Friday, September 30, 2011

Paper Crafts Magazine Presents: 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop

Fancy seeing you here!

I've always participated in the Paper Crafts Magazine special issue blog hops ... but never as a blogger!

Imagine my excitement when I found out that I'd get to participate in the Holiday Cards & More Volume 6 Blog Hop!



I still haven't gotten my mitts on a copy of this issue, but I am so excited to leaf through it! I'm especially looking forward to seeing my very first cover live and in person!!!! 

I had such a great time working on projects for this issue! I prepped for weeks and pumped out projects little by little. I especially loved designing a few non-card projects that I just can't wait to see in print!

Now, onto the business of this fabulous blog hop! Along with 11 other designers, I'm sharing a quick and easy card with you today, that is super simple to replicate for the piles of cards you'll be sending out this holiday season.

I have lots of strategies for quick and simple cards, one of which is "Printing" and "Punching" - let me explain ...

I love using Photoshop to design simple sentiments that I can print out. This cuts down on lots of stamping!

I also love using punches for quick and easy projects! As much as I {heart} my Cuttlebug, I'd rather kiss a jellyfish that crank that thing through any significant amount of die cuts. Punches are so much faster!

So here's what I came up with. It's a variation of a quick and easy card that I have published in this issue...





I designed this sentiment, then used a Martha Stewart stamp set and ribbon punch to complete the card. 


I used red glitter Stickles to add quick color and dimension.

Now...if you're interested in replicating this card with a wreath stamp of your own, I've created a printable sheet of the sentiment that you can download!




Hope this gives you a little Quick & Easy inspiration for your holiday cards!  


Now for your chance to WIN, WIN, WIN!

Be sure to leave a comment for your chance to win a free copy of the Holiday Cards & More Vol. 6 issue! You have until Sunday, October 2 at Midnight to leave your comment, then I'll announce the winner here on the blog!

You can also enter to win a fabulous prize package at the Paper Craft Connection Blog! You don't want to miss out!

For more inspiration and more chances to win, stop by and check out the rest of the designers' quick & easy projects:




Thanks for stopping by for some Damask Love & I'll see you tomorrow for some World Card Making Day Fun!


179 comments:

  1. Wow - such a classy card. Love it. Luv Sandie

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  2. This is such a strong, fresh look! Love it!

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  3. wow your card looks so beautiful its difficult to believe that the sentiment and wreath are comp generated ,it looks just fab.

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  4. Such a beautiful design, congrats on that! Love the little punched bow :) TFS!

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  5. Wow, what a totally unique idea! And how generous of you to share it with us! The card looks great!

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  6. very cool - and so kind to share!!

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  7. Gorgeous card and I love the touch of Stickles! Thanks for the download!

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  8. Fab card - thank you for the download too :)

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  9. Oh my goodness, too cute!!
    Thank you for the download!!

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  10. the wreath is so awesome as the "O". I love how simple and beautiful it is.

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  11. Great idea!!! I might have to give that a try sometime soon!!!

    housesbuiltofcards@gmail.com
    www.housesbuiltofcards.blogspot.com

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  12. This is just so pretty... I love that wreath.. this card is eye catching.. Love it..
    thanks for sharing..

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  13. Love your card and love, love, love your sentiment. I can't wait to get home to try something like this on photoshop. What a great idea and what a wonderful money saving option. Oh yea, and I've just got to have that bow punch.

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  14. That's a cute card! Congrats on blogging today! :)

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  15. Thanks for the printable. Great use of Stickles! :)

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  16. Love your blog site! Thank you for the download and all your hard work.

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  17. Love it! Very elegant looking card.

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  18. Thanks for the download--nice card!

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  19. WOWW!! realy love this card. simply lovely!

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  20. You are so creative! Thanks for sharing the sentiment!

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  21. What a great card and you are awesome to give us a printable copy! Thanks so much!

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  22. Beautiful card! So quick to reproduce!!

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  23. Wonderful! LOVE the look of the wreath on that and LOVE LOVE LOVE your jellyfish sentiment. :)

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  24. Thanks for the download! I can't wait to try it out! Your card is really fun!

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  25. LOVE this! JOY is one of my favorite words!

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  26. What a pretty card. I never thought about using photo shop for cardmaking! Thanks for giving me a great idea!

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  27. A sweet card and lots of impact from your lettering style on the sentiment !

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  28. Thanks for the free sentiment!! I love your card!

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  29. Loved all of your projects in this issue Amber! This card is fantastic! Love it!

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  30. so beautiful, i love the mixed look between the print out and the stamp, what a great idea!

