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Freshly Made Sketches #179

Freshly Made Sketches #179 published on 10 Comments on Freshly Made Sketches #179

Has it really been a week since I posted?!  Wow.  I’d love to say I knew where the time went but I’m not even sure.  I did get the chance to hold some stamping events though and those were such fun!  So guess what we have up for your this week at Freshly Made Sketches?  Yep, another excellent sketch (like there was any other possible answer)!!  Amy O’Neill is such an amazing stamper and I love what she has given us this week.  I’m hoping that spring break means you’ll have time to join us because you are going to want to join us!

FMS179 Blessed Easter

I needed an Easter card for a teacher in my son’s Religious Education class and thought this sketch would be perfect.  I used this pretty flower from Butterfly Basics.  I really love this flower.  Yes, I did color it with Blendabilities but it could easily be made using classic ink and Blender Pens.  The sentiment is from a retired set called Blessed Easter.  I tend to save sets like that because they are great to have on hand.  Sometimes for the images, sometime for the sentiments but always great when you need a quick go-to!  In fact, that is one of the the things I look for when I’m purchasing stamps.  Long term flexibility makes stamps a great investment!  I used this yellow print from Painted Blooms DSP.  I cannot get enough of this DSP as you may have noticed.  The variety of prints and the awesome spring colors just make me happy!  The 5/8″ Organza Ribbon and some retired Lucky Limeade (that’s a throwback, isn’t it) are combined for the little banner element.

I’m already working on the card for this month’s Fancy Friday hop coming on Friday.  I’ll also have an announcement for you then.  I can hardly wait to share!!

FMS Final 179-001

The FMS team has so much inspiration for you this week.  I just love these ladies and all the talent they share every week!  And speaking of talent…the gallery continues to wow us every week.  Your contributions make me ooh and ahh!!  Thanks for sharing with us!!

Ok….back on Friday.  Hope you have a great week and I’ll see you then!

Click HERE to purchase these wonderful Stampin’ Up products!

Paper:  Whisper White, Painted Blooms DSP, Bermuda Bay; Accessories:  Big Shot, Mini Treat Bag Thinlits, 2-1/2″ Circle Punch, Everyday Adventure Washi Tape, Dimensionals, Tomboy Multipurpose Adhesive

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Freshly Made Sketches #178

Freshly Made Sketches #178 published on 14 Comments on Freshly Made Sketches #178

Do you ever take online classes?  Well, I though I needed a perk up from the winter blahs so I signed up for one that focuses on die cutting called Stretch Your Dies from Online Card Classes.  I’m even trying to do some of the homework.  Ok, yeah, yeah….what does that have to do with Wednesday at Freshly Made Sketches?!  I combined the ideas from day 1 of class with the sketch this week and I can’t wait to see what you think!

FMS178 - Enjoy

So the first day of class focus on word dies and I immediately thought of this fun scripty word from the Mini Treat Bag Thinlits.  After cutting it a bunch of times from Whisper White card stock, I attached them to another panel of Whisper White using Tombow Multipurpose Adhesive (light hand).  Then I cut the word again from Bermuda Bay so that I could add it over the circle.  The triangle print on the sides comes from washi tape that comes with the Everyday Adventure Project Life Accessory Kit.  I cut the circle and the panel from Painted Blooms DSP and then popped the extra sentiment on.  I just love the effect from the tone on tone words down the panel, don’t you?!  Can’t wait to hear what you think about it.  Takes a little patience but worth it.

FMS Final 178-001The team has created their usual fabulous inspiration and you’ll have such fun with this sketch.  Our resident layer goddess Narelle has given us one that has just the right combination of layers and clean lines so that everyone should be happy!  I’m going to try to continue with my class work and hopefully have some interesting stuff to share.  Until then, I hope your week is great!  Thanks so much for stopping by.

Click HERE to purchase these wonderful Stampin’ Up products!

