations.

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  62. I'm an herbalist and I'm loving what you did with the herbs set!!! Love the vivid blues and greens together.

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  63. Your cards are wonderful and so is this new card kit!!!

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  64. WOW! These are both stunning! LOVE the colors ♥

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  65. Colors of both cards are beautiful!

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  66. Both cards are gorgeous, but the green on blue is simply stunning.

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  67. Love your colors, I really like the green on blue best.

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  68. Love the simplicity of your cards! Love both of them.

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  69. Great Cards ! Lovely color choices Thanks for the inspiration

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  70. I love your cards--what a classic, timeless style! I have to get this stamp set!

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  71. Amazing cards. Love your design and colour choice.

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  72. I love your navy and green color combination.

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  73. Wow wow wow, I am just having great fun hopping and admiring all the beautiful work, well done!

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  74. I wouldn't have thought to use the color combination you did but it worked out beautifully! I just love the herb add-on that goes with this months kit. Thank you for taking the time to share this with us.

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  75. I love how you used the herbs as a background for your sentiment card! Thanks for the inspiration!

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  76. gorgeous, colorful cards that makes me long for spring!

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  77. Awww!!!! Beautiful cards and colors!!!

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  78. Your cards are stunning, Clare! Thanks for the great tips and for being part of this fun hop and giveaway.

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  79. I love your cards, pretty color combos!

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  80. I love your cards and the how you use the herb stamp set

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  81. I agree Clare, the dusty blue is lovely and your cards are gorgeous!

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  82. Love them, awesome colors too!

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  83. Cool new kit! Nice colors used for these cards. Thanks for sharing!

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  84. Absolutely love the colors! Sweet cards.

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  85. Great use of the new kit and good colors.
    Thanks for sharing.

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  86. Your colors and cards make me happy. Love them!!!

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  87. Lovely card! Thanks for sharing.

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  88. Very cute! I love these colors together.

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  89. I love the herbs on the dark blue background, just lovely!

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  90. My other email (besides my google) is dollface92y@outlook.com Some of the blogs have me signed in with my google account and others ive typed in my outlook email. But just so you know (for the giveaway)... i am the same person and i have checked out and read and commented on all the blogs from the hop as Jennifer Thomas just with two seperate emails... dollface92y@outlook.com and dollface92y@gmail.com

    New follower for sure! Ive kinda got side tracked from the blog hop just checked out some of your other work and your blog. I love your style. You are very talented! These two cards are absolutely beautiful! I love the color combos. Blue on green and green on blue... but i think the green on blue is my favorite. Extra work but amazing! You are so talented, Clare! I havent seen the other blogs past yours but believe it or not, i actually havent seen that many bunnies in the blog hop. Lol. I think the other bloggers had the same idea. Jennifer McGuire used both the adorable bunnies and the seed packet stamps but everyone else so far has kept it more on the elegant herbs side instead of adorable bunny side. But from what ive seen, they all are amazing cards from all the blogs and you are all amazingly talented for sure. But the blue card... the one you stamped the herbs in green and clear embossed to be able to cover the white cardstock in blue ink... is amazing! I think its my favorite uve seen out of all the blogs this far.😊

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  91. Definitely looks time consuming, but the results are worth it. Beautiful.

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  92. Simple and elegant. And those colors! Such an interesting choice. Thanks for the step-by-step. I wouldn't have realized the blue card was inked otherwise!

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  93. Wow! That Dusty blue is so beautiful your color combinations is amazing . Who new , love it beautiful card!

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  94. I love both cards - but I am in love with the dusty blue on the lighter card stock. Very elegant!

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  95. Love the blue/green card and the idea with the herbs. The sentiment is perfect too!

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  96. Beautiful colors! Perfect set for a background!

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  97. I love your pretty color combination! The lime and the lilac look so pretty together and the pattern is just beautiful!

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  98. Just love this color combination! And the herbs are perfect (I think :D) for these cards!

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  99. BEAUTIFUL cards! Love the rich background colors!

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  100. Beautiful, liked how you used the stamps to make a background but also making the the center of the card.

