ONE LAYER ONLY !

Hello lovely friends and bloggers - we have a fab. challenge for you at 
Addicted to CAS which you are going to love!! Our brilliant leader - Kylie, chose the code-word, and here it is ....!

We would like you to use just one card layer. If you are using a digi image, it must be printed directly onto the card.  As always, the design should be Clean and Simple, with lots of empty space!  

I printed the Poppy Oval image (from DigiDarla Designs) directly onto white card, then I used Copics to colour the image and chalks for the sky. 
(A pre-coloured option of the Poppy Oval is also available).
The sentiment was created with the SU Best Dad Ever set (thinking of), and a hAnglar and stAnglar "For You" stamp (You)! 
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Our fabulous Sponsor this fortnight is DigiDarla Designs, and the prize

 for our CAS Perfectionist is 5 images of the winner's choice.
So ladies and gents - get your thinking caps on - can't wait to see your fabulous One Layer creations!

Happy Crafting ~

VINTAGE SEW-N-SEW!

Hi lovely friends and bloggers - I hope you are well, and enjoying warm weather wherever you are.

I have been stamping and inking today, to create a card for the

Sew-n-Sew challenge at Fashionable Stamping.

Stamps used:-

Crafty Individuals sewing sets - CI-328 and 322.

Indigo Blu crackle background. 

A beautiful stamp from the Flonzcraft Gibson Girl Collection, which was my fabulous winner's prize from Fashionable Stamping in the June "Tag Time" challenge. I cut out the stamped image, added some lace and attached her with silicone glue to add dimension.

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Other items:-
A small brass oval frame, coloured with Gesso and DI.
The "reflection" in the mirror was created by inking the stamp and rolling a brayer over the inked image, then transferring it onto a piece of card.  Image softly coloured with Copics and trimmed to fit the frame. 
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Copics to colour the main image.
Distress inks and Archival Coffee.
Machine stitching.
Buttons and cotton thread.
Spellbinder's Fancy Tags Two.
Brown lace from stash.
Cardstock - SU Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake and Chocolate Chip.
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I would also like to enter the Vintage (or Old) challenge at 
Simply Create Too.

A warm welcome to my latest followers - Michal, Chris, and a mysterious lady who is sitting out the back - would love to know who you are so I can pop over and leave you a comment!
Love and Hugs ~

MAIL TIME AT FASHIONABLE STAMPING!

Hi peeps - hope you are well, and enjoying the hot UK weather. 

This is a short post tonight - I have just made it in time for the 

 current challenge at Fashionable Stamping.  

The theme is "Mail Time", so anything to do with post cards, stamps etc.  

I would have posted this earlier, but Hubby and I have been to see the musical "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" this evening at the Leeds Grand Theatre, starring Jason Donovan. Fantastic music, costumes and cast - absolutely brilliant!

Recipe:-

Crafty Individuals postcard stamp.

Sweet Moments sentiment - Stampin' Up.

With Love - Papermania Chatsworth stamp set.

Crafty Secrets "French Mail" stamp set.

Base card - Stampin' Up Pool Party.

Distress Inks - Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo.
Archival Coffee ink.

Flowers coloured with Copics. 

Spellbinders die - Fleur de Lis Squares.

Definition of "Mail" torn from my very old school dictionary.
Edges distressed with scissors. 
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I would also like to enter the Craftroom Challenge - "Vintage Stamping".

Thanks for popping by ~ Have a happy weekend ~ 
Hugs, 

Fashionable Stamping - Red, Black and Brown.

Hi lovely bloggers - sorry I haven't been around for a couple of weeks - a rather nasty chest infection has left me with very little energy, or the inclination to create. The antibiotics have more or less worked their magic now, and it's great to be crafting again.

 My card is for the challenge at Fashionable Stamping. and the talented DT would like us to use Red, Black and Brown - not a combination I have ever used before, but it's good to try something new!

Recipe:-

Stamps - 

New York Diva from Hampton Art,

Postcard, Sentiment, and Background Text from Crafty Individuals.
All stamps inked with Archival Coffee.

Black cardstock and SU Real Red cardstock.

Distress Inks - Antique Linen and Vintage Photo.

Copic Markers

Machine stitching

TH Ideology metal corner

Black lace from stash.
Distressing on Postcard and edges of main image.

Thanks for popping by, and a happy hello to my new followers!