    -rachel w k
    rwkrafts.blogspot.com

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  31. I am sooooo excited to see you on the COVER!!! FANTABULOUS!!! What a great card and special little gift of a wreath template! GREAT IDEA!!! HUGS!! TFS

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  32. Congrats on you "cover" Amber! That would be the absolute ultimate score in our craftmaking world! Your card is beautiful! Thanks for the sentiments as well!

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  33. What a great design! Love your card!

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  34. Lovely card and cute idea. Unique and easy. Works for me.

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  35. Very nice card. Beautifully done. Thank you for sharing.

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  36. I just downloaded your J(O)Y sentiment and can't wait to use it!

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  37. Great card! Thanks for the tips for qick & easy holiday cardmaking. ;-)

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  38. Thanks you for the download The card is beautiful.

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  39. your similar card in the mag was one of my faves! You have such a knack for fun & graphic cards :)

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  40. Love the card - and thanks so much for the graphic.

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  41. thanks for the download...cute card!!

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  42. Love how you used the stickles! Very simple and yet adds so much without overdoing it!! Wonderful Card!!

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  43. Lovely card, Amber! such a sweet Christmas wreath. Have a fun evening!

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  44. Lovely CAS Christmas card, Amber. ;)

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  45. Fun blog hop and great inspiration for cardmaking!

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  46. fabulous card Amber!! congrats on your first {parcitipating!} hop!! xoxo

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  47. Simple and beautiful! Great Holiday message!

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  48. Great card and thanks for the inspiration

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  49. Great card Amber! Very elegant...colors are perfect! :)

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  50. Really beautiful card! Thanks for the download...I can't wait to give it a try!

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  51. Beautiful! CAS and yet very classy, thanks for the awesome inspiration!

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  52. Lovely card and thanks for the download.
    slrdowney at hotmail dot com

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  53. Thanks for sharing the download - what a cute and simple idea. You've got me ready to craft and create for Christmas!
    Karen

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  54. Amber, I have yet to do a digital card for Christmas, but yours shows me how much easier it would be! Thanks for the great ideas!

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  55. This is such a great idea and thanks for sharing the download! Beautiful and elegant!

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  56. I like the way you used the wreath for the letter "O"!

    Noreen
    www.make-homemade-gifts.com

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  57. What a really lovely card, and thank you for sharing the download!

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  58. Great card...thanks for sharing the sentiment download.

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  59. Beautiful card. It's very elegant!!!

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  60. This is one of my favorite ways to mass produce! I love that engravers font paired with the classic wreath and bow.

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  61. I love holiday hops! They put me in the crafting mood!!! :-)

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  62. Thanks for the printable! I just love your simple and beautiful card. And congrats on being invited to design for the hop! You're great

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  63. Perfect idea! Love it and thanks for the download! TFS!

    Kris in Alaska
    funamom at yahoo dot com

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  64. very nice card and thank you for the sentiment :-)

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  65. Such a fabulous was to mass produce!! So totally stoked to try this this year!

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  66. A simple card that says everything you want to say. Very pretty.

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  67. Hi from Portugal,

    what a beautiful card, loved the sentiment you designed, it's simple and lovely, just wat I like.
    TFS your creation and you inspired me to whip up a few holidays cards.
    Take care,
    Monica

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  68. Thank you for sharing this template, Amber -- it makes a beautiful card in your hands!

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  69. Love your card and your technique! Love these blog hops and picking up great information. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  70. Love your card. Thanks for sharing. jeannett_mcgee@comcast.net

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  71. Very pretty card. Thank you for the printable sheet too!

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  72. Amber, this is fabulous! Thanks for sharing the digi download...can't wait to play with it!

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  73. the sentiment is beautifully designed!

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  74. Another simply perfect card. Congrats!

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  75. Pretty design and I always like the 'joy' sentiment. :)

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  76. CLEVER, Amber:) LOOOVE that wreath! Thanks for the chance to win--sbmmhoover at yahoo dot com

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  77. love the CAS look of the card.. yet stunning.. thanks so much for the chance to win..hugs

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  78. Lovely card! You are so creative!

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  79. Great card Amber! Very generous of you to link us to the printable sheet of sentiments.

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  80. JOY TO THE WORLD! Wow - great card can't wait to use your idea on my own holiday cards!

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  81. I love your card and the tips you shared! The added dimension of the punched ribbon is really nice. Thank you for the gift of the download.

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  82. congratulations on being a blogger in this hop!!! i love your card! and thank you for sharing the template! that red ribbon on your card adds the perfect amount of dimension!

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  83. Mahalo for the download so we can scraplift your card design. It's simply beautiful.

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  84. Beautiful Amber!! I love the bold graphic sentiment!! :)

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  85. Wow Amber, I love your ideas for making quick cards, and thanks for sharing the download.

