TriBlend™ Markers with a Printable Chart

Close To My Heartblend, cat, chart, dog, download, free, frightful friends, Halloween, marker, mummy, owl, printable, spooktacular, vampire, witch 4 Comments

One of our favorite new products from our Core Products Catalog are the TriBlend™ markers. Inside every marker is a perfect gradation of colors, from light to dark, delivered through three separate fine bullet nibs. The alcohol-based ink is designed to blend seamlessly for mixing and layering colors. What’s not to love?

We put these trusty markers to work with our Spooktacular collection and just love the results! Take a look!

Can you spot all the different ways markers were used in this page?

Let’s start with the title.

Using all three shades of the Purple TriBlend™ Marker we triple blended on a White Daisy cardstock Cricut^® cut title. The pieces were colored first and then attached to the page.

To avoid getting ink on your hands as you apply color, we recommend you begin at the top of a piece and work your way down. Start with the top color, then add the second, slightly overlapping with the first, and then apply the third color, slightly overlapping with the second.

To achieve a more blended and seamless look, apply the layered portions of the ink while they are still wet. Let the ink sit for a few minutes after coloring to give it a chance to move and blend together. If you allow the ink to set before layering for a blend, or if you apply more ink in the layered parts, there will be visible lines between the shades of color. If this lined look is what you’re hoping to achieve, allow your ink to dry before layering.

While we’re looking at the title, did you notice the orange glitter gems?

If you’re in need of gems that match your artwork, look no further! Color the top of Silver Glitter Gems with any TriBlend™ marker to customize them to your needs.

Let’s move down the page now, to our spooky cat and dog friends.

TriBlend Markers #ctmh #closetomyheart #triblendmarkers #colorblending #ctmhspooktacular #halloween #scrapbooking #cardmaking #frightfulfriends

You can see that the vampire cat was blended, and the dog was simply outlined. Knowing how to apply even just a small amount of color can make a big difference.

Let’s take a quick look at this “happy Halloween” card.

This cute witchy owl was colored with two of the three shades of the Purple TriBlend™ Marker. His broom, made up of just a few lines, was colored with the Tan TriBlend™ Marker. All three shades of the purple marker were used to create a striped background.

Get creative as you color your art, and experiment with the different shades each of the TriBlend™ markers has to offer.

To help you do that, we’ve put together the following color reference chart:

Download and print a free blank chart, here (here for AU/NZ), and add the three shades of each available marker color to its corresponding rectangle. You’ll notice that the Black marker does not have shade options, but we’ve added it to the list in order to have all the color options available for reference in one place.

**Make your chart last longer by printing it on cardstock rather than regular printer paper, and keep it handy as you’re making color and shade choices for your artwork. **

We love creating with our new TriBlend™ markers, and hope you do, too!

Recipes:

12″ x 12″ Happy Halloween Page
CC10191 Frightful Friends Stamp + Thin Cuts, CC10192 Spooktacular Paper Packet, X9007 Mix-in Paper Packet, X6047 Black Cardstock, X5954 Pewter Cardstock, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, Z4189 Intense Black Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z4191 Silver Glitter Gems, Z2474 Ice Grey TriBlend™ Marker, Z2492 Purple TriBlend™ Marker, Z2480 Orange TriBlend™ Marker, Z2498 True Black Marker, Z3516 Black Journaling Pen (.03), Z3513 Pewter Journaling Pen (.03), Cricut^® Complete Creativity Collection, Die-cutting Machine

Cricut^® Shapes:
Complete Creativity
#MEE76591

3″ x 4″ Happy Halloween Card
CC10191 Frightful Friends Stamp + Thin Cuts, CC10192 Spooktacular Paper Packet, X9007 Mix-in Paper Packet, X5954 Pewter Cardstock, 1385 White Daisy Cardstock, Z4189 Intense Black Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z2482 Citrus TriBlend™ Marker, Z2486 Dull Green TriBlend™ Marker, Z2474 Ice Grey TriBlend™ Marker, Z2492 Purple TriBlend™ Marker, Z2477 Tan TriBlend™ Marker, Z4181 Stitched Circle Thin Cuts, Die-cutting Machine

