Sunday, March 29, 2015

Lovely Amazing You





Hi again!

For this post I'm bringing you a soft, feminine card.  I just love the way the colour came out and how it looks against the white.  This is along the lines of a clean and simple card - my favourite kind of card.

For this I used Ranger Texture Paste and the Hearts Heart Confetti stencil from Memory Box to create the basis for the background on Tim Holtz watercolour paper.  When you're using texture paste you have to remember than this stuff dries really quickly so you need to move at a pretty good pace.  

As soon as you're done, make sure your jar is closed up and that you wash your stencil and any other tools right away before the paste dries.  Otherwise, it's a bugger to get off.

The colour I chose is Spun Sugar, a Ranger Distress Ink.  It's a nice soft pink, but not so pale that it fades out.  This particular colour will stand up and be visible while not being too "pinky".  It's really perfect for a feminine card.



I used the Lovely Amazing You stamp from Stampin' Up!.  This set is full of sweet sentiments.  I also used Staz On Black ink.  I find it gives you a really black black and a nice crisp image as well.  A lot of people don't like the smell of Staz On, but call me weird - I do!


I took some watercolour paper that I can painted pink a while ago - again with distress ink in Worn Lipstick, and punched out a bunch of little hearts to use as embellishments.  I coated each heart with Glossy Accents to give them some shine, which created the look of enamel dots, and to give the card a little oomph.  You can see the gloss in the photo above really well.

You can watch the video below to see how it came together.  For now, I'm off to mark some math tests!  Enjoy!




Card Size

Finished card: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2"

Some of What I Used...

Find me on...

My Stamping' Up!® Website
YouTube

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Saturday, March 28, 2015

Be You (TIFUL) - My Favourite Things Sketch Challenge




Hello!

Here's Sketch Challenge number two for this weekend, and this one is for My Favourite Things.



I think sometimes card makers don't really stamp a whole lot as we all tend to get carried with different techniques and pretty patterned papers.  For this one, I just felt like stamping!

Inside, outside, sentiment, focal - it's all just stamping!  SO FUN!



I chose one of my favourite Stampin' Up! colours for this - Crisp Canteloupe - both for the ink and the paper.  I also used Calypso Coral for the darker tones.

Crisp Cantaloupe is just one of those really pretty colours that looks amazing when paired up with a nice, bright white.

I used the Flower Patch stamp set,, and what an awesome set!  There are 19 different stamps in the set and they can all be used together or seperately.  To complete the sketch challenge, I used some velum and added three enamel dots from Simple Stories and just a few Basic Pearls, also from Stampin' Up!. 

This was an easy card to make - quick and fun!


Well, that's it for now!  Hope you enjoyed it!

Beth

Card Size

Finished card: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2"

Some of what I used...

Flower Patch by Stampin' Up!
Crisp Cantaloupe Card Stock by Stampin' Up!

Ranger Craft Sheet
Fiskars SureCut Paper Trimmer
Martha Stewart Score Board
Scotch Brand ATG Tape Gun - Simon Says Stamp

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Happy Bird-Day - Another Paper Smooches Challenge





Hey everyone!

Well, it's time for another Paper Smooches Challenge!

I'm having so much fun with all of these challenges lately.  When you're given parameters to adhere to (although loosely), you're really challenged to sometimes think in ways you wouldn't normally think.

This is the first sketch challenge I've done, and I really found myself having to work at this.  It was great though - I was totally absorbed in what I was doing, and before I knew it almost 3 hours had gone by.

Crazy!



When I sat down to do this one, I was already tired after a week of work, and it was 7:30 at night.  Not my most creative time of the day to be sure.  But, one thing that I really loved doing was looking through old stamp sets looking for things I could use.

I went through about three or four different ideas and designs before settling for this one.  I pulled out an old Stampin' Up! set called Mixed Bouquet for the polka dots and large flowers, and incorporated this adorable (but crazed looking) bird with his little party hat from Paper Smooches.

