Saturday, April 13, 2013

Floral Fantasies with Kathy Racoosin!


Hi Bloggers! Happy Saturday to you! I'm always tickled to have special guest artist (and pal) Kathy Racoosin as a guest on our blog! She is not only a phenomenal artist and color-er EXTRAORDINAIRE,  but a sweetheart who is a lot of fun!

Without further ado, Here are 2 beauties that will surely have you grabbing for Copics or your favorite markers! Kathy gives a few pointers on how she made these great cards below:

Shop the supplies:



I love Hero Arts inks not just because the colors are beautiful and crisp but, they last forever. My inks have lasted years without re-inking. 
  • Start out with your darkest color in this case BG49
  • Take a light color to color on top of the dark color to blend and soften the darker color. 
  • Now you want to add a bit more of the darker color again on the base of the stems and leaves. 
  • I wanted to make this bloom look more like some pods for a darker contrast on my card. Use any light and dark browns. I also used a brown to color the stems on the flowers. 
  • Color the flowers with any pink. I selected R83
  • Feather in a darker pink and use "0" (colorless blender) to blend the colors on the petals. (There are many ways to blend and this is one of them. I don't always use this technique) 
  • Add some white gel pen dots to the open part of the blooms on the flowers. Cut around the black and use some pop dots on some of the blooms to layer on your card. Stamp on the vellum with Ranger Jet Black Ink. Be sure to let the ink dry. Score the vellum wrapping the vellum around the back of the card. Tape onto the back. 
The second card was colored the same way. I love to leave in some of the "Chain Links" after die cutting. Carefully lift off of your cutting plates and let some fall out. tape the rest on the back.
Shop the supplies:



Thanks for reading today and thanks so much to Kathy for these fabulous inspirations!








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216 comments:

  1. Thanks for the tips on colouring. An amazing colour combo.

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  2. The coloring on these are stunning!

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  3. Beautiful cards! Love the backgrounds and the coloring :)

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  4. Wonderful flowers and great cards. Thank you for sharing!
    xxx Marianne

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  5. Beautiful coloring and such pretty cards!

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  6. I've been following you since I first learned about Simon Says Stamp and Kathy Racoosin's is one of my favorites. I love the sentiment on vellum -- now I know what to do with all those little scraps I couldn't throw away and then forgot I had!

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  7. Beautiful cards, love the colours :)

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  8. I love Kathy's work and her Daily Marker blog. She is so talented and these cards are a great example.... Superb colouring!

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  9. AMAZING - Always love to your techniques Kathy! Thanks for sharing :)

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  10. Those flowers are amazing colored it seem like real.

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  11. Wow, beautiful, those Hero art are bright and wonderful.

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  12. Beautiful flowers! Such gorgeous color on these pretty cards.

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  13. wow Kathy is amazing.. she knows her color because her images always pop off the card.. I LOVE IT...thanks for the inspiration..

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  14. Absolutely gorgeous cards here from Kathy again. I LOVE the colors, she´s used here, just sooo beautiful.

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  15. Beautiful cards from Kathy her coloring is always so gorgeous ..Just love it !!!

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  16. Love your cards! Love the flowers after this long cold and grey wintertime!

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  17. Like mаnу people, I liκe to get a prepаred carry out pizza oсcasionallу.
    Nеѵer try to rеmοve a pizzа
    stone from thе oven until it is completely cooleԁ.
    That is, until I thought about making a pizza uѕing my cast iron skillet.


    Feеl free to surf to my weblog pizza stone and peel set 14x16

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  18. Absolutely gorgeous colors and coloring!

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  19. Beautiful and stunning! Love all the detail! Awesome job coloring!

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  20. my goodness, the coloring is fabulous on these! love the idea of leaving some of the pieces in the die cut piece, too. :)

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  21. Two gorgeous cards and some great ideas.

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  22. These background stamps are wonderful! I have very few background stamps(only two, to be exact) so these would be a wonderful addition, and these cards are so lovely they have given me the determination to obtain these stamps, one way or another! lOL

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  23. Two beautiful cards. Love how you left some of the scraps in the die cut!