Hubby and I will be setting off somewhere warm in a couple of days, so I

promise to visit my lovely blogging friends when I return. 
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Update - 12th March - just returned from holiday to a very 
pleasant surprise - my card is in the Top 3 at Fashionable Stamping -
thank you so much to the DT ladies!

Love to all ~

PINK VALENTINE !

Hi lovely bloggers, friends, and followers - I'm sure you all know that Valentine's Day is almost here! 

Our challenge at In The Pink this fortnight is - you guessed it - PINK VALENTINE!

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 In order to have a chance to be chosen as a Perfect Pinkie, please remember to use lots of PINK on your creation, plus the required challenge element. 
You can find out who our "Distressed" Perfect Pinkies are if you pop over to the blog!

For my card I used SU Pink Pirouette and Whisper White cardstock.
The Nestie die is Fleur de Lis Squares (a lovely gift from Santa!), attached with 3-d pop-ups.
PSX stamp - Victorian Filigree Heart, inked with black Archival.
SU "Full Heart" punch, pin-pricked around the edges, curved slightly, then attached with silicone glue. 
Sentiment - two separate stamps from Anna Griffin.
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My card is entered into the following challenges ~
Addicted to CAS - Code Word "heart"
Lexi's  Creations  - Valentine/Love.

Thank you for popping by, and a warm welcome to my new followers, Sylvia and Hetty.

Love and hugs ~

RED POPPIES AT LESS IS MORE......

Hello lovely peeps - just squeezing in before closing time at Less Is More, so a very quick Post as I am also preparing for my Saturday card-making class. I do hope the "splash" of red isn't too much for the challenge. 

Chrissie and Jen would like to see black and white with a suggestion, a dab, or a patch, of colour. Here is my card.

(Please scroll down if you are looking for my In The Pink post).

I created an aperture and a "frame" with Nestie square dies.

The Indigo Blu "Wild Meadow" image was stamped with Black Archival ink on the die-cut square and adhered to the inside of the card.

The Cuttlebug Poppies were cut from SU Red Glimmer Paper, and the tiny

words are from DoCrafts Chatsworth set. 

Thank you for popping by, and a warm welcome to my new followers - 
Marilyn, Svetla, Viera, Astrid and Pia.

Happy Crafting - Hugs, 

BUTTONS AND BOWS - IN THE PINK!

Hello my lovely friends, followers and bloggers - I hope you are having a happy week!

Wow - another two weeks have passed already so it must be In The Pink time again!

Huge thanks to everyone who joined in our last challenge - there were over 100 fabulous entries, so do pop over to In The Pink to find out who the Perfect Pinkies are!

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Now onto this fortnight's challenge - Christine and I would like to see BUTTONS and / or  BOWS on your creations.  Of course there should also be a large amount of PINK!

I have used Buttons and Bows - but you may struggle to find them all!

The beautiful image is from Leanne Ellis, stamped with Coffee Archival then coloured with Copics.

Nestabilities Lacy Squares die (cut twice, then spliced to create a rectangle).

The flower is a Cuttlebug Poppy die - the top layer is the smallest flower from the TH Tattered Florals die.

Ribbon from Embsay Crafts. Buttons from my button box!

Linen Twine - Stampin' Up.

Tiny tag punch - Woodware.

Spotty paper - Zoe Pearn.

Vintage text stamp - Crafty Individuals. 

Brushed Corduroy and Antique Linen DI.

Machine stitching.

Hugs  ~ 

CHALLENGE #4 at IN THE PINK - EMBOSSING!

Hello lovely bloggers and Pinkie fans - hope your week is going well! I have been AWOL in blogland this week, searching for the sun, so this Post is scheduled.

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We had some amazing entries in the "Anything But Square" challenge, and once again Christine and I had a difficult task choosing the Perfect Pinkies.  

Huge thanks to everyone who entered - we truly appreciate your enthusiasm and support.

If you pop over to IN THE PINK  you will find out who the Perfect Pinkies are!

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So - onto this fortnight's Challenge, which is EMBOSSING, and it can be either  

HEAT EMBOSSING or DRY EMBOSSING.  Please  make sure that you also have plenty of PINK on your creation!  

I decided to go with Heat Embossing for the black grasses and Butterfly. 

I also used the resist technique - inking over the images with Distress Inks - Spun Sugar, Tattered Rose, and a little Bundled Sage. 