Again, I really had a hard time because I still only have 2 Paper Smooches sets!  (I fixed this problem today though... )

I also used Green Apple and Khaki card stock from Simon Says Stamp (LOVE the green apple!!!), as well the very sweet floral paper from Momenta.

Nothing on this card "really" goes together, but I think that's part of the charm of it.  It's just a fun, playful card.

For the inside of the card, I used the same stamp I used on the front from Stampin' Up!.



I completed two - count' em - TWO sketch challenges so far this weekend, so keep an eye open for the second!

See you next time!
Beth


Card Size

Finished card: 5" x 5"

Some of what I used...

Birthday Buddies by Paper Smooches
Copics - Y17, E31, G07, YR07, B05
Memento Tuxedo Black Ink
Ranger Craft Sheet
Fiskars SureCut Paper Trimmer
Martha Stewart Score Board
Scotch Brand ATG Tape Gun - Simon Says Stamp



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Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Maisey and Madeline and my card was featured!





Hi everyone and happy Tuesday!  

Isn't this cutest image?  I just love it!  

Maisey and Madeline have it goin' on!  This is another Stampingbella stamp set - adorable image, fun to colour, and I love the font used for the sentiment.

I coloured this image with Copics, but I'm looking forward to having another go at it as soon as my birthday present arrives.  Yup - it's Happy Birthday to me week and I'm pretty sure my sweet husband ordered this for me:


I can't wait for it to arrive!

I loved using copies for this though, because you can get such full colours and great shading with them.



There are a few colours I wished I'd had while colouring it, but I'm really pleased with the way it looks.

I added some Liquid Pearls to the image as well, as you can see here:


Liquid Pearls are a fantastic finishing touch.

For the inside, I have a small sheet of Tim Holtz watercolour paper that I had painted pink using distress inks, and I've kept it for punching shapes.  I punched out a few hearts and added them.

I also got some exciting news this morning!

One of my cards was featured on the Lawn Fawn Challenge Blog!!!  What a great way to wake up this morning!  Here's the card that was featured and I'm so happy!



That's it for today!  Hope you're having a great Tuesday!

Beth



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Sunday, March 22, 2015

Ranger Watercolour with Distress Inks





Well, it's Sunday afternoon and March Break is pretty much over.  It's also time for another Lawnscaping Challenge!  Today, the sun is shining and it's really a beautiful day!

All this sunshine must be making me feel colourful because I've come up with a really quick little card full of bright, summer loveliness.

For this card you only need a few simple tools:

- Watercolour paper
- Ranger Distress Ink or any watercolour paint
- Water spritzer
- Acrylic Block



Use your acrylic block as a vehicle for laying down your ink on the paper in a blocky pattern.  You could switch this up to be any pattern or shape you want.  If you're not happy with the intensity of the colour, just put some more down to get the results you're looking for.

Once you've got things looking the way you like, let it air dry, or blast it with a heat tool (which is what I do because I don't have the patience to wait...).

Once it's completely dry, trim your work down to the size you want, and adhere it to the rest of your project.  I used two different layouts and I like them both!



I love the bright colours of this card and the airy feel it has.  I didn't include a sentiment in either version of these cards.  To be honest, I haven't decided who I'm sending them to or for what purpose. I can add a sentiment later once I know, or I can use it just to write a note to someone.

This would be a great design to use to create a set of cards to give as a gift as well!

Well, that's it for now.  Check out the video below to see how I put it all together from start to finish.  The colours made me feel like adding some Cuban music for you to enjoy.  :)






Have a great day!

Beth

Some of What I Used...

Find me on...

My Stamping' Up!® Website
YouTube
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Saturday, March 21, 2015

Paper Smooches Challenge - Missing You!



 It's another card challenge, and this time it's Paper Smooches SPARKS.  You can find great Paper Smooches products here!

To be honest, I don't have a lot of Paper Smooches products.  In fact, I have exactly two.  Kind of sad, actually.  Having a very limited choice meant that I really had to stretch my imagination.

I tried about six different things before I came up with this design, but I'm pretty happy with it!