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  24. Beautiful cards, love the colours!! xx

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  25. Beautiful cards.

    craftymom205 at yahoo dot com

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  26. Such beautiful floral cards. Iris

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  27. Gorgeous cards, Kathy is an amazing coloring artist. Love the tips on how bold, vibrant and real flowers can look!!

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  28. I´m a fan of Kathy and these cards show exactly why! Greetings, Gerrina

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  29. Such beautiful cards and amazing colouring Kathy!

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  30. Wow, these are beautiful. Love the bright colored flowers that just pop off the page. Gorgeous shading.

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  31. Great idea keeping some "hanging chads". Love it!

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  32. I am blown away by these uber-vivid colors!!! Amazing!

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  33. These cards are so amazing. The coloring is beautiful. I hope to jump on the Copics bandwagon someday.

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  34. Love the effect your coloring has!
    Really like the same stamp used for the background
    Vellum is pretty; I really need to get some to try it out

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  35. Your cards are beautiful. I love the peony one, that
    colored flower is gorgeous.

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  36. Gorgeous cards! What amazing colouring jobs. :)

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  37. Great cards! Thanks for the coloring tips. ;-)

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  38. Love these stamps and Kathy is so gifted in her coloring.
    Sheer delight.
    Becky Johnson

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  39. Lovely cards. So bright! And thanks for the tips and the chance to win.

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  40. I love Kathy's coloring technique. She's super.Thanks

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  41. Kathy's colouring technique is superb! Both cards so gorgeous, thanks for sharing!

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  42. Love the beautiful, vibrant coloring on the flowers. The stamps are gorgeous... would love to win them!

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  43. The coloring technique is something I can use in lots of settings. Thanks Kathy.

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  44. Beautiful cards! The Penny Black Peacock Feather is stunning. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  45. just found your site for the first time. Looks like I will be hooked on it for a few hours!

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  46. Her copic coloring is marvelous. :)

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  47. Pretty floral cards, love the bold colors. :) hugs, Kimberly

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  48. Beautiful floral cards, her coloring is awesome. TFS

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  49. Thanks for the inspiration Kathy! Your cards are so lovely with those pretty images. I especially love how you did that wonderful sentiment on vellum on the first card, but they're both such pretty cards!

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  50. These are works of art! Love those vibrant colors.

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  51. Such pretty cards. I love the penny background stamp and your copic coloring brings the flowers to life.

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  52. Fabulous inspiration Kathy - I always love your cards

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  53. Love the way you left some of the bits in the chain link. Great effect

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  54. Love the cards! I think your coloring is terrific!

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  55. Wow, those flowers are amazing and look like so much fun to color! Hugs, Hanneke

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  56. The floral card is just gorgeous! Great colouring and love this card!

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  57. Ohhhh these are gorgeous! Beautifully coloured :)

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  58. Beautiful cards Kathy, your colouring is amazing :)

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  59. Love the mason jar card, very clever using the background stamp and acetate and flower using the background stamp again.

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  60. Kathy is the queen of coloring! said it before and I'll say it again--amazing!

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  61. Gorgeous cards. Thanks for the reminder to wrap the vellum around the back of the card.

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  62. I think the first card is the most beautiful card I've ever seen.

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  63. kathy's coloring is always amazing!

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  64. Amazing cards, love the colouring!!!

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  65. wow! Stunning as usual! I just love her work!

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  66. Beautiful flowers! I love the coloring, TFS!

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  67. The cards are gorgeous, as are all of Kathy's work.

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  68. They look real! I'm always blown away by Kathy's talent and work. I'm so glad she's willing to share it.

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  69. Just stunning. I love how the flowers just seem pop off the cards, they are just so vividly coloured!

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  70. The phrase is lovely and I really like the chain link die on the second card

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  71. Both of these are gorgeous! The colors and Kathy's coloring abilities are amazing!

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  72. Beautiful cards....Kathy is very talented at coloring!!

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  73. Kathy is so talented and I just love all Penny Black stamps.

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  74. Kathy these are both gorgeous!!! Love your coloring, especially the teal leaves!!!