Paper:  Whisper White, Painted Blooms DSP, Bermuda Bay; Accessories:  Big Shot, Mini Treat Bag Thinlits, 2-1/2″ Circle Punch, Everyday Adventure Washi Tape, Dimensionals, Tomboy Multipurpose Adhesive

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Stamp Review Crew – Point & Click

Stamp Review Crew – Point & Click published on 9 Comments on Stamp Review Crew – Point & Click

SRC-PL-Point-Click-banner

I am so excited to be a part of this amazing group of Stampin’ Up demonstrators!  If you haven’t heard of “The Crew” yet, you are going to be so thrilled with this.  We are here to show you the versatility of one stamp set every time we hop (the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month).  We have a whole team of people and different stampers participate each time.  Like you, we look to find ways to maximize our investments and the single focus on one set allows you to see all the possibilities!  This week, our featured stamp is Project Life: Point & Click.  While it is certainly great for creating Project Life memory keeping, it is also fabulous for cards!

If you just came over from the lovely Yapha Mason, I’m so glad you are here!  If you want to see everyone who is hopping or if you get lost along the way, just click over to The Stamp Review Crew blog.

SRC - Point & Click

I just love the little designs in this stamp set.  So many fun arrows, stars and elements!  I thought I’d just use one and repeat it to create this sweet little card.  I stamped the arrows using Bermuda Bay, Daffodil Delight and Real Red.  Then I added the sentiments from So You, a stamp set from the Occasions Catalog that goes along with the So You Project Kit (an adorable scrapbook kit).  LOVE this sentiment (and all the others in the set)!    I put a narrow background frame around the stamped panel with Real Red card stock and then attached this striped pattern from the Stacked with Love DSP Pack to a white card base.  While some of the patterns have a subtle heart theme this stack is really great for so many projects!  It seemed to be missing something so I finished with a tiny Cherry Cobbler Button (Regals) tied up with Bermuda Bay Baker’s Twine.  The stamped panel is up on Dimensionals for a little extra wow!

I hope you like today’s card.  Like you, I can’t wait to see all that the others have for inspiration!  Hop on over to Holly Krautkremer to continue on your way around.  So glad you dropped in today.  See you again soon!

Click HERE to purchase these wonderful Stampin’ Up products!

Stamps:  Project Life Point & Click, So You; Paper:  Stacked with Love DSP Pack, Real Red, Whisper White; Ink:  Bermuda Bay, Real Red, Daffodil Delight; Accessories:  Stamp-a-ma-jig, Regals Button, Bermuda Bay Baker’s Twine, Dimensionals

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Freshly Made Sketches #177

Freshly Made Sketches #177 published on 11 Comments on Freshly Made Sketches #177

Another week is flying by!!  Finally, it has warmed up a little here and my boys are actually in school (and may be there for an entire week!!)!  I have been catching up on stuff around the house but was so excited to sit down with this week’s awesome sketch by Karren.  Now you probably know Karren as the fabulously talented stamper from New Zealand (and she is!!) but did you also know that she is a world class enabler?!  Yep.  Under that sweet exterior is a woman who “helps” the entire team find just the right stamping products.  If you follow her blog, I’m sure she has helped you right along too!  *smile*  Not shocking that her sketch will make you need to play along this week, then, is it?!

FMS177 - Painted Butterfly

Can you tell that I’m ready for spring?!  This card practically screams it!  I pulled out the beautiful Painted Blooms DSP and started looking at prints.  I finally decided to keep it simple and use a white base with this Wild Wasabi striped print.  I love these stripes!!  Then I pulled out my Butterflies Thinlits and cut the background butterfly out of White Vellum card stock and then used the solid butterfly thinlit on a flower print to cut the top one.  I love how the look of the print changes when it is cut out with a die!  This little butterfly makes me happy!  I topped it with a Vintage Faceted Button and the coordinating Painted Blooms Twine in Wild Wasabi.  The sentiment is from Gifts of Kindness.  Now for the weather to get warm enough to see butterflies for real!!

