the CLASSroom

Hello, Monday 04.29.2013

 (click on the pic to enbiggan)

I have been stamping and coloring on glitter with Copics for a while but haven't always been completely satisfied with the end results. Until now. Different ink and Copic combinations can work, but if you're not *uber* careful you can up with mud. Ack.

Coloring stamped images with Copics requires using the right balance of ink and paper in order to achieve optimal results.  Memento Ink by Tsukineko + Copics is a pretty widely known combo that yields great results. On paper.  But, coloring a stamped image on glitter can be a little tricker. Because you need to use an ink that will actually DRY on glitter AND not bleed out when alcohol ink is applied. Ruh roh...!

You may not be aware that Copics also work beautifully on paper with most* PIGMENT inks. The catch is that they must be fully dry so as not to smear.

Enter: Brilliance by Tsukineko

(this is where the heavens part and you hear angel voices singing)

Brilliance has *looooong* been one of my all-time favorite inks. It is a faster-drying PIGMENT ink. One of its advantages over many other pigment inks, however, is that it can dry on non-porous surface, such as Polyshrink (another topic for another day). *wink*

Brilliance will dry on glitter.  It will need to be heat set, to ensure it is thoroughly dry, but it will dry on glitter. And you can color the image with Copics. You can even be a little careless and color right over the top of this ink. And there will be no bleeding. There will be no mud. 

I know, right?! 

Here are some tips for stamping and coloring on Micro-fine glitter:

• You'll achieve optimal results when stamping onto glitter if you use a micro-fine type; even ultra-fine is not fine enough
• Burnish the micro-fine glitter into the tape with your finger tips until there are no sticky areas left; "squeegee" off the excess with your fingers to reveal a velvety smooth surface
• Stamp with a pigment ink such as Brilliance; as a pigment ink, it works extremely well when coloring with Copics and it is one of the few pigment inks that will actually dry on glossy/slick surfaces without needing to be sealed with embossing powder
• Heat set the ink by keeping your heat gun a safe distance away, i.e. 7-8", to avoid melting the glitter; test dryness with scrap paper as shown in the video
• Lightly tap the tip of the Copic marker when coloring, allowing the ink to flow out; brushing/stroking the nib against the glitter can not only cause the tip to fray, but it can also cause the adhesive beneath the glitter to deteriorate and etch off, resulting in a lack-luster finish

You can view the video here, or hop over to YouTube and thanks muchly for subscribing to our channel!

 

*I say "most" because some inks that are touted as pigment inks are not actually true pigment inks, but more a hybrid of chalk + pigment ink that may indeed smear when alcohol ink is applied...

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SUPPLIES & MATERIALS:

 

Savvy Stamps, Outline Posey	Be Creative (Sookwang) Tape, 65mm (2 1/2")	Be Creative (Sookwang) Sheets, 5 pk (8x11)	A Cardstock, Essentials by Ellen: White Linen #100 Cardstock, 25 Pack
A Cardstock, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, 25 pack	A Cardstock, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Ream	Cardstock, Black, 10 pack	Elizabeth Craft Designs Silk Microfine Glitter, Warm Diamond 1oz
Brilliance Pad, Graphite Black	COPIC Sketch Marker R24, Prawn	COPIC Sketch Marker R20, Blush	COPIC Sketch Marker, 0 Colorless Blender
Shape 'N Tape, Black	Essentials by Ellen: Sequins, Satin Black	Gemstones, Black Crystals	Teflon Bone Folder
Honey Bee Non Stick Scissors	Embossing Gun	Kool Tak White Foam Adhesive, 1/4 Squares (1/16 Thick)	Accents, Glossy
Glue Glider Pro Plus Refill, High Tac 58'	Glue Glider Pro	Martha Stewart Scoring Board, Mini	Paper Trimmer, Tonic Guillotine 8 1/2"

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Spring Butterfly Wreath by Julia Stainton

Paper crafting products have so many different uses. I'm always amazed at how much you can do with them. Today I'm celebrating Spring with a home decor creation, a sweet altered wreath.