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July 16, 2019Celebrate, Community, Create, Memory Keeping

A FREE Scrapbook Pattern for Your Convention Memories

Close To My Heartconvention, free, how-to, Make It From Your Heart, north america, pattern book, Scrapbook Pattern, Share the Joy 5 Comments

We just wrapped up our 2019 North American Convention in Provo, Utah, a few days ago and IT. WAS. A. BLAST! A BIG THANK YOU to all of you who participated and traveled from not just all across the U.S. but from all over the world (Canada, Australia, JAPAN!) to come and see us. What an invigorating opportunity it is for us to get together and feed off of each other’s energy! All of us at the Home Office were so happy to visit with you and get to know so many of you personally, too. We spent days crafting, business planning, building and strengthening relationships, and searching high and low for our sticky friends, Sticky Boy and Sticky Girl. (If you’re not familiar with the Sticky’s and their story, visit them on their Facebook page to join in on the fun!)

To get you going on scrapping all of your new stories and photos from this energizing event, we are sharing a fun, and FREE, downloadable scrapbook pattern, complete with cutting diagrams and all!

Some of you may remember this pattern from its original debut with our Aspen paper packet many years ago. As you can see, our patterns truly are timeless and can be used at any time and for any occasion with the right combination of papers, Complements, and a little ingenuity!

You’ll notice in our example artwork that we replaced pattern pieces B and C with a circle, the large photo on the right page with patterned papers and stamping, and that we included trimmed down die-cuts made using our Multi Circle Windows die (from the Share the Joy Thin Cuts Bundle that is currently on sale). Use the pattern exactly as shown or make a few minor alterations to make it more your own. Either way, you’re sure to have great results.

Now download the pattern below, and enjoy a little scrappin’ time! ❤

Download Pattern

For even more scrapbook patterns, check out our Make It from Your Heart™ collection. If you love the free scrapbook patterns we share on our blog, you’re sure to be blown away by all the patterns in our how-to books!

Recipe:

12″ x 12″ Convention 2014 Layout
C1725 My Acrylix^® Simply Said Stamp Set, D1842 My Acrylix^® Into the Wild—Scrapbooking Stamp Set, CC7192 Seaside Paper Packet, X7247B Into the Wild Paper Packet, X5988 Peach Cardstock, X6015 Pewter Cardstock, X6023 Sweet Leaf Cardstock, X6027 White Daisy Cardstock, Z3637 Vellum Paper, X7247E Picture My Life™ Cards—Into the Wild, Z4189 Intense Black Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z2853 Sweet Leaf Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, CC61912 Share the Joy Thin Cuts Bundle, X7247C Into the Wild—Complements, Z4059 Loose Sequins—Crafty, Z4088 White Alphabet Foam Stickers, Z4242 Watercolor Pencils, Z2446 ShinHan™ Touch Twin™ Black Marker, Z1979 Marvy^® Uchida LePen™ Journaling Pen, Z2060 Thin 3-D Foam Tape, Die-cutting Machine

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May 28, 2019Create, Learn, Memory Keeping

Where to Find Free Scrapbooking Patterns (and More!)

Close To My Heartdownload, free, National, national scrapbooking month, nsm, pattern, scrapbooking, sweet girl, The World Is Yours, workshop, workshops Your Way 4 Comments

We pride ourselves on our “Let Me Show You How” philosophy. That is one of the reasons we love providing free, downloadable patterns, whether that is right here, on this blog, or on Closetomyheart.com.

Whenever we offer a workshop kit for sale, the instructions are available as a free downloadable PDF file right on our website. These instructions come fully equipped with additional materials needed lists, cutting guides, featured techniques, step-by-step assembly instructions, project photos, tips, AND patterns. Without any obligations or commitments, you can visit our site, find these workshops, download the files, and use the patterns in them at your discretion.

Even though these timeless patterns are designed with specific products in mind, we stand behind their versatility and encourage you to use them time and time again. With different papers, embellishments, and subjects matters, the finished results will always be unique.

