Early Bird Special at DigiStamp Boutique

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Looking for InStyle Stamps blog hop?  Christmas in July

Happy Saturday!

Don't you just love specials? And when they come early it's even better. Sally-Ann is getting into August with the Offer of the Month now and...

* 10% discount on all digi stamps until 6th Aug 2010 *

 Those winter birds are absolutely adorable! There are two offers this month. One for your holiday crafting and one for the heat of the summer. Go see the rest of them and make a wishlist. Remember that they are also an additional 10% off!

I'll be back with some crafty goodness with these little sweet songs!

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InStyle Christmas In July Blog Hop

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It's Christmas in July for the InStyle Stamps Blog Hop today.

We've just started the hop and you've come over to visit here from Genevieve's blog. She is such a talented lady! If your a Follower or just stopping by, please join us for a fun HOPping time. Just go to the InStyle Stamps Blog to start at the beginning. Remember to comment all along the way, because we can always use some comment love. Once you've gone all the way through the hop, GO VOTE for your favorite project and then leave one last comment on the blog so you can have a chance TO WIN four (4) digital downloads from InStyle Stamps.

My project today is a nifty little tag ornament. I love to be practical and sometimes I can hit on the neatest little project. I'm using one of my new favorite Chloe images, Snowman Chloe. She's colored with Prismacolor markers and pencils. The pencils I blended with my Prismacolor Colorless Blender marker.

I used my Nestabilities Label 1 dies paired with the Classic Squares to cut out three chipboard pieces. I made a sandwich of pattern paper, chipboard, clear acetate (just cut to fit over the frame hole), chipboard with the frame hole diecut one step larger than the first and third chipboard and then the top of the frame hole is cut away to make the channel for the tag/photo sleeve, chipboard and pattern paper. I used archival glue to adhere it all together with the exception of the acetate where I used red line tape. Clear as mud, right? I ran my Tuscan Red Marker around the outer edge for a more finished look and even let the color bleed to show up on the front edge.

I cut a strip of coordinating cardstock a scant 3-inches and outlined the curve from the Label 1 die for the tag/photo sleeve. I pulled out some Waltzingmouse stamps that are Nestie friendly to heat emboss some silver to the top of the sleeve and then hole punched to add some Martha Stewart silver ribbon and Stampin Up cording. On a white piece of cardstock diecut with a label 1 die I positioned a Stampin Up tag stamp with my Stamp a Majig (doesn't anyone use those anymore, LOL), then tacked it on with some adhesive tape in the center. When I'm ready to use it I'll add the names and slide it on to a package or my Christmas fabric gift bags.

The lucky recipient can take out the sleeve and put a photo on it, replacing the tag label, and then hang it on their tree for years to come.

I think I'm going to make a few of these every month so I'll have them ready for the holidays. Yeah right, I've got the time, lol.

Thanks for coming to my spot on the hop! Your next hop is to the wonderful and talented designer,

Robin.

I hope everyone had a chance to see all the release week projects. If you have some teensy bit of time go to InStyle Stamps blog and search for New Releases or try this link (The posts are in reverse order, so Friday July 16 will be at the top and the next post is July 15 and so on.).

Details:
Size: Chloe image about 2 inches tall, Ornament about 7 inches tall
Stamps: InStyle Stamps Snowman Chloe, WMS Very Vintage Labels 1, Stampin Up! Tags and More 
Paper: Making Memories Tinsel 8 x 8 paper pack
Ink: LaserJet, Versamark, SU! Brocade Blue, Prismacolor Markers and Pencils
Accessories: Offray Red Satin Ribbon, Martha Stewart Silver Ribbon, Stampin Up! Silver Cording, Zing Silver Embossing Powder, Nestabilities Label 1 and Classic Square dies, dimensional foam dots, archival PVA glue, I {heart} papers  I {stick} paper tape

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A Day in the Life of Black and White

I have a quick share for you today. I made a CAS card for one of the Dare to Get Dirty Challenges on SplitcoastStampers and aside from never getting a decent photograph of the card AND the sentiment at the bottom, I had overcome a fear while creating this card.