Ok…so I’m sure you have seen it.  Yesterday, Stampin’ Up issued an announcement that the Blendabilities line of alcohol markers has been discontinued.  While I’m personally sad for this because I love them, I am proud of Stampin’ Up for being the kind of company that will ensure that products pass the quality control test.  These were simply too inconsistent from the manufacturer and no resolution was in sight.  I know this was a difficult choice for the company but ethically the only one they could make.  What does this mean for you?  If you have them, keep using them!  I will and you will still see them here at the blog until they are unusable.  If you have product that is defective, please contact your demonstrator because there are policies in place to make it right.  If you bought them from me, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  I’ll be happy to help in any way possible!

FMS Final 177-001The variation on this sketch from the design team this week is really fantastic.  I think you are going to have fun using this one.  Oh…and the long card sketch last week….what a great gallery we had!  Thanks to all who joined in on that!

Well, I hope that your week is going well and that you are having a stretch of nice weather too!  Thanks so much for stopping in today.  See you soon!

Click HERE to purchase these wonderful Stampin’ Up products!

Stamps:  Gift of Kindness; Paper:  Neenah White, Painted Blooms DSP, White Vellum; Ink:  Wild Wasabi; Accessories:  Painted Blooms Twine, Vintage Faceted Button, Big Shot, Butterflies Thinlits, Crystal Effects, Banner Punch, Dimensionals

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Snow Day Stampin’ Fun!

Snow Day Stampin’ Fun! published on 1 Comment on Snow Day Stampin’ Fun!

So apparently my children will be going to school through June.  Or maybe not but wow, they have been home a lot for snow days!!  A LOT!  After the hours and hours of Minecraft, I finally decided it was time for something else.  Fortunately I had not one but two things at the ready for them.  And you know what?!  These guys are seriously great (ok, the products are seriously great and they are perfect for any level of crafter…but I’m a mom so I have to give credit to the kids!)!!!  Wanna see??  Of course you do!!

First of all, I decided that we were going to start a Project Life by Stampin’ Up album created by the boys with some of their favorite events.  Sometimes weekly, sometimes more, depending on what we are up to.  I pulled out the kits I have and they got to work.  Because they aren’t me, they have the courage to mix and match and just create what makes sense to them.  I have a lot to learn from them!!  Using the Everyday Adventure, Playground and Sale-a-bration This Day kits and accessories here are their first pages.  I can’t even wait until they create more!  Ok…truthfully they will be creating more pretty much the second I finish typing this post.  *smile*

PL by Jacob - Stampin' on the Fly

First, my oldest created these fun pages.  I love the one he made using a funny picture of him and his older cousin taken while we visited Orlando a couple of weeks ago.  The other picture he chose is “The Supervisor” doing what she does best.  He chose to put in the ikat style DSP (Sweet Dreams) pattern to match!  He used the PL Cards and Labels Framelits to make it match perfectly.

PL by Nathan - Stampin' on the Fly

Not to be outdone, my youngest chose a picture of himself from when he was the Star Student (a way to let the other kids know more about each child).  He took some of the things he had written about himself on the poster and put them on the card.  Isn’t this PL card perfect?!

Feb PP - Thanks

So we finished the Project Life work for the day and they still felt like crafting (insert mom cheer here!).  I went right to the Paper Pumpkin kit for February!!  They made this card above (and others like it) which is pretty much the design straight from the kit.  But then I showed them a fun post from Concept Artist Melody Hyde (go leave her some love because she is brilliant) and they just had to create their versions of the star card.  I cut apart an accordion for them and they got to work.

Feb PP - Cards

I helped show them how to wrap the twine like Melody did and they chose different colors from my stash.  I may go and create another group just like them and put them in one of the cute envelopes from the kit to have ready as a little treat for someone.  You know….I might be doing that while the boys are working on PL!!

Ok.  Enough typing.  I have crafting (YAY!) and snow shoveling (BOO!!) to do today.  I hope you have a fabulous and crafty day!  See you soon!

Click HERE to purchase these wonderful Stampin’ Up products!