Since this month is all about scrapbooking, we took the three scrapbook layout patterns from the Workshops Your Way® Sweet Girl Scrapbooking Kit and made new pages using The World Is Yours collection.

PATTERN 1:

SWEET GIRL:

THE WORLD IS YOURS:

PATTERN 2:

SWEET GIRL:

THE WORLD IS YOURS:

PATTERN 3:

SWEET GIRL:

THE WORLD IS YOURS:(You can download the instructions and patterns for these layouts here, or on our website here.)

In each of our seasonal catalogs, you will find one scrapbooking and one cardmaking workshop for every paper collection offered. The scrapbooking workshops walk you through creating three coordinating 2-page layouts while the cardmaking workshops come with several card designs and patterns to make anywhere between 12 and 16 cards. Outside the catalogs, we also have regular monthly specials. Often, these promotions will include a workshop—this is where you will find instructions and patterns for other things as well, like mini albums and the occasional papercrafting project.

If you’re ever looking for a pattern, revisit some of your old workshops or come and visit us here or on our website. Remember, the patterns on our site are only available while the workshop kits they are featured in are, so make sure to grab them while you can!

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May 14, 2019Create, Learn, Memory Keeping

Storyteller with Stacy Julian!

Close To My Heartfree, giveaway, prize, Short Story, Stacy Julian, story, Story by Stacy, Story Starter, Storyteller, storytelling 214 Comments

We’re pulling out all the stops this National Scrapbooking Month with a visit from one of our all-time favorite story tellers! Stacy Julian is here today to share with us the newest addition to the Story by Stacy™ line, Storyteller. Click on the video below to learn about this impressive guidebook from none other than Stacy herself! Pay extra close attention and you might just find that she is offering a little more than just two new story telling techniques! 😉

Thanks for stopping by Stacy! ❤

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. PLEASE MAKE SURE TO CHECK YOUR EMAIL TO FIND OUT IF YOU’RE ONE OF THE LUCKY WINNERS!

Story by Stacy™ Storyteller

Story by Stacy™ Storytelling Pack

Memory Protectors™ Combo Pack

Story by Stacy™ Short Story Workshop Kit—Multicolor

Story by Stacy™ Story Starter Workshop Kit—Heart

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED. PLEASE MAKE SURE TO CHECK YOUR EMAIL TO FIND OUT IF YOU’RE ONE OF THE LUCKY WINNERS!

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May 7, 2019Celebrate, Community, Create, Memory Keeping

Get a Free Cut Above® Layout Kit for National Scrapbooking Month!

Close To My Heartcut above, free, giveaway, national scrapbooking month, nsm, The World Is Yours 274 Comments

Happy May everyone, and happy National Scrapbooking Month!! We just love, love, love, this time of year where we get to join with the rest of the crafting community to celebrate the meaningful art of scrapbooking—and in true Close To My Heart fashion, we are celebrating all month long with beautiful new products created just for the occasion! If you didn’t get a chance to see some of our dearest friends talk about the exclusive The World Is Yours collection on National Scrapbooking Day this last Saturday, revisit the video HERE.

One of our favorite products from The World Is Yours collection is the Cut Above® layout kit. A primary excuse people give for not scrapbooking is that they just don’t have the time to do it. Cut Above® layout kits are our answer to that genuine concern without jeopardizing artwork quality. Each one of our Cut Above® layout kits come with pre-printed base pages, pre-cut paper pieces and die-cuts, as well as stickers to quickly and easily assemble two 12″ x 12″ scrapbook layouts. We basically take all of the cutting out of the scrapbooking equation, allowing you to jump right into enjoying the artistic and creative side of memory keeping.

The World Is Yours Cut Above® layout kit is additionally unique because it is one of the only Cut Above® layout kits that can be purchase out right outside of our Craft with Heart™ subscription program. Craft with Heart™ offers Cut Above® layout kits at monthly, 4-month, and 12-month intervals. Once subscribed, you receive exclusive kits delivered straight to your doorstep. If you are not yet a subscriber, The World Is Yours kit is a great place to try one of these kits out without any further obligations.