I fear grayscale coloring so this card was my personal challenge for the month. I did give myself an exception to use color on anything organic, but I must have been enjoying the grayscale because I left out the tree and wreath in the window, and I'm sure that the bags and clothing would be consider organic. I did catch myself saying that I enjoyed coloring in grayscale, so I must have conquered the fear this time around.

Detail of Mother

Detail of Daughter

Have a great Wednesday, and thanks for stopping by.

Janelle

Details:

Card Size: 4 1/2 x 6 1/4 inches

Stamps: A Day in the Life "Mother and Daughter" (computer generated sentiment Shishoni Brush TF)

Paper: Neenah Classic Crest White

Ink: Color LaserJet, Prismacolor Cool Grey Markers

Accessories: None????

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To You... Ornamental Girl

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I am so in love with InStyle Stamps Chloe images. I get excited every month to see the new images, but until next month comes along I'll just keep using these adorable christmas images.
My card today is with Ornamental Chloe. The last creation with her was a soft blue and dainty image so this time I wanted to go bold!

Did you see the tutorial from Angela last week for InStyle Stamps Method Monday? She absolutely is the best I've seen at coloring. She made an awesome tutorial on hair and skin and if you haven't seen it, you need to hop on over there and check it out.  I was so inspired by Angela that I had to try it out on Chloe even if I don't have Copics. You know how I love my Prismacolors.

I have been meaning to try and use this pack of pre-printed acetate since almost the beginning of the year. I decided if I could cut out the ornament area and place it behind the image that it might have the effect of a clear glass ornament. I traced the cut out area on another piece of white cardstock and used some markers to add shading and then did some sponging on the back of the acetate to make it look antiqued. I was a bit too quick gluing it altogether so the sponging was absorbed into the white backing, but it still looks okay. No photos will show that the glass ornament effect was achieved. In real life it looks pretty neat!

I went ahead and created that faux ribbon style of pleated paper for this card. I used my two prismacolors  to make it look like that silk ribbon and then pulled out ye ole Fiskar Corkscrew scissors to cut it out, then pleated and went over the corkscrew edge again with the darker marker. I had lots of fun and used my new sewing machine for the stitching taking three passes to create the triple sewn ribbon. Okay, I was having fun using my sewing machine and got carried away. LOL

Have a great day and as always, thank you so much for stopping by.

Details:
Card Size: 5 1/2 inches square
Stamps: InStyle Stamps Ornamental Chloe, Verve Oh Christmas Tree
Paper:  Wausau Royal Fiber Chocolate and Kraft, Neenah Classic Crest White, Making Memories Bird Acetate Flower Patch, LSS Mustard
Ink: LaserJet, Prismacolor Markers*, Ranger Tea Dye Ink
Accessories: Sewing Machine, Glue gun (homemade dew drops), Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Sissix (c) Dena Designs Frame w/Flower & Vine Bigz die, Quickutz Tags Thin Die

Prismacolor Marker Details: Chloe Hair - Blondwood, Mocha Dark, Sepia, Cocoa Bean; Skin - Eggshell, Brick Beige, Clay Rose; Bow/Scarf/Ruffles/Shoes - True Green, Parrot Green; Dress - Pale Vermillion, Tuscan Red; Ornament shading - Cold Stone, Colorless Blender; Edges - Parchment

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Just Me, Tallulah here

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Super Tuesday everyone! My Monday was a bit of a flop, but I think that I'll have a better day today. I just put this card together with my own sketch idea and again, I left no room for a sentiment. LOL

I colored Tallulah with Prismacolor markers in Violet Mist and Imperial Violet for her dress and hair bows. I added some Cream and Yellow Ochre to her hair with a shade color of Goldenrod and then on the flower of her dress. Her skin is Eggshell and Brick Beige and I did a simple dab of Cool Grey 70% for her shoes.What a pretty little gal!