Stamps:  February Paper Pumpkin; Paper:  Sweet Dreams DSP, PLxSU, Paper Pumpkin; Ink:  Pool Party, Daffodil Delight, Bermuda Bay, Pumpkin Pie; Accessories: PLxSU Everyday Adventure, Playground, SAB This Day, Buttons, Baker’s Twine (from Paper Pumpkin plus Crushed Curry, Pool Party, What’s Up Punch, Big Shot, PL Card and Labels Framelits, Stars Framelits

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Freshly Made Sketches #176

Freshly Made Sketches #176 published on 11 Comments on Freshly Made Sketches #176

So we are switching things up this week over at Freshly Made Sketches.  The lovely and oh so sweet Cindy Hall has taken us out of our box.  Well, she has taken us out of our standard rectangle, at least.  She came up with a plan to create elongated cards and we knew she was onto something.  So besides being lovely and sweet, she is brilliant!

Jen Timko - FMS176 - You Brighten My Day

One of the reasons I had to have this Sale-a-bration stamp set (You Brighten My Day) is this little light bulb.  What is it about certain little stamps that just speak to us?  I just don’t have anything like this and I’m so glad I was able to get it.  The fact that it was free…well, that makes it even better!!  But I digress.  I stamped this little bulb twice.  Once on a scratch piece and once on a piece of Whisper White cut to 2-1/2″ x 5-1/2.  I colored the one on the scratch piece using my Daffodil Delight Blendies (these are currently unavailable for order pending SU working a quality control issue).  I cut it out and popped it on a Dimensional.  I took some of the washi tape from the So You Project Kit (a work in progress that I’m getting really excited about, by the way) and used the washi in place of the scallops.  I tied on Black Baker’s Twine and a Daffodil Delight Button.  Then I cut a base of 5-1/2″ square and folded it in half.  I put a little strip of Painted Blooms DSP at the bottom and popped the image panel up on Dimensionals.  This card makes me happy and I know just who it is going to!

FMS Final 176-001

Here in Northern VA we have been having LOTS of snow day.  Lots of them.  In fact, I think tomorrow will be another.  So after too many hours of Minecraft (*smile*), I found something else for the boys to do.  I’ll be back tomorrow to show you.  Until then, I’m glad you stopped in today.  Hope your day is great!

Click HERE to purchase these wonderful Stampin’ Up products!

Stamps:  You Brighten My Day (SAB); Paper:  Whisper White, Painted Blooms DSP; Ink:  Momento Tuxedo Black, Daffodil Delight Blendabilities, Copics Markers; Accessories:  Washi Tape (So You Project Kit), Baker’s Twine (Paper Pumpkin), Brights Buttons,

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Coffee and Friends

Coffee and Friends published on 49 Comments on Coffee and Friends

Print

So I have a Saturday card!  Yay!!!  I had some time to stamp yesterday and just could not resist joining in this fabulous blog hop.  Amy and Chaitali have created this spring version of the Coffee Lovers Blog Hop.  Such fun!  I mean let’s face it.  What is stamping without coffee??!!  I know that my stamping is fueled by coffee.

Jen Timko - Coffee and Friends

The other thing that goes perfectly with coffee is friends!  I love when I get to enjoy a nice cup with mine…such a special treat.  I combined the Perfect Blend stamp set with Sweet Dreams DSP to create this fun little card.  I stamped the cup three times – on the rectangle print, on the circles print and on Whisper White. I cut them out and then pieced them together to create my cute cup.  I wrapped a little bit of Crushed Curry Baker’s Twine around the cup and then added an Itty Bitty Accents Epoxy Sticker with a little piece of coordinating DSP cut with the heart from the Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack.  I took some washi tape and added it to a little clothespin and clipped on the sentiment from the stamp set.  More DSP for the banner and Lost Lagoon card stock embossed with Decorative Dots TIEF.

FabFri58I used this sketch from my friends over at Fab Friday for this card.  Now you need to go check out this fun hop.  So many people already linked in and guess what?!  There are loads of amazing sponsors and all you have to do is join in for a chance to win.

Hope you enjoy this card.  I have my stamp club coming over this weekend and I can’t wait to stamp with them!  I hope your weekend is full of stamping too!  So glad you stopped by today.  See you again soon!

Click HERE to purchase these wonderful Stampin’ Up products!