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  86. Wonderful card! Thank you for sharing your template with us.

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  87. Fabulous design - I really love this sentiment! Thanks for the chance to win!

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  88. what a great idea!! i have that MS set and never would have thought to use the wreath as an O!!

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  89. What a wonderful idea to print out the sentiment minus the o.

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  90. I really like how the "O" pops out.

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  91. Nice card. I love how simple it is, yet elegant.

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  92. Love your card project! The colors and design are great!

    Carol B
    ciaoitalia2007(at)gmail(dot)com

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  93. I love the card and really appreciate the download!

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  94. WOW!. I LOVE this card:0 So pretty :)

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  95. oh my goodness... this is beautiful How clever are you! Thanks for the download as well... it is very sweet

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  96. What a lovely card and so simple. Thanks so much for sharing.

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  97. what a cute idea! Thanks for sharing the template. :)

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  98. Amber...what a wonderful card...so clean and simple...and sooo beautiful. I really luv the wreath...thank you for sharing the download.

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  99. Love this! Thank you for sharing the template!
    Sandra ltb

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  100. Simple but definitely darling. I really love this card. And thanks for download. I have already printed it and can't wait to color. Have a great weekend.

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  101. Great idea! I love the card. Thanks for sharing.

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  102. What a great card! Thanks for the download! What a bonus!

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  103. Very simple but classy! Love it!
    DeniseB

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  104. That is SO cute. I think I'm gonna give it a try. Thanks!

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  105. Absolutely beautiful AMber! I love that you created your own sentiment (and thank you for making it available to us less computer savvy people!). But I really like that little bow punched image! Great card!

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  106. How thoughtful of you to provide the download. The card definately looks like it took more work than it did. We won't give away your secret!

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  107. Oh I love this card! Thank you SO very much for the download. You rock!

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  108. Love your card. And a free download - thank you! You have inspired me to use my bow sticker too.

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  109. Beautiful! CAS and yet very classy, thanks for the awesome inspiration!

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  110. Beautiful! Love the colors, stamps and the wreath

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  111. I especially like the "font" you chose for the J and Y.
    Very nice.

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  112. Thanks for the hint. I always seem to get hung up on the sentiment on the inside or even on the outside. I love the idea of creating a templet to make things easier. April H. akirb78 at yahoo dot com

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  113. What a beuatiful card! It proves simle can also be elegan!

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  114. Such a fabulous CAS christmas card, perfect to make multiples! Thanks for sharing and for a great chance to win!

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  115. Great card and thanks for sharing the base pattern. Love the tips for saving time.

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  116. beautiful card. I love the simple design

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  117. very lovely cards. Alays so elegant, simple, yet so detailed. Love your style and inspiration.

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  118. What a cute card and clever to use digital and a punch. I love punches. Wish I was better at digital. Thank you.

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  119. Beautiful card. Thanks for sharing!!

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  120. What a pretty CAS card! I love the wreath 'o' and all still nice and flat for mailing! Thanks for the chance to win a copy of Holiday Cards!

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  121. Great card! Thanks for sharing the sentiment too! :)

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  122. Thanks for letting me know that I don't have to use my cuttlebug for every card :) My punches could use a little love.

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  123. I tried your free download and my card turned out great! Thank you so much for sharing your design!

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  124. ... your card was a ** joy ** to look at..as i bet it was to create.. wtg.. thanks for the opportunity.. mitz_zee@yahoodotcom

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  125. Your card is stunning, as all your creations are! I love the wreath and pretty red bow! Fabulous!!

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  126. Cute card! Thanks for the time saving tips!

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  127. I love your card Amber!! Thanks for the free download...that makes one less step for me!!

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  128. What a cute but simple idea! Thanks for sharing the template with us.

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  129. Great card! Love the wreath for the O!!

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  130. This is wonderful! I love the simple and understated feel of it, and the wreath as an "O" is perfect!

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  131. Okay, Amber...now I need this magazine to see your fabulous creations! Looks like you are as busy as ever...how do you keep a full time job and do this also? Kudos to you, girl friend!!

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  132. I love your card! Very elegant and beautiful.

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  133. I love this elegantly simple Christmas card. And I hate to say it, but his idea of adding the sun under the umbrella is absolutely right on!

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  134. Beautiful card! And thanks for the JOY download.

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  135. Cute card. Do you use an inkjet or laser printer?

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  136. Love this card! Great idea to print and stamp together, you just have to get the scale right. Thanks for sharing!

    Katie B.

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  137. What a beautiful cards,loved the sentiment you designed !! its looks so simple but fantastic creations .....
    custom credit cards

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