The butterfly was shaped by using an embossing tool on the reverse.

The scene was created on a rectangle of white card, covered with the pink inking, and spritzed with water.  

The sentiment and Dandelions were "second-stamped" with the black ink, but not embossed.

I pleated the seam binding, and attached with DSST.

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Items used:-

Black Archival ink

Stampendous Detail Black embossing powder.

Indigo Blu stamp set - Wild Meadow (WM 1)

SU Pink Pirouette cardstock for the base card.

SU Basic Black card layer.

Rose Petal seam binding - WOC .

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Look forward to seeing more of your fabulous creations ~

Love to all  and huge thanks to my new followers.

FOLIAGE AND SEASONS

Hi peeps - thanks for popping by! Is it Summer, Autumn, or Winter weather in your part of the world today? It's definitely Autumn weather in this part of West Yorkshire!

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It's great to be joining the Limettes again at the  LESS IS MORE CHALLENGE
This week, it's ONE LAYER WEEK, and Mandi and Chrissie would like to see - FOLIAGE.

  

The little leaf stamp (22mm) is from an Artemio set. One of those things you buy "because 

you like it", but you get it home and it goes into the "I will never be able to make anything with this" drawer.

So thanks to Chrissie and Mandi for giving me a reason !!

Recipe:~

 Black Archival Ink.

Artemio stamp (10020057)

The leaves on the bottom circle are glittered, the other three are painted with
Derwent Watercolour pencils, hopefully giving a representation of the Four Seasons.

Stampin' Up Curly Cute sentiment.

The lines were drawn with a Pilot extra-fine pen.

X-cut corner rounder punch.

Hugs ~

ANYTHING BUT SQUARE, AT IN THE PINK

Hello lovely Bloggers - hope you are all having a happy week and some sunshine?  

Apologies for not being around in Blogland very much this past fortnight -  I do appreciate your wonderful comments, and I will catch up with you all as soon as I can.
A warm welcome to my new followers too!
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 It's time for another challenge at  IN THE PINK, and this week it's ANYTHING BUT SQUARE, and of course - lots of pink!  

Thank you to everyone who entered  the"Things With Wings" challenge - there were some amazing creations once again.   To find out who has won the Perfect Pinkie badges , just click the link above!

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Here are my two cards  for this fortnight's challenge~

Mannequin digi image from A Passion for Stamps.
Digital paper  from Sweet Shoppe Designs (Zoe Pearn).
Sentiment - a very old Docrafts magazine freebie 
MS border punch.  Black Archival ink.
Machine stitching.  Ribbon from stash.
Tiny black pearls (necklace)- Habico.
Dress softly coloured with Copics and a little Glamour Dust on the hem.
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Cardstock covered with Stampin' Up Cheerful Treat designer paper
Nestabilities  Labels 4 and Classic Ovals
Cuttlebug heart cut from the designer paper and coated with Glamour dust 
Sentiment - Papermania Chatsworth stamp set.
Blazing Red Staz-on ink
Ribbon from stash
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Have a fabulous weekend ~
Love and Hugs, 

OUR VERY FIRST CHALLENGE AT "IN THE PINK" !!

Good morning lovely bloggers - the PINK day has arrived at last !  I hope you are all poised with PINK crafty stash in hand,  ready to join in the fun at our very first  fortnightly Challenge at IN THE PINK 
All the details can be found on the Challenge Blog, but in case you are wondering what the first Challenge is all about ,  it's everyone's favourite - ANYTHING GOES, (with plenty of pink), or as Christine calls it - FIFTY SHADES OF ..... PINK! (no, I haven't read that book - have you??)!!!!!!!

We are really looking forward to seeing what you create - it can be anything you desire - card, scrapbook layout, box, book - I'm sure you get the idea!  

Each fortnight,  Christine and I will both be posting two projects on the Challenge Blog,  and here are my two cards for this first challenge ~  

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Two layers of white card, on a white base card, machine stitched around all edges.

The image is stamped on the centre layer, and coloured with Copics.

I cut an aperture on the top layer, with a Nestie Labels 4 die, then attached over the image with 3-d foam pads.

Stamp - "Sunrise" by  Rachel Anderson at Sweet Pea Stamps.

Sentiment - Penny Black.

Swirls of  very pale pink chalk for the  sky.

"Botanical" clear stamp from Kaisercraft, inked with Coffee Archival.