The 'Miss you' sentiment is the Paper Smooches part called Sentiment Sampler, and the flowers are from Hero Arts.  After searching the actual stamp for a name, I came up with nothing.  It doesn't appear to have a name.

Anyway, I stamped all the images in Versamark and heat embossed them in white.  I used  Evergreen Bough Ranger Distress Ink for the colouring, added some rhinestones from Stampin' Up! and clear Wink of Stella to highlight the petals, and some black Liquid Pearls for the 'faux brads'.




For the inside I edged my card stock in the same ink, stamped the flower in the corner, and used Mama Elephant's Happy Everything for the "sending" part.




Voila!  Done!

I think the most difficult part of this whole project was getting good photography!  This colour just doesn't photograph well.  It doesn't help that my natural sunlight in my favourite photo spot was fading either.

That's it for now!
Beth



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Friday, March 20, 2015

Quick Cards - Thinking of You Florals



Hello!

This afternoon I did a quick card.  This is something I've wanted to start adding to my blog and YouTube channel for awhile, so keep your eyes open for more Quick Cards!

I love all the techniques I use, but sometimes it's nice to just stamp.

You can get all sorts of great results with stamps and ink.  For this card I used a stamping off technique.  To do this, you ink up your stamp, then stamp it off on a piece of scrap paper, leaving a lighter, fainter image.  I either didn't stamp off, stamped off once, or twice.  Each time I got varying strengths of colour.

This card has 4 layers including the card base.  Each layer has a different border thickness which provides visual interest.  It means that your eye constantly has something different to look at, which also means it holds your attention longer.

Because the card base is black, for the inside of the card I chose to add a piece of Soft Sky card stock to mimic both the colour of ink and one of the layers.  I kept the same image, the small flower and stamped tone on tone, which gives you a bit of a watermark appearance.  Tone on tone simply means that you use the same colour for both the ink and paper.



Check out the video below to see how all of this was done.



Take care!
Beth


Card Size

Finished card: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2"

Find me on...


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Smarty Cat Sends Warm Fuzzies



 Hi again!

I came up with this card for the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge.  The inspiration is 'animals' and I knew right away that I wanted to use Smarty Cat.

When I purchased this stamp set, I did so thinking that it would be fun to use on kraft card stock with Prismacolour pencils, especially white, so the design of the card came very easily.

Once again, I thought I'd love to narrate the video while I was doing it, but before editing, it was an hour long.  Maybe I just talk too much, but I can never seem to get a short enough video without doing a bunch of editing!

Smarty Cat is another stamp from Stampingbella, and I seem to be on a Stampingbella spree lately.  It's hard not to though - they're such awesome designs!



In the video I mention that the kraft paper is cheap stuff, and it is super inexpensive (Recollections brand from Michael's).  It's great paper to colour on though.  However, it's quite flimsy so if you're looking at using it for a card base, you might want to think again.  It is a nice dark kraft though, and takes colour really well.  It was perfect for this card because it's so light it doesn't really add any weight to the card at all.

The set does come with its own sentiment, but I chose not to use it.  Instead, I used one of the sentiments from Hero Art's Everyday Sayings.  This is a great set to have on hand because it has a variety of sentiments in different fonts.

Smarty Cat does come with his own toys.  His ball of yarn, a toy mouse, and a fish skeleton were perfect to complete the inside of the card.



Up next is the video, which I hope you'll watch.  I added some cool music to it this time while I coloured instead of talking.  (Cool tune called Sanskrit which comes built into iMovie)

Enjoy the video, and I hope you'll subscribe!




See you next time!
Beth


Card Sizes

Finished card: 5" x 6-1/2"
Kraft layer: 4-3/4" x 6-1/8"
Black layer: 4-7/8" x 6-1/8"

Some of what I used...

Smarty Cat by Stampingbella
Prismacolour Pencils
White
Black
Pink
Magenta
Light Aqua
Light Umber
50% Warm Grey
30% Warm Grey
Sakura White Gelly Roll Pen (available almost anywhere)
Memento Tuxedo Black Ink
Momenta A2 Circle Embossing Folder
Ranger Craft Sheet
Fiskars SureCut Paper Trimmer
Martha Stewart Score Board
Scotch Brand ATG Tape Gun - Simon Says Stamp













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Thursday, March 19, 2015

Madison and her Margarita





Hey everyone!