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  75. Both of these cards are fabulous! I was so excited to see your work on this blog tonight!! Your coloring is extraordinary, and I love how you tucked part of the flower vine behind the vellum while the other part is on top of the vellum. Really great. Thanks for sharing.

    Katie B.

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  76. These two cards are stunning! The coloring is so perfect... I love it!

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  77. Love Kathy's work, always beautiful and amazing coloring.

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  78. Beautiful cards. Love the colors of them both.

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  79. I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you make this
    website yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you?
    Plz respond as I'm looking to create my own blog and would like to know where u got this from. thanks

    My blog ... cheap desks

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  80. Beautiful floral cards! The colors are so pretty!

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  81. I just love those giant flowers!

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  82. Such beautiful cards, just love them!

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  83. Great cards and wonderful ideas for the use of bkgd stamps. It's always fun to learn new things and I thank you for sharing with us. Great job!

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  84. Kathy your cards are gorgeous as usual. love the bright colors....

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  85. Such incredible colouring from Kathy Stunningly beautiful

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  86. Beautiful cards, i love them both.xxxSara

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  87. Both of these cards are beautiful, thank you for sharing Kathy.

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  88. gorgeous cards!! love all the colours too ♥

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  89. Absolutely gorgeous cards, the colours are beautiful. x

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  90. Utterly gorgeous! I want to see these made on video!!! ~God bless~

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  91. Kathy has such a talent with copics it's amazing. Love to see her creations and appreciation the "how to" (not sure I can duplicate, but will sure try).

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  92. I love Kathy's work - she is amazing, just like these amazing pieces of art!
    Sandra ltb

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  93. Kathy's work is a feast for the eyes! Her use of color and her Copics is beyond amazing!! Her tutorials are so detailed and complete!! Loved seeing these cards with new PB stamps!

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  94. Joan-Anne WeatherbeeApril 14, 2013 at 8:02 AM

    These cards are stunningly beautiful. Kathy is the greatest colourer! TFS!

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  95. These cards are beautiful! I can only dream about coloring that good. Love the sentiment stamp.

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  96. Love both of these cards! The colors and stamps are gorgeous!

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  97. Love these cards and how the flowers seem to just pop off the backgrounds. Great coloring and color combos. Thanks for sharing !

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  98. lovely showcasing of the stamp, the color combinations are wonderful

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  99. These are absolutely gorgeous!! Thanks for sharing! :-) xx

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  100. Goodness. Be still my heart. This is absolutely fabulous. Thanks so much for sharing.

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  101. Love the cards ... just gorgeous!! Thanks so much for sharing them! Have a great day!

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  102. Kathy cards are just wonderful! I always get my hearts captured by her stunning cards!

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  103. Both cards are gorgeous...Kathy's can colour so brilliantly!
    xxx Margreet

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  104. Great job on the coloring.

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  105. Wow, I just love how the bright colors pop on these cards! Gorgeous!!

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  106. These cards are lovely and the coloring is fantastic. Thanks for the chance to win.

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  107. Kathy I love what you did with the gorgeous yellow background and flowers! As always, a beautiful card!

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  108. Thanks so much for the coloring tips on these lovely cards.

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  109. Beautiful cards! I love how you used the background stamps.

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  110. Beautiful cards, gorgeous coloring

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  111. Absolutely awesome!! Love the colors and the designs. Kathy is so creative! Love her work!

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  112. Absolutely awesome!! Love the colors and the designs. Kathy is so creative! Love her work!

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  113. What stunning cards. I love the vellum on the bright pattern.

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  114. Beautiful colour and cards! I am just getting into using background stamps and love the effect.

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  115. Kathy, you always make the most beautiful cards! These are proof!!!

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  116. Absolutely stunning - I love the colors and the shading - I learn so much from you - thank you so much!

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  117. Absolutely stunning - I love the colors and the shading - I learn so much from you - thank you so much!

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  118. Beautiful! You always inspire me!

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  119. Just beautiful! Love the way ou used the background stamp! Such different looks too. Very versatile too!

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  120. Lovely cards. The colors are great, wonderful inspiration.

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  121. These are GORGEOUS cards!!! I love the colors you used and how you used the background stamps!!