To start off my project, I picked up a 12" styrofoam wreath. This makes the wreath nice and light but also makes it easy to pin accents into it.

Covering the wreath is fast and easy using Maya Road Fabric Tape. I've used Blossom Pink here but it also comes in so many other beautiful colors. A large wreath like this will take a couple packages of fabric tape. Simply peel off the backing from the fabric tape and wrap it around the wreath. Simple.

Next step I wanted to create some butterfly accents that would look like they were fluttering off of the wreath. These Maya Road chipboard butterflies are perfect for that. To alter them I first colored them with some Copic Markers.

For these butterflies I've used Y13 Lemon Yellow and R83 Rose Mist.

 

To add some sparkle and glitz to the butterflies, I covered the surface with Glossy Accents and then sprinkled on some clear glitter and allowed them to dry.

Attaching the butterflies on an angle can be a bit of an adhesive problem unless you turn them into pins. Doing this allows you to place them into the foam wreath like floral picks on any angle you wish.

Using a pair of pliers, I pull the heads off the top of the button trinket pins. I've kept the little button tops to be used in another project.

Push the pin into the chipboard butterfly to create a custom pick.

When arranging flowers and other items onto a wreath, start with the larger items first. I've used a hot glue gun to adhere the Maya Road floral embellishments.

Add in the mid-size flowers, then the butterfly chipboard picks to the wreath. They simply pin into the styrofoam wherever you wish.

 

Stamp words onto little linen banners and then pin them to the wreath as well as accents.

As always, click on the images to see them in greater detail.

Have a little fun trying out new and unique projects with your paper crafting supplies.

Thanks for joining me today in the CLASSroom! Have a great weekend!

 

Supplies:

 

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Hello, Monday 04.22.2013

Every year, for as long as I can remember, I've noticed that as soon as Spring and Summer start comin' on, my eyeballs start to zero in on all things nautical. I'm pretty sure a lot of that has to do with being the daughter of a USCG Chief, and living the majority of my life very near the sea. I also start singin' Brandy... But, I digress...

At any rate, that is what inspired me to try mitering the corners of some striped Washi tape to create an "off-center chevron"(which, incidentally, then led to the whole design being nautical themed)--at least, this is what I called it because nowhere can I find an actual name for a large single chevron image that is off-center. There probably is one. Somewhere. 

I'd be lyin' if I said there wasn't a lot of monkey-clappin' and deep chortling goin' on when I finished. *snarf* And, it has sparked some other ideas I'm soooo anxious to try!!! LOLLY, I do love when one idea spins off into yet another direction!!!

NOTE: I'm sure there are a number of ways to create mitered corners; this method just worked great for me! 

Enjoy this week's webisode here or right on YouTube, and thanks so much for subscribing to our channel!

 Thanks for poppin' in on this fine Mundane! 

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SUPPLIES & MATERIALS:

My Mind's Eye Decorative Tape, Green & Navy	My Mind's Eye Decorative Tape, Yellow & Grey	My Favorite Things Die-namics, Sea Charms	Handmade, ABC Stickers
Essentials by Ellen: Craft-a-Board 6x12, 12p	A Cardstock, Essentials by Ellen: White Linen #100 Cardstock, 25 Pack	A Cardstock, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, 25 pack	A Cardstock, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Ream
COPIC Sketch Marker R35, Coral	Essentials by Ellen: Sequins, Iridescent Peacock Blue	My Mind's Eye Enamel Dots, Boy Crazy	Doodle Twine Assortment, Boy
Accents, Glossy	C-Thru Junior T-Square, 12	Ruler, Tim Holtz Design	Glue Dots Sheets, Mini
Glue Glider Pro	Glue Glider Pro Plus Refill, High Tac 58'	Crop-a-Dile Corner Chomper Tool	Craft Knife, Fingertip Retractable
Honey Bee Non Stick Scissors	Craft Knife, Fingertip	Retractable Craft Knife	Comfort Craft Craft Knife by Ingvild Bolme
Tweezers, Stainless	Elizabeth Craft Designs Tweezers	QuickStik	Sizzix Big Shot Machine, Black & Pink

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Spring Scrapbooking by Sharon Harnist

Happy weekend, everyone!  I was in the mood to get scrappy today and decided I needed an updated Spring scrappy magnet page to spruce up my fridge, so here ya go!