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  101. Very neat cards...also creative way to create the blue background!

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  102. Great unique color scheme! I love what you did with the kit/add ons

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  103. Beautiful color combinations!

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  104. Absolutely beautiful cards. What beautiful color combos!! Very classy looking cards.

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  105. Love your Color combination.
    Thanks,
    Linda

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  106. Love the herb stamp set even more after seeing your cards. So pretty!

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  107. That color combo just screams Spring. The Dusty Blue is so versatile in that it isn't a true blue or purple. I love these cards and the work that went into them. So creative!

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  108. Just beautiful and well worth all the steps! Thanks for explaining your creative process.

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  109. I love both your cards and your colour combination is gorgeous, defiantly worth all the steps for the second card. I feel like you could frames these side by side, it would look awesome!

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  110. Your colour combinations are beautiful! The perfect combination for that great herb stamp set.

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  111. What great color combos! I am really loving this garden theme!

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  112. These cards really pop! Great job! Loving the kit this month and all the inspiration! Thanks for the chance to win!
    ~God bless~

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  113. A little off topic, I'm so curious what the "weird kind" of cardstock from Michaels is, if you used the "non-weird" kind. I frequently use their cardstock. On-topic, your cards are great! Fabulous use of those two colors.

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    1. I've found at least two different types of cardstock from Michaels that are both sold as the same white. One is a rather garish white, a bit rougher in texture, and doesn't blend my ZIG's as well. The other one is a perfect white (for me!), smooth and blends ZIG's pretty well. So that's the weird and non-weird cardstocks to me. ;)

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  114. Oh, my....your colors are just WONDERFUL!!! Love these herb images.
    <3 J

    jwoolbright at gmail dot com
    HerPeacefulGarden.blogspot.com

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  115. So pretty, love those 2 colors together!!

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  116. That blue background REALLY makes that ink POP!!! It's totally beautiful!

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  117. The blue card is stunning, Clare!

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  118. I love the blue card, especially in contrast with the other. That double stamping technique worked out great! The March kit has a lot of great items!

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  119. Just love these cards, Clare. Using the herbs for your background is so right for this sentiment and the two contrasting colors you used work so well. You truly achieved what you set out to do. Thanks for sharing.

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  120. Love this awesome color combo! Beautiful cards!

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  121. Very pretty card thank you sharing.

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  122. Love your blue hues on the card.

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  123. Fabulous! I am craving for herbs after seeing this.

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  124. Love your cards, the green and blue is my favorite.

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  125. Love the color combination.
    Either way the blue/green is used
    is fantastic.
    thanks for sharing.

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  126. I just love your color combinations, gives me some great ideas.

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  127. I didn't read any previous comments until I posted mine. So many people left a similar comment.

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  128. What a cool pair of cards! Love it both ways!!

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  129. you create an amazing cards!

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  130. Your green and blue card is gorgeous! I have been going to try this technique. I was going to use black ink on the top, since that is the way I had seen it done before. It never dawned on me I can use any color I would like to. I do not have to use black! Thank you for enlightening me!

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  131. Lovely how you just used two colours and the colour combination is great!

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  132. I love the simplicity of these cards!

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  133. Pretty cards and a wonderful background on the blue one - thanks for the explanation on how you did it.

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  134. Love the clean look of these cards, yet they are so alive with color!

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  135. I like that stamp set. Your cards are really great.

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  136. The green and blue card is gorgeous!

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  137. I think the Dusty Blue is now my new favorite! Beautiful cards and I can see a whole set of them.

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  138. They do look like stationary cards from a shop! Very cool and thanks for explaining how you applied the background coloring.

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  139. Beautiful card designs. Love the color combination chosen.

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  140. beautiful cards! Love the color combos!

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  141. I like the color combo of your awesome card.

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  142. I love the colors! Thanks for sharing your technique!

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  143. Love all of your cards but you saved the last friendship card for best. Am definitely going for those color selections and technique!

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  144. Nice cards. Especially like the one with the wreath.

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Thank you so much for taking time to leave me a comment - it is always much appreciated. :)