Image painted with Distress Inks.

Borders  punched with MS  "Eyelet Lace"  Punch Around the Page.

Pricking tool used around the edges of top layer of white card

Seam binding - Wild Orchid Crafts.

Sentiment - Hot off the Press.

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One last thing - it's Christine's birthday today so do pop over to her blog and leave her some lurve!!  

{ HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTINE }

Love to all ~

CHOCOLATE BAROQUE AT FYI ....

Hi there my lovelies!  Many thanks for popping by, and a warm welcome to my new followers.   I hope you are all having a happy week. 

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It's time for another challenge at FYI   and here is this week's amazing inspiration photo ~

For my DT card I have taken the blue sky, green grass and the white building  as my inspiration - OK I know my choice of blue is not the same as the pic - but hey - we can interpret the photo in any way we wish!

So here it is, and I hope you like it ~ (the detail is clearer when you click the pic.)

Recipe:-

The blue panel is Basic Grey Granola - a very old snippet which was lurking about in my paper stash, distressed around edges with scissors.
The gorgeous flower and grasses are from the Chocolate Baroque Fantasy Meadow set -  
the flower was stamped with Jet Black Archival ink then painted with Distress Inks - Weathered Wood, Faded Jeans and Peeled Paint.
The grasses were randomly stamped, and second-stamped, with Peeled Paint.
Edges of the oval softly inked with Weathered Wood and Faded Jeans.
********* 
The Ornate Frame die is from Sizzix . The white frame was stamped with the Indigo Blu Crackleglaze background stamp, using clear Versamark ink which was brushed over with Pewter Perfect Pearls to reveal the "crackles".
Machine stitching,  and a sentiment from Hero Arts.
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Hope you will join in the fun at FYI ~ you have two weeks to create your project!
Love and hugs ~ 

COPIC MARKER EUROPE - 1st BIRTHDAY, AND A SATURATED CANARY CUTIE!

Hello peeps! First of all - thank you so much for your good wishes re. Hubby's recent accident - I really appreciate your messages. He is absolutely fine now - the head wound is healing OK - he is just awaiting x-ray results - the GP thinks his collar-bone may be chipped, but it isn't painful thank goodness.

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Over at COPIC MARKER EUROPE the ladies are celebrating their 1st  Blog Birthday, and I couldn't resist joining in the fun as I love my Copics!

There are blog hops and weekly prizes to be won, just by leaving a comment, so you may like to pop over there to see what's happening!

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The detail is much clearer in wide-screen - just click the pic!

Recipe:-

Cardstock - Stampin Up.

Martha Stewart Punch Around The Page "Eyelet Lace".

Memory Box die - "Simple Banner".

A very old set of tiny alphabet letters, inked with Jet Black Archival.

The gorgeous digi was a freebie from Krista Smith at Saturated Canary, created for the Copic Marker Europe Birthday Challenge. Image coloured with Copic Ciao Markers.

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Have a wonderful week everyone ~ love to all ~

A SWIRLY HAPPY BIRTHDAY !

Hello my lovely blogging friends - I do hope you are all safe and well, and escaping the heavy rainfall.

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Just popping by with a card for  this week's challenge at  LESS IS MORE. Chrissie and Mandi would like to see swirls on our projects, and it's also everyone's favourite - ONE LAYER ONLY week!  Have to admit, I quite enjoy the challenge of using only one layer - it keeps my brain cell moving!

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(The stamping detail is much clearer when you click the pic.)

I love this looooooong Happy Birthday sentiment from Hot Off The Press, (had it for years) and it combines swirls and sentiment all in one beautiful image. 

I stamped the little Crafty Secrets swirly heart to add a finishing touch, then attached a tiny silver brad at the top of the heart. 

The cardstock is SU Pink Pirouette, cut to a DL size.  
Ink - Black Archival.

Lines dry embossed above and below the sentiment.

Love to all ~ 

A BOOK CARD FOR SOMEONE SPECIAL, AND A BABY CARD FOR LESS IS MORE!

Hello lovely bloggers - it seems Summer has finally arrived in the UK - yaaay!! I hope you are all enjoying the sunshine wherever you are.