We truly love our Cut Above® layout kits so much and are confident that you will, too, which is why we are giving away five of these kits to five lucky readers! We keep it simple. For a chance to win, all you have to do is make sure you are subscribed to this blog and then leave us a comment below, letting us know your thoughts on the Cut Above® program. You have until 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 9 (MDT), to enter. All winners will be notified by e-mail.

For a closer look at all of our other beautiful products and projects offered through The World Is Yours special, visit our website, HERE. Remember, this collection is only available during May, while supplies last, so get yours today and make the world yours!

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April 2, 2019Create, Memory Keeping

Zoe Is Back and Better Than Ever!

Close To My HeartBring Back My Pack, campaign, Canary, cards, constant campaign, download, free, heather, instructions, layouts, mint, promo, promotion, sale, smoothie, spring, sunshine, sweet leaf, white daisy, workshop, workshop guide, Zoe 1 Comment

We did it again, friends! One of our favorite retired paper collections, Zoe, has received a modest makeover, getting updated colors, a new 12″ × 12″ coordinating sticker sheet, and a new workshop. The updated Zoe collection is available through the end of May. With its sunny disposition, this collection is sure to brighten anyone’s day and any scrapbook album!

1. My Acrylix® Zoe Stamp Set

As if this stamp set isn’t perfect enough for all those sunny moments you wish to hold onto, the shapes outlined in red coordinate with our Cricut® Artistry collection—making it that much easier to create unique, custom cards and layouts! You’ll find sizing instructions for cutting the coordinating shapes on the packaging of the stamp set.

2. Zoe Paper Packet

Here it is! Featuring our exclusive colors, Canary, Heather, Mint, Smoothie, Sweet Leaf, and White Daisy, this paper packet comes with 6 refreshed patterned paper sheets, 2 each of 3 double-sided designs, and 1 new coordinating sticker sheet! The zip strips are also new! Click on the image to take a closer look!

3. Zoe Coordinating Cardstock

These cardstock colors coordinate perfectly with those in the Zoe Paper Packet. Each Zoe Coordinating Cardstock pack comes with 12 sheets, 2 each of Sweet Leaf, Smoothie, Mint, Canary, Heather, and White Daisy; all 12″ × 12″.

4. Zoe Workshop Kit

Use the materials in this kit and the online instructions found below to create four coordinating layouts and six cards!

(Click on the individual image for a closer look at any of these projects.)

Download workshop instructions, here!

Zoe is only back for a limited time and only while supplies last! Act fast, and get your favorites from this collection before they run out and it goes away for good!

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March 19, 2019Create, Learn, Memory Keeping

5 Approaches to Pocket Scrapbooking

Close To My Heartblock scrapbooking, download, Everyday Life, free, how-to, pattern, Picture My Life, planning, Pocket Cards, pocket scrapbook, pocket scrapbooking, trendy, trendy scrapbooking 5 Comments

Today is the day, if you haven’t already, to discover the simplicity of scrapbooking in pockets! That’s right. Scrapbooking CAN be fast, simple, and easy. By using Memory Protectors™ with multiple pockets, you can quickly catch up on your scrapbooking or just add photos, art, journaling, and other keepsakes in this trendy blocked style to any of your albums. But where do we start?

Too often, we get so eager to try out a new memory keeping approach only to end up staring at the Memory Protectors™ and their empty pockets, not quite sure how to begin. Or, on the other end of the spectrum, we start without a plan and find that something about our completed pages just isn’t quite right. If you take a look below, you’ll see that we came up with different ideas to get you thinking about how to create a pocket page or layout, and to get you up to speed on this popular style of scrapbooking!

1. Start with a set of photos.

We all have stashes of photos, mainly on our electronic devices. Print out some of your favorites and give this approach a try. Once you’ve got your photos, choose a color scheme by pulling from the colors in your photos first and then, if you’d like, add one or two colors that coordinate. Lastly, choose accessories or embellishments for the finishing touches.

If you aren’t quite sure how many photos to use, consider the 50-50 rule where you fill 50% of your pockets with photos and the other 50% with patterned papers or pre-made pocket cards—ensuring a well-balanced page and layout.