One of my goals this week (should I have goals on March Break???) was to enter a few card challenges, which I'm happy to report - I've done!

I wanted to do the current Sketch Challenge at My Favourite Things, and I went back and forth on designs, stamps, paper, ideas...  It literally took most of the afternoon to decide.  But that's OK!  I'm really enjoying this week off and having time to just delve feet first into all these projects, while not having to worry about a thousand other things.

I chose one of the Uptown Girls stamps from Stampingbella.  I have a definite weakness for all things Stampingbella...  So for this one it's Madison has a Margarita.

( I'd like a Margarita...)

Madison screams out for bright lively colours, so she's dressed in Copics and Peacock Feathers Distress Ink.  I used Simon Says Stamp's Falling Snow stencil (sideways) to add the dots with Peacock Feathers, and then used the same ink to blend her "aura".


I made a mask with a post-it note - I stamped the image and then just cut out one side so I didn't get dots on her lovely self.  This is a really quick way to make a mask, and it can be re-used over and over again.  For this application, the mask didn't have to be cut out very carefully, so it only took about a minute to get ready.  I should have taken a picture of this, but I didn't think of it at the time.


To give her a little bling I added clear Wink of Stella to her dress, her drinks, hair and in a very line shadow around the image.  Luckily, my camera was able to pick up a bit of the shimmer!



 One of the things I love about Stampingbella's images, besides the fact that they're just so adorably cool, is that they're really fun to colour!

I took a little creative liberty with the sketch, but creative liberty is always ok in my books.

I didn't make a video of this card, but I'll probably re-create it and shoot it then.

Here's a question for you guys...

Do you have a favourite Stampingbella line or a favourite stamp?  I just can't decide!

See you next time!
Beth


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Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Ride On, Dolores. Ride on.




Hey everyone!

A couple of weeks ago I was on a website that I really like, and saw that she's having her very first challenge using stencils.   You should really check out her site - Live Love Cards - she's got some very cool stuff on there!   She also has this blog and this YouTube channel with all sorts of things from product comparisons, technique tutorials, and reviews.

And no, she's not paying me for the plug.  :)

Anyway.  My imagination started working, and since then I've been planning.

Here in Canada, there is a huge shortage of craft stores catering to the stamping / scrapbooking / card making population, so I'm always on the lookout for stores on this side of the border that are within driving distance.  I found one and took a drive yesterday.

One Crazy Stamper is in Bolton, Ontario, and they carry a ton of different things - from Copics, to stamps, stencils, inks, and patterned paper.  It's just north of Toronto (about an hour's drive from where I live), and you can also order online from them.  While I was there, they were filling an order from Australia!  Well worth the visit if you get a chance.  Their website has some great stuff on it as well.

Nope - they're not paying me either.  This must be the day for plugs!

So as I was browsing around the store, I saw a stamp set that I had been eyeing online.  It's the perfect stamp for me - SENIOR-ita Dolores is blazing a trail on her very cute little scooter.  Since I have a little 120cc bike myself, I was kind of partial to Dolores.  I imagine that I'll look just like her 30 years from now!

On my way home is when the ideas really started to fly.

I coloured her using Ranger Distress Ink and a water brush, which means I actually used the ink like water colour paints.  The whole process of painting her took over an hour, as I hadn't tackled anything quite as complicated before.


Because one of my other hobbies is street/urban photography, I wanted to give little Dolores an urban feel, so a graffitied brick wall seemed like the perfect background - a pretty cool juxtaposition for sweet, little Dolores!

I wanted to continue the feel of the outside of the card onto the inside, so I used the same stencil to bring the wall onto the inside.



This is probably the most labour intensive card I've done, but I really enjoyed the whole process.  So much so, that my usual very tidy work area ended up looking like this:


And yes...  that IS a table leg on top of the table.  My video camera is perched up on top of the table and a box while I record things.  Not the most professional of set-ups, but it works!