I wanted to use some of my birthday presents on this card, but I kept adding and taking things off because it just seemed too much. I did keep the tissue paper flowers cut our with the Tattered Flowers Bigz Die by Tim Holtz. Each one is about 9 layers stack on top of each other then I used an eraser and some wet fingers to crinkle and spread the petals a bit, of course after I pinned the alyers together with a brad. The paper is from Pocket Full of Posies and then some scraps of Stampin Up Neutrals and Old Olive.

Hope you have a fantastic Tuesday!

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Happy Birthday Nenane!

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Today is a Special Day! My friend and the owner of InStyle Stamps is celebrating another funfilled year! So the Design Team decided to put on a little Birthday Blog Hop just to help her celebrate! Each of us has a letter in a TAG banner that would read "Happy Birthday Nenane!" If you are just stopping in and want to start at the beginning of the banner, go to the letter H. Now if you are hopping along you'll know that you just came from the letter E and the only thing left is punctuation !!!!!!! So my tag has an exclamation point somewhere. Can you see it?

That punctuation just happens to be on a tag too! It's part of a free digital image that we are giving away to one lucky commenter on each hop on the blog hop. Now isn't that a way to celebrate!

My tag has Marissa and the Heart Balloons from InStyle Stamps. Marissa might be my favorite anime, but I'm not going to think long about it. LOL

A special Day Trip for your birthday, Nenane!
Now if Virginia were to be in my hometown on her birthday, I would pump up the bike tires and head on down to downtown Boise for the Twilight Criterium! I think she would get a kick out of all those fast cyclists whirling their wheels round the corner. In fact, I wish she was going to be here because that's exactly where I would take her for real. Of course we would go out for a bite to eat first  and do some shopping in the BoDo District. Yeah, nope. There isn't a craft store there...Virginia has a keen sense about where those are and probably stopped off at them before coming to my house. LOL

Since this is a Birthday Blog Hop, we can't leave you without a chance at a party prize! So here are the rules.


1. Start at the beginning of the blog hop with the letter H.
2. Comment on each Design Team's blog because they need a little love and increase your chances at the party prize.
3. Go to PaperYumness and wish Virginia a Happy Birthday.

The deadline to win a digital image is Sunday, July 18th at 8:00pm Pacific Time.

That's all you need to do! The prize???? Not one, but two! You might win either one by commenting on a blog. Good luck and hope you have fun all along the way! Here's a banner sneak peek (the whole banner spells out Happy Birthday!):

Your next hop is the most important one!!!!! Please go to Virginia's blog and give her a little Birthday comment. One lucky winner there will win the whole prize package!

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It's Release Day!

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There has been a gorgeous amount of inspiration this week at the InStyle Stamps Blog. There are just a couple of posts left, but that doesn't mean the fun and excitement is over. We'll be talking it up at the InStyle Stamps Group on Paper Craft Planet this evening from 7:00 pm ET - 12:00 pm ET. If you have time come on by and say hi?

The Design Team will be there answering questions, chatting and I hear there might be a quiz and oh I'm sure a prize. You'll have to come see us to find out! LOL

Here are some of the cards I made this week with the christmas images.

Milk and Cookies

By the Fire

Ornamental Chloe

Mother and Daughter

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Halloween Inspiration

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Good afternoon everyone!

InStyle Stamps has done away with Over the Hump Day Blog Candy Giveaway! Just the name though! It is now called InStyle InSpiration Challenge. So our inspiration today is Halloween and I've got a set of invites made up to get the ideas started for that holiday party you've got coming up.

I used the Country Bumpkin image from InStyle Stamps and resized him to fit in an A2 size envelope. I colored with Prismacolor Markers and then added some Martha Stewart Glitter to the shadows of the pumpkin. When I printed them out I had two on a sheet and that allowed me to use a ruler and embossing tool to create my score line. I cut them out while folded so that I could get the same shape in the back side of the invitation. A small amount of green organza ribbon it this pumpkin is ready to go out in the mail!

The design team has some amazing inspiration at the store blog today, so hop on over and get your inspired designs.