(Click on any photo to enlarge)

I adore the huge variety of dies Ellen carries -- they make any kind of papercrafting project so easy and professional looking!  Today I used a great sized (approximately 1/2") classic font die from Memory Box that worked well on my 6x6 sized page and are also a great size for creating your own sentiments for cards, Typewriter Lower Alphabet & Typewriter Number Set.  I started my project with all these pretty coordinating patterned papers from My Mind's Eye Memorable 6x6 pad, from which my title and year were also die cut.

For small/thin/narrow die cuts like these, I like to use Zig's 2-Way Glue Squeeze & Roll pen to adhere them and EK Success' precision Tweezer Bees are wonderful to use when trying to get die cut placement just right!  I adhered the year die cuts to My Favorite Things cute Say What? Die-namics speech bubble die.

The pretty flower was made with My Favorite Things, Winter Rose die and the wavy border is MFT's Jumbo Ric Rac cut in half. Have you noticed the sequin trend in papercrafting lately?  Well, Ellen has you covered, with her own Essentials by Ellen line of sequins in just about any color you could need ... check them out here!  I used the Cool White Sequins on my flower center (held in place with a Craft Glue Dot) and to dot the "i" in my "spring" title.

I adhered my page to Ellen's Craft-a-Board, backed it with Inchie Magnets and ta-da, I have a cute and unique big magnet for my fridge! I certainly Spring has come to your part of the country by now! ~ Sharon

{Supplies}

My Mind's Eye 6x6, Memorable	Memory Box Dies, Typewriter Number Set	Memory Box Dies, Typewriter Lower Alphabet	My Favorite Things Die-namics, Jumbo Ric Rac
My Favorite Things Die-namics, Say What? (Die Only)	My Favorite Things Die-namics, Winter Rose	Essentials by Ellen Sequins, Cool White	Zig 2 Way Glue Pen, Squeeze & Roll
Tweezer Bee	High Tack Double-Sided Foam Mounting Tape, 1/2"	Essentials by Ellen: Craft-a-Board 6x12, 12pk	Inchie Magnets

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Hello, Monday--on a Tuesday... ;) 04.16.2013

Mother's Day is a comin'... my own mama is at a stage in life where she is trying to simplify life, declutter--heck, I'm at the stage myself!!! So just what do you give that awesome lady? Well, why not give her the evening off from worrying about what's for dinner and treat her to a meal at her favorite restaurant?

When it comes to gift cards, I am always on the hunt for a different way to present them and when I spied these adorable mini bags by Webster's Pages, I simply HAD to have them! They are perfect, not only for gift cards, but you could tuck a pair of tickets to a show, cash, or even a sweet note inside!

These fabby mini bags come in a package of assorted designs or you can get them in bulk, 25 of the same design in a pack--awesome for party favors and whatnot!

Enjoy the video here or on YouTube and thanks for subscribing to our channel!

SUPPLIES & MATERIALS:

 

Webster's Pages Composition & Color Collection by Allison Kreft, Mini Bags	Studio Calico Snippets 6x6 Paper Pad	A Cardstock, Essentials by Ellen: White Linen #100 Cardstock, 25 Pack	October Afternoon, Farm Girl Label Stickers
Pink Paislee Portfolio Collection, Puffy Glitter Alphabet Stickers	My Mind's Eye Decorative Tape, Red & Turquoise	Lawn Fawn Clear Stamps, Lemon Single Cord	Making Memories, Paper & Ribbon Slot Punching Tool
Martha Stewart Scoring Board, Mini	Teflon Bone Folder	Studio Calico, Mister Huey's Color Mist, Silver	Essentials by Ellen: Sequins, Iridescent Sky
Essentials by Ellen: Sequins, Iridescent Melon	Essentials by Ellen: Sequins, Iridescent Daffodil	Tweezers, Stainless	QuickStik
Accents, Glossy	Kool Tak White Foam Adhesive, 1/4 Squares (1/16 Thick)

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Flowers with Gelatos and Big Brush Pens by Darlene DeVries

It is a privilege to share a very special project and video with you today! As someone who loves to color I have admired Darlene DeVries' gorgeous coloring over the last several months and am thrilled to share her video with you today as she showcases the technique she uses when coloring with the fabulous Faber Castell Design Match products. This project showcases the use of Gelatos together with Big Brush Pens!