Check out the video below to see how Dolores came to life.  I didn't tape the colouring process because it took so long, but the rest of the card, including the making of the brick wall is included.




I hope you enjoy the video and the pictures as much as I enjoyed making it!

See you soon!
Beth


Finished card size: 5" x 6-1/2"


Some of What I Used...

Find me on...

My Stamping' Up!® Website
YouTube

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Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Hey There Chickies

Hey everyone -

I'm back again with a clean and simple card, which is also a quick and simple card!

A couple of weeks ago I was doing a letter writing activity with my class (yup, I'm a teacher with a split 7/8 class), and none of them had any idea how to address an envelope or mail something!

What???

You read correctly...

In this day and age, where the Internet and email rein supreme, these little muffins have no idea how to post a letter!

So this got me thinking...

I remember being a little girl and walking to the post office with my grandmother who was from Scotland.  There was always a card or letter waiting for her from a friend or relative, and we would read it together.  I was always so excited to do this with her!

Maybe I'm showing my age here, but I really miss the wonder of getting a hand written letter or card in the mail!

So, for 2015, my promise to myself is that I will send someone something in the mail once or twice a week, and hope that I make their day.

It was all of this thinking that prompted this little card.  It's the perfect size to just send a hello to let someone know you're thinking of them.



This card starts off with Neenah Solar White 80 lb.  I wanted a frame set within the centre, so I measured 1 inch in from each side and used a paper piercer to create it, creating my scene inside the square.




All the black stamping is Memento Tuxedo Black, which is Copic safe, since that's what used for the colouring.

I carried the orange to the inside of the card as well, and used a little heart to add some interest, and to break up the stark white.



Finally, I added a fun but simple sentiment!




Check out the video below to see how it all came together.  Just a word of warning, about 5 minutes before doing the voice over, I choked on my tea, so my voice is a little raspy!





See you next time!
Beth

Card - Sizes

Finished card size: 4" x 4"
Focal layer:  3.75" x ", scored and folded at 5-1/2"
Focal Image: 3-3/4" x 3-3/4"
Tangelo Twist layer: 3-7/8" x 3-7/8"

Some of What I Used...

Find me on...

My Stamping' Up!® Website
YouTube
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Monday, March 16, 2015

A Blended Ink Thank You!

This card is going to be entered in the Lawnscaping Challenge!  If you're interested in having a look at all the great work that gets posted over there, follow the link!
________________________________________________________________________________


With spring hopefully just around the corner, I'm finding myself drawn to more earthy, warm colours.  So when I was brainstorming my next post and video, I automatically reached for browns, greens, and yellows (with a little blue thrown in for good measure).

One of the first techniques I tackled way back when, was blending distress inks.  I've always been drawn to colours and different shades, values and saturation levels of colours, and putting colours together to create a feeling or mood.

Years ago I worked as a graphic artist doing magazine advertising, and I think it was the freedom in use of colour that drew me to the profession.  Unfortunately, all the work was done on computer and I really missed the "getting my hands dirty" part.

For various reasons I left the profession and moved onto other things, but the things I learned have always stuck with me and have been really quite valuable in my later endeavours!

Ok... Enough story-telling.  Let's get back to the card.

As I said, I wanted some warm colours, and I knew I wanted to incorporate ink blending.  I love the versatility of distress ink, so I rummaged through my stuff and and idea was born.




I used four colours of Ranger Distress Ink and ink blending tools (also by Ranger).  The pattern was achieved by taking a stamp, inking it with Versamark and then loading water to the stamp.  I shook off the excess water so I didn't flood the card, and let the magic happen.  I used a paintbrush dipped in water, and flicked it over the card to create the water spots.  It's such an easy process with dramatic and always unique results.


The sentiment, a very simple "thank you", was heat embossed on a small piece of Early Espresso card stock by Stampin' Up!.  I used champagne coloured embossing powder.  It's such a gorgeous colour and complimented the colours of the card perfectly.