All the images we have been using for the InSpiration Challenge are also a part of InStyle Stamp's release week. More images will be shown on Thursday and Friday at the store blog and then Friday evening we are kicking it up with an InStyle Stamps Release Party in our group on Paper Craft Planet. Come and join us, we are going to have a blast!

Details:
Card Size: 3 x 5 inches
Stamps: Country Bumpkin
Paper: Neenah Classic Crest
Ink: LaserJet, Prismacolor Markers*
Accessories: Organza ribbon, Martha Stewart Glitter and 2-Way glue pen

Prismacolor Marker Details: Orange, Pumpkin Orange, Terra Cotta, Yellow Orange, Goldenrod, Chartreuse, Leaf Green, Cinnamon Toast, Light Tan, Eggplant.

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InStyle Stamps Release Week - ALL WEEK long

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Hello everyone!

Today is the start of an awesome week of new stamps at InStyle Stamps. Oodles of projects are being showcased every two hours at InStyle Stamps blog. If you missed the live posting just scroll back a few posts and see them. New stamps will be shown on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday! On Friday you can grab all the new images at the InStyle Stamps store!

My two projects today are already posted at the store blog, but what you haven't seen is all the other projects the Design Team has created. SO MUCH INSPIRATION!

Okay here are my two cards.

The first card is with Country Bumpkin. What a shapely fellow! LOL I love that all the lines for shading are already included in this image so there's not much coloring to do. I deleted the white background  around the image and saved it as a PNG so I could layer Country Bumpkin to make it look like a patch. No cutting out for me!  I drew some lines to give them a base to sit on and just colored some ghostly strips of blue behind them for a night time patch. The paper is all from my local paper store, remember it's not a craft store it is reams and reams of gorgeous wonderful paper, LOL, yes I love paper. Wausau Royal Fiber Chocolate, Blue and Kraft cardstock. I pulled out my neglected buttons and added a RAK flower from Virginia (thanks hun!) with brown button thread. Stampin' Up's orange ricrac and jewelry tag with Tiny Tags stamp to finish off my embellishments. My card size is A6 (4 1/2 x 6 1/4 inches)

Prismacolor markers Details: Country Bumpkins - Background - Cold Stone, Muted Turquosie, Pewter, Periwinkle, Cinnamon Toast, Sand, Light Tan; Pumpkins - Yellow Orange, Orange, Terra Cotta, Light Olive Green, Tulip Yellow. 

Mr. Scareycrow is another one of my favorites. I tried to make his clothes look sun-bleached and I think it came out pretty well. I was a bit lazy in figuring out embellishments for him, which Virginia did real straw on her project, so I just drew some wavy lines to mimic a picked over cornfield. I printed out a clever little sentiment and hand drew the callout around it (don't know why I didn't just use that tool in MS Word). It's up to you to figure the multiple meanings this saying could be, which makes this card perfect for Any Occasion. My paper is Neenah Classic Crest White, light tan scrap, Basic Black and Wausau Royal Fiber Kraft. The card is A6 size (4 1/2 x 6 1/4-inches)

Prismacolor Markers used for Mr. Scareycrow; Hat - Cinnamon Toast, Sienna Brown, Cold Stone, Periwinkle; Face - Blondwood, Khaki, Violet Mist, Parma Violet, Spring Green, Emerald; Shirt - Deco Peach, Poppy Red, Carmine Red; Straw - Yellow Orange, Goldenrod; Belt - Cinnamon Toast, Sienna Brown; Jeans - Cold Stone, Periwinkle, Mint Cream, Spring Green, Emerald, Violet Mist, Parma Violet; Boots - Cinnamon Toast, Sand, Lt Tan, Crimson Red, Cool Grey 50%; Cornfield background - Lt Olive Green, Brittany Blue, Sky Blue Light; Cornfield and Dirt - True Green, Leaf Green, Emerald, Dark Green, Cinnamon Toast, Sand, Lt Tan.

For release week I'll be including all the details inside my post. If you like that better than a list, let me know, I might change to that format all the time.