You can see more of Darlene's beautiful work on her blog Darlene Design. Each blogpost not only shows beautiful projects but she shares a coordinating videos showing how she each project! We would love to have your help thanking Darlene for sharing her project here in the CLASSroom. Please head over to her blog, Darlene Design, and leave a thank you in the comments section of her post there. You know you are in the right spot if you see the following picture!

Thank you Darlene for sharing your creativity with us here in the CLASSroom! -Ellen

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Hi All!  I’m so excited to be invited into the CLASSroom today!! 

I tend to do a lot of coloring with stamps… Copic markers, colored pencils, inks, water-based markers, etc.  Today I thought I would try something a little bit different - coloring with Faber Castell Design Memory Craft Gelatos and Stampers Big Brush Pens.  I love how these products work together to create a beautiful blended look.  And the white pen that was released in the fall is fantastic!

As far as stamps go, I am using one of my favorites by Hero Arts, Everything Flower.  I love this stamp because you can use subtle colors to make it a background, or you can color the flowers to create a foreground out of the background, which is what I have done with this card. 

Sometimes I have trouble figuring out where to put a sentiment on my card.  In those instances, I turn to vellum.  You can pop it right on top and not cover up any of the important elements.  I heat embossed a Paper Smooches sentiment in black onto vellum and just ran it across the center.

Enjoy the video here or you can also watch it over on YouTube. (Many thanks for subscribing to our channel!)

Thanks for spending time with me today.  Thank you Ellen for the opportunity to visit.

-Darlene

Cling Everything Flowers	Everything Flower	Sentiment Sampler	Pitt Big Brush Pen, Subtles, Set of 3
Pitt Big Brush Pen, Green, Set of 3	Pitt Big Brush Pen, Blue, Set of 3	Pitt Big Brush Pen, White	A Cardstock, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, 25 pack
A5 Cardstock, Black, 10 pack	Bazzill 40lb. Vellum, 25pk	VersaMark Inkpad	Ranger - Super Fine 1oz. Embossing Powder, Black
Mixed Accent, Neutrals	Glue Dots, Mini (3/16")

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Imagine Paris Tag by Julia Stainton

I seem to be hooked on tags these days. Last time I was in the CLASSroom I went the art journaling route with a bunch of tags to make a mini album for my daughter. Today's post uses a tag as well. Inspired by a big beautiful black tag and the chalkboard trend, I've gone vintage collage style with them.

There are many ways to stamp on dark surfaces. You can use embossing powder,or a pigment ink, but I've found that paint always works really well. I've been a fan of stamping with paint for years. The interesting thing with stamping with paint is that it never turns out exactly the same each time. I think that adds to much to the vintage style. That perfectly beautiful imperfection.

I love using the Adirondack Paint Dabbers for inking up a stamp with paint. You can use a foam brush with any acrylic paint and brush it on the stamp, but the paint dabbers make it so easy and there is no cleanup. Simply dab the paint with the foam applicator onto the stamp and then press onto your surface. These dabbers also work really well for "inking" the edges of your paper to define them.

• step one - stamp the ATC and apply paint to the edges of the ATC and the Tag

Tip: Wash your stamps off immediately as the acrylic paint is extremely difficult to get off if you allow it to dry. This is the voice of experience and it was painful.

• step two - stamp postage marks onto the black tag
• step three - adhere torn coffee filter paper with Multi-Medium...wrinkle the paper when applying it for added texture

Note: Multi-Medium is a fabulous adhesive and and essential mixed media product. Just brush it on the back to adhere or on the front to add a glaze.