2. Start with a color scheme.

This approach is very similar to the first, only the color scheme comes first and then the photos. When you have an album that you are wanting to add on to, the color scheme is often predetermined by what’s come before. In this example, we chose our colors first, then came up with the photos, and polished off the layout with some sequins as our accessory. If you don’t have enough, or any, photos that you’d like to use to match your color scheme, manipulate the colors in the photo. If you’re not savvy with photo editing software or want to keep things simple, print your photos in black and white.

As you’re deciding on what photos to use, keep in mind that you are not bound by the orientation or size of the pockets of your Memory Protectors™. In both of the examples that we’ve shown you so far, we cut a 6″ x 8″ photo in half and inserted the parts into two of the pockets. You can get really creative and do all sorts of things with pockets that you can’t quite get away with in a traditional layout. 😉

3. Start with a story.

This third method is for the storyteller. You start out with a memory or story and then find photos that accompany it. In this example, the story is about Grandma Joann and her garden. The reminiscence and words came first, then the photos, and lastly the embellishing accessories.

If a 12″ x 12″ album is too big to fit on your shelf, there’s also the 6″ x 8″, Everyday Life™, option. All of the ideas that we’re sharing today translate into any size of pocket scrapbooking.

4. Start with an event.

Our last approach is to begin with an event, like a birthday party, vacation, holiday, family gathering, etc. Think about the story behind it and develop it. This is where the 5 W’s (who, what, where, when, why) come in handy. As you develop the story, write it down and choose photos that support it. Finally, add an accessory for embellishment.

5. Come up with a pattern.

If the ideas that we’ve shared so far are overwhelming, find a pocket layout that you like and break it down into a pattern for you to recreate and personalize (it’s pretty easy to do this with pockets). Here’s what the pattern of our very first example looks like:

We used this very same pattern to create the layout in our second example. Did you notice? We rotated each of the pages 90 degrees counterclockwise and came up with this:

(You can download this pattern, here.)

Flip a pattern, turn it on its side, switch the order of the pages—if you have the Memory Protectors™ to support your pocket idea, then go for it! One of the great things about pocket scrapbooking is that you can change the contents of the pockets around however many times you need to, making it a lot more forgiving than traditional scrapbooking.

All you need to be a successful pocket scrapper are the pocket Memory Protectors™, pre-made pocket cards, your photos, and a plan. Pair any of the ideas that we’ve shared with you today with our Picture My Life™ pocket cards and get caught up on your scrapbooking in a fast, simple, easy, AND trendy way!

**All of our Picture My Life™ pocket cards are 35% off, now and through the end of the month. It’s a great time to stock up!

Recipes:

12″ x 12″ Wonderful Layout
X7243B Feels Like Home Paper Packet, X7243E Picture My Life™ Cards—Feels Like Home, X7243C Feels Like Home Complements, Z4270 I Heart Us Sequins, 4113 Memory Protectors™ Design 2, Z1951 Memory Protectors™ Design 4

12″ x 12″ Life Is Peachy Layout
X7241B So Much Happy Paper Packet, X7241E Picture My Life™ Cards—So Much Happy, X7241C So Much Happy Complements, Z4270 I Heart Us Sequins, Z1324 Memory Protectors™ Design 1, Z1950 Memory Protectors Design 3

6″ x 8″ Grandma’s Garden Layout
X7241B So Much Happy Paper Packet, X7243E Picture My Life™ Cards—Feels Like Home, X7240C Something Fierce Complements, Z4270 I Heart Us Sequins, Z3252 Everyday Life™ Memory Protectors™ 6″ x 8″, Z3192 Everyday Life™ Memory Protectors™ 4″ x 6″

6″ x 8″ Celebrate Layout
X7241B So Much Happy Paper Packet, X7241E Picture My Life™ Cards—So Much Happy, X7240C Something Fierce Complements, Z4270 I Heart Us Sequins, Z3191 Everyday Life™ Memory Protectors™ 3″ x 4″, Z3192 Everyday Life™ Memory Protectors™ 4″ x 6″

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March 5, 2019Create, Memory Keeping

It’s Paper Party Time with a Free Scrapbooking Pattern!