I have TWO projects to share today - the first is a very simple little card for LESS IS MORE.  (Better late than never)! 
Chrissie and Mandi's theme this week is a BABY card, or CHILD'S card.
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Please be warned - this is a "photo-heavy" post - sorry! 
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For my LIM card, I used some leftover gingham snippets (Craft Creations), trimmed with a Fiskars border punch. 
The vintage pram stamp is from Anna Griffin, the sentiment is from a New Baby set by Kars, both inked with Jet Black Archival. (The image is much clearer when you click on the pic.)!
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I am popping over to  Di's Playground to share this card with the playmates!

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My second project is a Book Card. This is for my DIL's birthday next week - I've been intending to have a go at making one of these for ages, and my DIL's birthday has spurred me on - she loves all things vintage, shabby-chic, fairies etc., and I know she will appreciate it.
 If you would like to make one of these, there is a fab. tutorial on Sandie's wonderful blog http://delightfullycrazytoo.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/vintage-book-card-tutorial.htm
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I would also like to enter this Book Card into the ALLSORTS 3rd Birthday Blog Hop Challenge,
and OCC - Shabby Chic Theme.

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Update - June 2nd - My Book Card was awarded a Top 5 Badge by the ladies at Allsorts. Many thanks!

Front cover:-

Inside:-

The Nestie oval will be personalised before giving the card to

my DIL. 

This was rather difficult to photo - the punched border on the shadow box looks more like pale blue than the real-life shade of pale cream, and the "hinges" on the back cover are dark grey IRL, not blue! 
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Items used:-
Papers from Prima (but I think the back cover is Basic Grey)
Tiny flower punches - SU Boho Blossoms and EK Success Retro Flower.
Pearls and ribbon from stash.
Tons of Glamour Dust!
Martha Stewart border punch - Floral Vine.
Tonic Studios Butterfly punch.

DI Inks used - Antique Linen, Brushed Corduroy, Vintage Photo, Faded Jeans.
Memento London Fog.
Nesties dies -  Ovals and Fancy Tags Two.
Cuttlebug fancy corner die.
Stamps -  Layers of Color (Birthday Wishes), Indigo Blu Wild Meadow (Swirl).
. Crafty Individuals (Dream a Little Dream). Kaisercraft Botanical.
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Many thanks if you are still with me!  Have a wonderful weekend.
Love to all ~

THREE STAMPS AT LESS IS MORE, AND HAPPY 60th BIRTHDAY DEBBIE!!

Good evening lovely bloggers - life has got in the way of blogging this last week or two, so I'm happy to be back in crafting mode again, and sharing my LESS IS MOREcard for this week's challenge., which is ................. the one we all love - A ONE LAYER CARD!!!  The fabulous Chrissie and Mandi would also like us to use THREE  stamps (not 2, not 4, but THREE)!!

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I would also like to wish my lovely "For Your Inspiration" teamie Debbie  a very Happy 60th Birthday!

Yes - you can't keep it a secret Debbie - the whole world now knows that you are 60 years young on May 13th!!  So peeps, please pop over to Debbie's lovely blog and leave her some lurve, and wish her a Happy day!

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Update - June 6th - my card was included in the Winners list at St. Lukes Charity Cards.
Thank you ladies!

I have used THREE stamps from the "Wild Meadow" Indigo Blu set. - the sentiment, the Dandelion Clocks, and the Grasses border stamp, inked with Archival Coffee. 

Brayered Distress Inks -  Spiced Marmalade and Mustard Seed.
I would also like to enter my card into the following Challenges:-
PILE IT ON - "Clean and Simple".
ST LUKES CHARITY CARDS - "One Layer Month".

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A huge welcome to my new Followers.

Love to all - have a very happy week ~

TIME FOR SUMMER ............

Hello peeps - I'm sure you are all looking forward to some hot Summer weather - I know I am!  But in the meantime,  I am joining in the  Crafty Individuals Challenge - TIME FOR SUMMER. 

You might like to click the pic. to see the detail!
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Recipe ~

Backing paper from the Crafty Individuals "Book 7" - Shades of Summer.

Stamped images - CI -309, CI- 320, CI- 302, and CI - 234.

Distress Inks used - Weathered Wood, Antique Linen, Wild Honey, Spiced Marmalade, Brushed Corduroy.  

Victorian Velvet, Worn Lipstick and Tattered Rose for the flowers.

Other inks used - Coffee Archival and Memento London Fog.

Memory Box die - Wrought Iron Fence.

Machine stitching. 
"Summer" stamp - Layers of Color Art Stamps.

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Love to all ~