As always, I can't leave the inside naked, so I adhered a piece of Neenah Solar White 80 lb card stock using an ATG gun, and stamped the same flourish once in Stampin' Up! Chocolate Chip ink.  I stamped it off twice on scrap paper so that the brown of the ink was a little more muted. 



I have to say, I love the way this card turned out.  From the colours, the card stock, the distressed focal image - everything just came out exactly as I'd imagined it!

Check out the video to see it all come together:



See you next time!
Beth

Card - Sizes

Finished card size: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2"
Card Base:  4.25" x 11", scored and folded at 5-1/2"
Focal Image: 3" x 4-1/4"
Early Espresso layer: 3-1/8" x 4-5/16"
Mossy Meadow layer: 3-1/4" x 4-9/16"

Some of What I Used...

Find me on...

My Stamping' Up!® Website
YouTube
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Sunday, March 15, 2015

A Happy Card

Hi everyone!

March is half over and spring MUST be around the corner.  We've broken zero degrees celsius everyday for over a week now.  That's a good sign, right?

I have an old friend who I haven't seen in years (and by years I mean probably not since 1985!), but I've always found her inspiring.  She's been on my mind lately for some reason, and I want to send her a card just to say hi.  She's one of those friends I speak to once every few years, and usually by social media, but as we literally grew up together since our families parents were close fiends, and we attended the same high school, it always feels like no time has passed.

So the other evening, I sat staring at my stamps and all of a sudden an idea slowly began to form in my mind, and this was the result.  It went through a few changes along the way, as usual, but I'm pretty satisfied with how it turned out!  The sentiment is especially fitting for her!



The process to make this card isn't complicated, but there are a few steps to get through.  Heat embossing and ink blending are the most difficult techniques, so if you've got those down, you're good to go.

I usually reserve ink blending for Distress Inks, but this time I used Stampin' Up! inks, and they worked like a charm.  The colour moved nicely and easily, and the two colours blended very nicely.  I'll use this ink for blending again, for sure!  I'm not sure how they will respond to being distressed (for example, with water) but perhaps a little experimentation with different things is in order.

NB:  I know.....  I could just look it up on the internet or YouTube - but let's face it.  Experimenting is more fun!

Here's the video that shows how the card came to like.  Hope you enjoy!



See you next time!
Beth

Card Sizes

Finished card size: 4.25" x 5.5"
Card Base:  4.25" x 11", scored and folded at 5.5"
Inside Card stock: 3-3/4" x 5"

Some of What I Used...

Find me on...

My Stamping' Up!® Website
YouTube
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Saturday, March 7, 2015

A Bowl of Cherries and More Gamsol

Happy Saturday everyone!

Another busy work week is over, and I've finally found a few minutes to get some things done.    One item on my ever-growing list of to-dos was a second Gamsol video using the Giggle Greetings stamp set from Stamping' Up! to highlight both the ease and effectiveness of using something other than markers for colouring - Prismacolor pencils and Gamsol as a blender.




Now don't get me wrong!  I love my Copics, and after trying the newer Blendabilities from Stamping' Up!, I'm loving those too.  But seriously - if you used one medium over and over it would get a little monotonous!

The thing that I love about using the Prismacolor pencils is how easy they are to manipulate.  I've said in both of my Gamsol videos that that you don't need to be an artist on any level to get great results, and that's the truth!  Blending is a breeze!








So here's the second video in this 2-part video.  I show the making of the second card, and then the four in the set as a finished package.  I did change one thing after making the first card.  I decided that I didn't want to use a patterned paper as a layer.  After looking a few times I felt that it was a little busy and I really preferred the image to stand out more.

I'll also include a link to the first video below.

Either way turned out adorably though.  If you don't have this set you SHOULD!  It's got a more "adult" feel and humor.

I hope you enjoy!

Beth






Card Sizes

Finished card size: 4" x 4"
Card Base:  4" x 8", scored and folded at 4"
Coloured Card stock: 3-3/4" x 3-3/4"
Image: Trim to make you happy

Some of What I Used...

Find me on...

My Stamping' Up!® Website
YouTube

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