Stamps:  Perfect Blend; Paper:  Sweet Dreams DSP, Whisper White; Ink:  Momento Tuxedo Black; Accessories: Mini Clothespin, Washi Tape, Crushed Curry Baker’s Twine, Itty Bitty Accents Epoxy Stickers and Punch, Big Shot, Decorative Dots TIEF

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Fancy Friday – Fancy Technique

Fancy Friday – Fancy Technique published on 3 Comments on Fancy Friday – Fancy Technique

FF Feb - Watercolor Blooms

I am so excited to share with you this month’s project with for our Fancy Friday monthly hop!  If you just came over from the amazing Jeanna, welcome to the next stop.  My friends and I want to be able to share with you our ideas in a monthly format.  We will use different themes each month – sometimes colors, sometimes a sketch, sometimes a stamp set focus.  The one thing you can count on is that it will be fancy!  Over our year on the 2013 Artisan Design Team,  “fancy” became our word to describe the best projects, the best new clothes, even the best pedicure colors.  Now we want to share with you our take on “fancy” each month.  This month our theme is “Fancy Technique”!  We are using techniques that we love and can’t wait to share them with you!

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I am just obsessed with the watercolor look right now.  Can’t seem to get enough of it.  You know one of the great things about this technique?  It doesn’t have to be time consuming!  My card for today took very little time and I think it has a really pretty effect.  So how did I make it?  Watercolor paper does all the work, really.  You can swirl on color any old way and it is fabulous.  So, so forgiving too.  Don’t love what you put down?  Add a little more water and then dab it up with a paper towel.  I swirled on some Mossy Meadow and Lost Lagoon to create the background for this beautiful image from the hostess stamp set Bloom with Hope.  Then a little strategic placement on Rich Razzleberry ink behind where the flowers go.  Really, that is it.  To match the soft image, I added a layer of vellum over the front of my Pool Party base to give it that fuzzy quality.  To show you how easy it is, I created a video.

See, I told you!  Makes you look at those line images you have with a new eye.  This would be wonderful with the new Sale-a-bration set called Nature’s Perfection, I think.  What, you don’t know about the NEW and ADDED Sale-a-bration sets???!!!  Click here:  Sale-a-bration Additions.  You really don’t have to color them with precision all the time (although I love doing that too).  I hope you enjoy this card.  Let me know what you think…I love hearing your feedback!

Okay, off to go visit the awesome Mercedes Weber!  You will be wow’d, as always!

And you can click our logo above to get to the Fancy Friday Pinterest page!

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Click HERE to purchase these wonderful Stampin’ Up products!

Stamps:   Bloom with Hope; Paper:  Watercolor, Pool Party, Vellum; Ink:  Mossy Meadoe, Lost Lagoon, Rich Razzleberry, Momento Black; Accessories:  Aquapainter, Paint Brush, Heat Tool, Stamp-a-ma-jig

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Freshly Made Sketches #175

Freshly Made Sketches #175 published on 15 Comments on Freshly Made Sketches #175

I am so happy to share today’s card with you!  My friend Jen Brum has created such a fun sketch for us over at Freshly Made Sketches.  In honor of Jen’s, um, aversion to circles I have created a card that is all about circles.  *smile*  I hope she appreciates my sense of humor on it!

Jen Timko - FMS175 - Bokeh Wishes

So the bokeh technique is all about circles.  Or at least my version is.  Bokeh is a photography technique defined as the way a lens renders points of light.  The key is the blur effect.  Bokeh has also been all the rage in the stamping world for a while and I finally gave it a go.  I’ll tell you a bit about how I created the card and then I have photos on how I created the panel itself.  I stamped this sentiment from Butterfly Basic in Gold Encore Ink onto Vellum and then heat embossed it with Gold Stampin’ Emboss Powder.  Then I punched it out with my 2-1/2″ Circle Punch.  I love the way the vellum mimics the look of the inked circles!  I used a little bit of Tombow Multipurpose Adhesive on the vellum behind the words to attach the vellum invisibly and also tacked down the portion I folded over on the back side.  I had this Blushing Bride Gold Baker’s Twine left over from this month’s Paper Pumpkin kit and it worked perfectly here, don’t you think?  To go along with the gold, I added a Gold Mini Metallic Clothespin and Gold Sequin Trim.