• step four - adhere adhesive lace and then stamped ATC
• step five - tie tag with twine and tie on button

• step six - adhere flowers and insert trinket pins
• step seven - pin metal tag to flower

Tip: When creating a black and white project, add one pop of color to brighten it up.

Thanks so much for joining me today in the CLASSroom! I hope you'll give stamping with paint a try. Have a fabulous weekend!

Supplies:

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Hello, Monday 04.08.2013

True story:  I don't own a bike. Haven't ridden one in years!!! But, I'm a sucker for cute bicycles! Go figure! LOL!

Fell in love with this mini bike die set by Savvy Stamps the instant I laid eyes on it and am having crazy fun with it! 

Had a lightbulb moment a short while ago that I share in the video... Funny how something so simple and obvious eludes us and then, of a sudden: BAM!!! And, we're smackin' ourselves on the forehead... criminitly!!!

Enjoy the video here or you can also watch it over on YouTube. And, many thanks for subscribing to our channel!

Have a great Mundane and so glad you could pop in today for some crafty time!

SUPPLIES & MATERIALS:

Savvy Stamps, Hello (Bubble)	DesignBlock Envelope Pattern	Shadow Ink, Soft Granite	Brilliance Pad, Graphite Black
COPIC Sketch Marker R21, Sardonyx	COPIC Sketch Marker YR21, Cream	COPIC Sketch Marker 110, Special Black	COPIC Sketch Marker, 0 Colorless Blender
COPIC Multiliner SP - 0.03, Black	Essentials by Ellen, Julie's Smooth Bristol, 10pc- 8.0 x 11	A Cardstock, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, 25 pack	A Cardstock, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Ream
Savvy Stamps Dies, Mini Bike Set	Shape 'N Tape, Black	Gemstones, Black Crystals	Craft Knife, Fingertip
Sizzix Big Shot Machine, Black & Pink	3D-Dots, 1/16" Thick	2 Way Glue, Chisel Tip	Tweezers, Stainless
Martha Stewart Scoring Board, Mini	Teflon Bone Folder

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Spring Canvas by Sharon Harnist

I was feeling extra Spring-y this week, with all the pretty sunshine (preceeded by a few nice days of rain!) and all the Texas Bluebonnets starting to bloom along the road sides, so I wanted to capture that feeling on canvas and here are the results:

After a few trial and error attempts, I came up with this successful method when wanting to stamp and color with Copic markers onto a stretched canvas frame. Sometimes a detailed stamp like this one is difficult to get a crisply stamped image when trying to stamp onto a stretched canvas over a wood frame.

To begin, I stamped the Hero Arts DesignBlock Flower Text (measuring a nice 6" x 4-1/2") with Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto Claudine Hellmuth's Studio Sticky Back Natural Canvas-8-1/2" x 11" 

Then I started coloring . . . Here are the step-out photos of each flower and its corresponding Copic Sketch colors used:

1. I feather blended together Y18 and YR16 (start by coloring with the lighter Y18, then flick the YR16 from the center of the flower outward):

2. YG25 and G17 for the the leaves:

3. V04 and V06 for the purple flower:

4. The same greens and yellow from the first flower:

5. For the center flower, I used B02 & B05 for the flowers and a little bit lighter green combo of YG03 & G05 for the leaves, just for a little variation:

6. As a final coloring step, I decided to go back over the stamped lines and deepen the color with a Copic Multiliner 0.8 (from the Broad 4pc Set). This was just personal preference -- I really like how it made the flower colors pop! The right two flowers below have already been outlined, but you could skip this step if you wanted a more natural flower look like the purple flower on the left that still had not been outlined -- it has a more "painterly" look:

The final step was to trim the Sticky Back canvas to the size of my 5 x 7 Chunky Stretched Natural Canvas (the Sticky Back canvas trims very easily with your paper trimmer or scissors), peel off the backing and stick the colored canvas to the front of the stretched canvas frame (ahem -- thus covering up a previous non-successful stamping attempt!):

The finishing touch was to tie on some pretty Springy May Arts Parrot Green Crochet Ribbon around the left side:

I hope this project helps put you in the Spring spirit and encourages you to get crafting this weekend!