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InStyle Stamps Winter-y Color Challenge

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Happy Second Saturday of the month!

We are at our new challenge turn around using a winter-y bit of gorgeousness with our inspiration coming from retro paper.

It's a swatch from Olive Paper called Polar Holiday: Retro Snowflakes Blossom Wrapping Paper. It is delicious isn't it?

I just had to use Snowman Chloe with this delightful color palette. She is so fun to color and a simple cute and bold image you are going to want to have in your shopping cart on July 16, 2010.

InStyle Stamps Color Challenges are always fun and have incentive too! It's possible to win some digital images of your choice, so it's just more reason to try out these colors on your next project. Submit to the InStyle Stamps blog. The winner of this challenge will get to choose some digital images from the store. If you use InStyle Stamps images on your project you'll get 4 images of your choice. Don't worry if you don't have any InStyle Stamps, STILL enter, because you could win 2 images of your choice.

Can I tell you a little secret? I am just about to burst with excitement over next week's who-rah (is that a word?) at InStyle Stamps blog. It's Release Week and something you do not want to miss! See you at the store blog on Monday!

Thanks for stopping in today!

Details:
Card Size: 5 1/2 inches square
Stamps: ISS Snowman Chloe, Verve Christmas in the Air
Paper: Neenah Crest White CS, WRF Olive, white paper from Making Memories Black and White Paper Pack
Ink: LaserJet, Prismacolor Markers, SU! Basic Black
Accessories: SU! Scalloped Edge Punch, Crimper, Curry Polka-Dot Ribbon, SU! Pastel Chalks

Prismacolor Marker Details: Background - Sky Blue Light, Hair - Deco Yellow, Yellow Ochre, Skin - Pale Peach, Brick Beige, Deco Pink (cheek); Hat and pants - Limepeel, Lime Green; Sweater - Deco Pink, Clay Rose; Hat Trim, Mitten, Boots - Brick White and Colorless Blender; Snowman Body - Cold Stone and Colorless Blender; Snowman Nose - Yellow Orange, Mineral Orange, Terra Cotta

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Treat Yourself with...

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I had a fun time trying to title this post for today. Treat Yourself with Ice Cream, Treat Yourself with Playful Fun, or how about Treat Yourself with Time for Memories

Well, I think I'll have you pick your own treat yourself. Whether you're still planning a vacation or already had one and want to scrapbook about it. Just treat yourself, whatever it might be.

I'm so tickled to still be playing with the images that Sally-Ann designs. I wish I could only make cards as fast as she can draw images. She is amazing! The card I have to show today is with Lilly and Ice Cream. It's an image from last month that I had colored and awaiting inspiration. I adore this little Lilly who gets to play at the shore. I hope I'll get to do the same some time soon.

Thanks for blogging by!

Challenges that I'm joining in on;
Pile it On #26 My Favorite Things Prismacolor Markers, Layers, and my own layout
By the Cute and Girly July Summery Challenge
Ooh La La Challenge #57 Simply Summer oops! too late
Alphabet Challenge J is for Jewels
Craftilicious Cute

Details:
Card Size: 5 1/2 inches square
Stamps: DSB Lilly and Ice Cream, Verve Celebrating You
Paper: All the paper is from my stash and scraps
Ink: LaserJet, Brilliant Blue, Prismacolor Markers
Accessories: Tag punch, May Arts ribbon, AC adhesive-back red rhinestones

Prismacolor Marker Details: Background - Blue Sky Light; Lilly Hair - Goldenrod, Mineral Orange, Pumpkin Orange, Terra Cotta; Skin - Pale Peach, Brick Beige; Bow and Shirt - Deco Yellow, Yellow Ochre; Pants - Khaki, Bronze; Cone - Blondwood, Cinnamon Toast, Wheat; Pail and Shoes - Light Cerulean, Cerulean; Sand - Light Tan, Sand; Sea Star - Mineral Orange, Terra Cotta; Shell - Cloud Blue, Deco Pink, Colorless Blender; Flag - Scarlet Lake, Crimson Red

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Snow Wonderful it Makes me Waddle

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How do you waddle? Whether you want to admit it or not for yourself, this penquin has got the bestest waddle around anyway. Waddle Francis  is available at the DigiStamp Boutique right now, just waiting for you to nab him up quick. If you're not ready now, don't worry he'll be there later on too, but right now he's part of the Offer of the Month with four (3) other cute Francis poses.