Bokeh - Watercolor

Now for the panel.  You can click on the photos to expand them if needed.  I took watercolor paper and taped it to a piece of chipboard (the stuff that comes in kits to protect materials) using old washi tape.  Then using a paint brush I washed water over the whole panel.  I put a few drops of Daffodil Delight Reinker in a container and using the same wet brush, picked up the reinker and splatted it onto the paper.  Then I did the same with Calypso Coral Reinker.  On the places where is seemed really dark or too watery, I pounced on the paper with a paper towel to absorb some of the extra.  This leads to a mottle look and I feel like the mottling is key to success with the rest of the technique.  You can let it dry naturally or use the low setting of your heat tool.  You can see which one I chose (because I’m impatient).

Bokeh - Sponging

Here you can see my reinker containers (old button boxes).  Then using circle punches I made a template using card stock (punches listed in materials below).  If you have circle framelits, you can use them instead.  I grabbed a trusty sponge dauber and started adding on circles using White Craft Ink.  Bigger circles are lighter and smaller circles are darker.  You can use just the dauber for the small circles if you want but my precision with those is a bit lacking.  I liked the template better.  Just add circles until you have the effect you want.  Let that panel dry thoroughly again, pull it up and trim to size.  It really is MUCH easier than I expected!!  I used this video as a basis for mine and then just used Stampin’ Up stuff instead.

FMS Final 175-001Let me know if you have any questions about this!  Don’t be like me and put it off.  Pull out some of your favorite colors and give it a try!

The team has done their usual fantastic job with the sketch and I know you will have fun with it too.  Another classic in the making!  Thanks so much for stopping in today.   See you soon!

Click HERE to purchase these wonderful Stampin’ Up products!

Stamps:  Butterfly Basics; Paper:  Watercolor, White, White Vellum; Ink:  Daffodil Delight, Calypso Coral, Gold Encore, White Craft; Accessories:  Circle Punches – 1/2″, 1-1/4″, 1-3/8″, 1-3/4″, 2-1/2″; Mini Metallic Clothespins, Gold Sequin Trim, Blushing Bride Gold Baker’s Twine (Paper Pumpkin), Sponge Daubers, Heat Tool, Gold Stampin’ Emboss Powder

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Blackberry Butterfly

Blackberry Butterfly published on 2 Comments on Blackberry Butterfly

Well, my card was ready for yesterday but not my post.  Hmmm…  Well, it happens, I guess.  My boys and I had a quick get away this weekend to Orlando.  Unknown to my mom who lives there, we had a surprise birthday party planned for her on Saturday!!  It was such fun and we managed to keep the surprise.  My boys were so worried they would give something away but they did great!  I made my mom a special card too, of course.  She love purple and she is the one who gave me my sewing machine so naturally I created this.

Blackberry ButterflyI had a tough time with the light getting a good picture before we had to leave but I think you can see the idea.  It seems prettier in person though.  The background splatter is from Gorgeous Grunge and is stamped in Gold Encore Ink.  Then I inked the butterfly from Butterfly Basics in Blackberry Bliss.  I hand cut this one out and then added on a gold metal button tied with a Vanilla Baker’s Twine that came in a Christmas card kit (these kits just keep giving).  I added some Venetian Crochet Trim and Blackberry Bliss Stitched Satin Ribbon underneath the butterfly.  The sentiment is from the same stamp set.

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Quick post today but I thought I’d share a picture from our weekend.  This was taken at my mom’s church and I thought it was really nice.

So glad you stopped in today.  I’ll be back tomorrow with the latest from Freshly Made Sketches.  Hope your day is great!

Click HERE to purchase these wonderful Stampin’ Up products!

Stamps:  Butterfly Basics, Gorgeous Grunge; Paper:  Very Vanilla; Ink:  Blackberry Bliss, Gold Encore; Accessories: Sewing Machine, Venetian Crochet Trim, Blackberry Bliss Stitched Satin Ribbon, Basic Gold Metal Button, Vanilla Baker’s Twine

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