Close To My Heartcolor coordination, Feels Like Home, free, free pattern, I Heart Us, Paper Party, pattern, promo, promotion, sale, scrapbooking 6 Comments

So glad you are joining us today because we are having a paper party All. Month. Long. What does that mean? It means that this is the time to stock up on your favorite patterned papers and coordinating cardstocks because they are all on sale! When you buy any one of our patterned paper packets or coordinating cardstock packs you can get a second one, of equal or lesser value, at 50% off! The best part, you can mix and match your packets to get exactly what you want. Visit our website, here, for a closer look at our beautiful papers and to get additional details on this party worthy event!

As a party favor, we are giving you a free scrapbook pattern for you to download and take home with you!

This pattern originally debuted with our Roxie paper collection, but, as you can see, we updated the instructions so they can be used with any papers and for any occasion. Above, we paired this timeless pattern with the I Heart Us paper packet and coordinating cardstock, and below we paired it with the Feels Like Home paper packet and coordinating cardstock.

With our pattern papers and cardstock, you can achieve effortless color coordination in all of your crafting. The patterns featured in each paper collections are designed using the same exclusive color palette as our two-toned cardstock, ensuring that each paper element in your projects comes together for a flawless match.

We take pride in providing the most comprehensive patterns for scrapbook layouts. When you download this pattern, you will notice that it also comes with cutting diagrams to make it even easier to create these pages!

Download this free scrapbooking pattern, and have yourself a paper scrappin’ party!

Download Pattern

For even more scrapbook patterns, check out our Make It from Your Heart™ pattern books. If you love the free patterns on the blog, you’re sure to be blown away by all the patterns in our how-to books!

Recipes:

12″ x 12″ You Make My Heart Happy Layout
X7242B I Heart Us Paper Packet, X7242D I Heart Us Coordinating Cardstock, X7242C I Heart Us Complements, Z4270 I Heart Us Sequins, Z2060 Thin 3-D Foam Tape

12″ x 12″ My Heart Is Full Layout
X7243B Feels Like Home Paper Packet, X7243D Feels Like Home Coordinating Cardstock, X7243C Feels Like Home Complements, Z3312 Gold Glitter Gems, Z2060 Thin 3-D Foam Tape

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December 18, 2018Celebrate, Create, Learn, Memory Keeping

A Free Scrapbook Pattern with Christmas Blessings!

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“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…” so let’s prepare to document those precious holiday moments with a free downloadable scrapbook pattern, complete with cutting diagrams and all!

Making its original debut with the Olivia Workshops On the Go^®, we paired this timeless pattern with our Christmas Blessings workshop kit that is available through the end of December. The Christmas Blessings workshop kit comes with 10 cardstock sheets (in a variety of six colors), silver foil paper, silver glitter gems, silver embellishing thread, and even 12 card bases & envelopes. This kit was originally designed for a cardmaking workshop, but we wanted to show you just how easy it is to create a beautiful Christmas Blessings scrapbook layout using the same products!

Also included in this kit, is the exclusive My Acrylix^® Christmas Blessings stamp set:

We pride ourselves in being the “let me show you how” memory-keeping company, and in providing the most comprehensive patterns. When you download this scrapbook pattern you will find that it also comes with cutting diagrams to make it even easier to create these pages from any of your favorite papers and embellishments. All of our patterns lend themselves to any memories that are special enough for you to preserve.

Download this free scrapbook pattern and let us show you how easy scrapbooking can be!

Download Pattern

For even more timeless scrapbook patterns, check out our Make It from Your Heart™ pattern books! If you love the free scrapbook patterns we share on the blog, you’re sure to be blown away by the patterns and inspirational artwork in all of our how-to books.

Recipe

12″ x 12″ Christmas Blessings Layout
CC12182 Christmas Blessings Workshop Kit, Z2847 Eggplant Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z2849 Peacock Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad, Z6504 Sage Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad

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1. My Acrylix® Zoe Stamp Set

2. Zoe Paper Packet

3. Zoe Coordinating Cardstock

4. Zoe Workshop Kit

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