Details:
Card Size: 5 1/2 inches square
Stamps: DigiStamp Boutique Waddle Francis, Verve Snow Wonderful
Paper: Brocade Blue, DCWV Mat Stack (2008), Neenah Classic Crest White, Neutrals Grey
Ink: LaserJet, Prismacolor Markers*
Accessories: Night of Navy Grosgrain Ribbon, MFT Jumbo RicRac die and Grosgrain Textures, Opaque White Writer, SU Iridescent Ice

*Prismacolor Markers Details: Hat and Scarf - Cerulean Blue, Indigo Blue, Cool Grey 30%, Colorless Blender; Beak and feet - Yellow Orange, Mineral Orange, Terra Cotta; White fur - Parchment, Colorless Blender; Snow - Cool Grey 10%

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InStyle Stamps Sketch Challenge

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Hello all!

I've got a sketch to show off to you today, but first I need to tell you some EXCITING NEWS! InStyle Stamps has gone International with New Design Team members.

Here are these fabulous designers and their blogs:

Lena Katrine from Lena Katrine's Scrappeskreppe
Cathy Wallington from Ellieskeepers Creations

Sarah Bonsell from Card Oasis

We are so glad to have them as a part of our Design Team.

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Today is the sketch for InStyle Stamps AND we are going to the fall and winter with holiday images. The WHOLE month long, yippee!

Here's a FABULOUS sketch from our talented Taylor Usry.

Come and join us with this sketch, it goes for a whole month and you can use it many times! That half circle is just perfect for a huge snowflake, don't ya think????? I must not forget to tell you their are prizes! If you use an InStyle Stamps Image you have a chance at 4 free digital images, if you don't have any InStyle Stamps you can still play along, the prize changes to two free digital images, that's all. The challenge is going on over at the InStyle Stamps blog, so head on over there and take a peek at the details and you will not believe the awesome projects the other Design Team as done with this sketch.

Here is my take on this fabby sketch. I'm using Witchy Chloe (that will be available on the 15th of July at the online store. Here's a linky that you can take to check out all the Chloe's until this cutey is there.)

I tucked away a white panel on the inside of the card, just the right size that you can't see it from the front until it's opened up. I'll give you a little peek to the inside of the card.

Details:
Card Size: 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches
Stamps: Witchy Chloe
Paper: Basic Black, Neenah Classic Crest White, LSS green, SU Pretty in Pink
Ink: Laserjet, Inkjet (sentiment on index card), Prismacolor markers*
Accessories: Coluzzle Circle template, SU File Folder Punch, Sissix Floral Flourishes EF

*Prismacolor Marker Details Chloe Hair - Cinnamon Toast, Dark Brown; Skin - Eggshell, Brick Beige, Cinnamon Toast; Hat and Shoes - Warm Grey 50%, 70%, 90%; Hat Band, Shirt and Pant Trim - Pink and Diluted onto Colorless Blender; Pants - Cerulean Blue, Periwinkle, Indigo Blue; Pumpkin - Yellow Orange, Mineral Orange, Pumpkin Orange.

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New Month Same Fabulous DigiStamp Boutique Offer

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Happy July!

It's a new month and a wonderful new opportunity to get an Offer of the Month at DigiStamps Boutique.

Are you a Christmas in July person? Well Sally-Ann has two offers this month with you in mind! How cool is that!

Here are the two cuties...meet Francis the Penquin

and sweet Tallulah.

They....are....crazy cute!

I'll be back in a day or two with some eye candy with these images. Until then browse on over to the design team and see their exceptional creations.

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