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  122. Such fabulous cards, such fabulous stamps!

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  123. These cards are absolutely beautiful! Love everything about them!

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  124. Absolutely love your colouring! Beautiful!!

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  125. Love the backgrounds and the flowers are fabulous!

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  126. Kathy is amazing! I'm so glad you shared these today! Just beautiful!

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  127. Gorgeous cards! I am in Hawaii on vacation and they remind me of the beautiful flowers over here. Aloha!

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  128. Oh my goodness!! What exquisite cards! I only hope that some day I can color have as good as you!!

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  129. I LOVE her coloring. She is an expert!!!

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  130. Such a lovely card, Kathy. I love the rich, vibrant colours you used for the floral focal point. Absolutely striking!

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  131. Wow! I love all the coloring on these cards. I may not want to give it away :)

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  132. I just love the background done in green ink, and the vellum overlay for the sentiment! Gorgeous!

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  133. LOVe these beautiful cards and especially like the vellum!! Gorgeous colors and design!

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  134. These are some of the prettiest cards I've seen so far. They would be perfect for Mother's Day! Beautiful flowers and backgrounds!

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  135. These cards are just amazing! the colour is so vibrant and the background stamps are gorgeous!

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  136. Gorgeous cards and stamps! Kathy's coloring is amazing! I love seeing her cards!

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  137. What lovely cards and beautiful workwomanship Kathy. Loving the floral background stamp, so versatile. I will have to go back and look at some of mine and see if I can use them as you have. Thanks for sharing.

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  138. I happily join. Your card is so intriguing and the Copic use is brilliant.

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  139. Kathy, your cards are gorgeous as always!

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  140. Very fresh, bright and beautiful colors (as well as your coloring!). These are simply gorgeous!!!

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  141. Clever card! Thanks for all the hard work!

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  142. Hi Kathy,
    I love both these cards and the stamps and colors you used. Both are just awesome and beautiful. I love everything about both cards and glad you were able to do them.
    I would love to win your giveaway.
    Thank you again,

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  143. Beautiful cards--so much inspiration. Lots of ideas.

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  144. I Love Simon Says Stamp!!! I think these cards are absolutely beautiful! The flowers are so bright and cheerful!! Thanks SSS for the awesome giveaway! "Happy Spring"

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  145. Beautiful cards...the backgrounds are wonderful.

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  146. Kathy does such fantastic work! Thank you for featuring her!

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  147. Stunning cards! Kathy never fails to amaze. Just love looking at those beautiful flowers. Her coloring is just flawless. Thanks for sharing.

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  148. Kathy is the master of coloring and her cards are always stunningly beautiful!!!

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  149. Always enjoy seeing Kathy's creations.

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  150. Beautiful cards! Your coloring is awesome!!!

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  151. Lovely cards! All the fabulous flowers just scream Spring!

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  152. Beautiful cards! Thanks for the inspiration!

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  153. Beautiful effect! These flowers are colored SO beautifully! I need to try this!!

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  154. Beautiful cards.
    marilyn2222 @ hotmail dot com
    follower

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  155. Aww, Kathy's cards are a delight! Great instruction and LOVE Penny Black's gorgeous flowers! Thanks for sharing.

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  156. Beautiful cards! Thanks for sharing :)

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  157. great cards, love the stamps and her coloring is awesome

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  158. Really like these cards. I haven't started using background stamp but like you nifty ideas.

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  159. What beautiful cards I wish I was better at coloring images.

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  160. I just love these cards!! Your work is beautiful! The flowers jump right off the page! Thank you for sharing your talent!

    Sue Brailey

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  161. Wonderful cards! I love how Kathy has used one stamp both as the background and the foreground of her first card. The partially removed die-cut pieces of the second card is also very effective.

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  162. Kathy's card art is Amazing! She is a copic genius too. I love everything she does. And yes, she is a Sweet Heart and a very generous Soul.

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  163. What a beautiful assortment of colors. So well done!

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  164. Beautifully colored flowers! Love the sentiment on the vellum. Great cards!

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  165. Such gorgeous colors and amazing coloring!

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  166. Kathy always bowls me over with her coloring talents! Beautiful!

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