~ Sharon

{Supplies}

Edited 4/9/13: I see you all scooped up the remaining supply of of this great Hero Arts large DesignBlock stamp! If you are looking for a similar stamp, I recently found these while browsing through the Warehouse Sale section of the store (which means great prices!):

Hero Arts Words & Flowers (set of 4):

Three Quirky Flowers:

I hope that helps! ~ Sharon

Hero Arts DesignBlock, Flower Text	Memento Ink Pad, Tuxedo Black	Natural Studio Sticky Back Canvas 8.5x11	Copic Sketch Markers
Copic Multiliner 4pc Set, Broad	Canvas Corp Chunky Stretched Natural Canvas, 5x7	May Arts Crochet Ribbon, Parrot Green

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Hello, Monday 04.01.2013

(click on the pic to enbiggan)

Some simple but beautiful tags on Pinterest caught my eye and I wanted to recreate the look... When we think of shipping tags, we tend to think of them in white, or cream and sometimes kraft... But the tags I had seen were in bold bright colors, and had boldly colored imagery on them. So striking!

I wanted to re-create that look to make some tags I could use to dress up ordinary white cards. As I mention in the video, ink can take on a whole different look when stamped onto COLORED papers--what you see on white or cream may end up very different! So, pull out your scraps and experiment before you begin on your project, just to be sure you like the results you're getting.

ETA: Not quite sure whether or not Neon is for you? Hero Arts' new cubes are a great way to dabble before taking the plunge with full-size pads! The cubes also come in other assortments of pretty color palettes!

The layouts I did were very spontaneous (!)--I just cut and layered snippets of pretty patterns from a variety of paper pads (6x6, 8x8) in combinations that seemed to compliment the stamped tags nicely... A little bit of twine, a little bit of bling and before I knew it, I had an assortment of cards that, hopefully, would brighten anyone's day!

You can enjoy the video here, or in HD over on YouTube--thanks for subscribing to our channel and I sure hope the ideas inspire!

Thanks for joining me this Mundane! ;) 

 

 SUPPLIES & MATERIALS:

Wise Bird	Claudine Hellmuth Clear Stamps, Spring Garden	Savvy Stamps, Puddles	Three Artistic Butterflies
Savvy Stamps, Blossom Flower, Lg	Savvy Stamps, Thank You	Savvy Stamps, Outline Tile Pattern	Savvy Stamps, Thank You Flag
Huckleberry Branch	Hero Arts Neon Ink Pad, Neon Pink	Hero Arts Neon Ink Pad, Neon Orange	Chalk Ink, Cerulean
Shadow Ink: Mid-Tone, Pale Tomato	Chalk Ink, Grass	Glue Glider Pro	B2 Cardstock, Bubblegum
EEE3 Cardstock, Pool	EE4 Cardstock, Meadow	D5 Cardstock, Sunflower	Hero Arts, Layering Paper, Mandarin
A Cardstock, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, 25 pack	A Cardstock, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Ream	Crate Paper Maggie Holmes Signature 6x6 Paper Pad	Studio Calico Sundrifter 6x6 Paper Pad
Dear Lizzy Lucky Charm 6x6 Paper Pad	Crop-a-Dile Corner Chomper Tool, Angle & Photo Corner	Crop-A-Dile Eyelet & Snap Punch	EK Paper Shapers Punch, 1/2 Circle
Gemstones, Black Crystals	Essentials by Ellen: Sequins, Glossy Black	My Mind's Eye Enamel Dots, Boy Crazy	My Mind's Eye Enamel Dots, Cute from Collectable-Notable by Jen Allyson
Bamboo Cord Spool, Black	Lawn Fawn Clear Stamps, Lime Single Cord	Sew Easy Baker's Twine, Black	Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Glue, .88 oz
3D-Dots, 1/8" Thick	3D-Dots, 1/16" Thick	Paper Trimmer, Tonic Guillotine 8 1/2"	Tweezer Bee
Tweezers, Stainless	Honey Bee Non Stick Scissors

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