Tag Archives: Challenges

Proper Gentleman Pocket Card

Graphic 45 Proper Gentleman Pocket Card Eileen Hull House/Pocket Stitchlets Die for Frilly & Funkie

Hello, Friends! Today I’m the hostess for the latest challenge over on the Frilly and Funkie Challenge Blog. This Graphic 45 Proper Gentleman Pocket Card fits the challenge theme like your favorite pair of jeans. And you’ll see what I’m talking about in just a minute. But first, let’s take a look at the challenge theme:

Challenge Theme: Re-purpose, Re-use, Recycle
Earth Day is April 22nd, so let’s honor the day with a vintage or shabby chic project that includes an item that would normally land in the recycle or trash bin. You can use an old jar, glass bottle, packaging material or other bits and bobs to create your upcycled masterpiece. Be sure to tell us in your post what your recycled item is and how you used it, as it may not be apparent in a photo.

Proper Gentleman Pocket Card: The Inspiration

True confession: there’s nothing I love more than a good pair of jeans. So when my dear husband was retiring a much loved pair, I salvaged the back pocket label. This particular brand of jeans has such a classic logo, and the texture of the label is almost like leather. How could I possibly not salvage it?

The fact that the label lived its first life on a jeans pocket inspired me to create a new pocket for it to rest upon. So I turned to my Eileen Hull House/Pocket Stitchlets Dies to help me bring that idea to life. Here’s how I created this two tiered pocket:

First, cut the pocket base by using just the large pocket frame die.
Next, use both the pocket frame and the insert (with the stitching holes) to cut the plaid pocket shape out.
Now, trim about 1/8″ from the edges of the plaid pocket. This way, the designer paper from the first die can be seen.
Then machine stitch around the inside perimeter of the plaid pocket.
Now, stitch the sides and bottom of the recycled jeans label in the center of the plaid pocket. Leave the top edge open to resemble a watch pocket.
Next, center the plaid pocket over the base pocket. Machine stitch the plaid pocket to the base, but leave the top edge open.
Back the pocket with waste chipboard or foam dimensionals and adhere to the card.

Of course, you can use the dies and the label without machine stitching. I just happen to like the texture this adds.

Proper Gentleman Pocket Card: Details

Masculine cards are fun to embellish.

To keep with the pocket theme of this card, I chose to alter a Tim Holtz Monocle and TH Idea-Ology Pocket Watch frame. The brass key is also a found object, picked up during one of my daily walks. I strung all these items onto a TH Swivel Clasp. You know how men always have a big old key ring.

This TH Buckle mimics a belt. It is held in place with a TH Screw Top Brad.

Proper Gentleman Pocket Card: What’s in Your Pocket

To keep with the recycling theme, I used some cardstock scraps and designer paper scraps to create a little “wallet” to insert in the pocket. The back edge of the wallet fits into the Eileen Hull pocket while the front edge tucks neatly into the label pocket.

Proper Gentleman Pocket Card: A Peek Inside

The inside of this card is as handsome as the outside. I added some fussy cut details, another simple pocket and note card for writing a personal message. Something about this design makes me think of a crisp, white pocket handkerchief, something which no proper gentleman should be without!

Now it’s YOUR Turn

You are cordially invited to join in on this fun challenge. To do so, simply create your own vintage or shabby chic upcycled project. Then link up on the Frilly and Funkie Challenge Blog before 11:55PM EST on Tuesday, April 23. You can find all the rules and information HERE.

The winner will earn the chance of a Guest Designer spot at Frilly and Funkie, and everyone who enters and follows the rules will go into the draw for the chance to win a $25 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique. In addition, the Design Team will select three further outstanding entries and those creators will receive a Top Pick badge to display on their blogs!

I can’t wait to see what you make!

Did I share some tips, tricks, and ideas that you can use in your own crafty adventures today? If so, I’d love to hear from you in the comment section below. To see more masculine card ideas on my blog, click HERE.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

Supply List

Products from The Funkie junkie Boutique

Graphic 45 A Proper Gentleman DCE
Tim Holtz Idea-Ology Mini Pocket Watches
Monocle
Swivel Clasp, Tim Holtz Idea-Ology
Tim Holtz Hex Fastener
Index Clips Fasteners/Tim Holtz Idea-Ology

Other Products:

Cardstock:

Stamperia Vintage Christmas Kitchen Easel Card

Stamperia Vintage Christmas Kitchen Easel Card for Frilly and Funkie

Hello, Friends! With Christmas right around the corner, you’re going to love the new challenge up on the Frilly and Funkie Challenge Blog. I’ve made this Stamperia Vintage Christmas Kitchen Easel Card for the “In the Kitchen” challenge, which is hosted by Suzz. We’ll take a look at it in a minute, but first let’s find out what Suzz has to say:

Challenge Theme: In The Kitchen
This time of the year we find ourselves in the kitchen either preparing food for family and friends or just gathering around with family who is visiting at the kitchen table. Your challenge is to incorporate the kitchen somehow in your project. You can use an object from the kitchen in creating your project or you can use a sentiment or image that reflects the kitchen. You decide how to represent being in your kitchen in your art.

Christmas Kitchen Easel Card: The Inspiration

Baking cookies is a Christmas tradition I’ve loved for decades! My mom used to bake enormous batches of her Traditional Scotch Shortbread every holiday season. I can still see her sitting in a chair, my grandmother’s old soup pot clenched firmly between her knees as she worked the butter and sugar together with an old wooden spoon. These simple and delicious cookies are part of our Christmas tradition every year, but I use my KitchenAid Mixer to cream the butter and sugar. The whole house smells like Christmas when these buttery cookies are baking! And it makes me feel connected to my mom, which is a wonderful thing indeed!

Christmas Kitchen Easel Card: The Design

I decided to go big for this challenge, so this easel card base measures a whopping 7″ square. The large size and easel card design are great for display in the kitchen during the holidays. It also gave me loads of “real estate” to play around with. The front cover is actually a pocket that’s been stuffed with loads of kitchen themed goodies.

Christmas Kitchen Easel Card: How to make a miniature cookbook

Stamperia Vintage Christmas is a wonderful collage page filled with delightful cut apart images. This recipe book page was fun to turn into a miniature book. Here’s how I did it:

First, cut out the 3 1/2″ ” x 2 1/2″ recipe book page, then ink and distress the edges.
Next, spritz it very lightly with water and crumple it up into a ball.
Cut 3 more 3 1/2″ x 2 1/2″ book pages from scraps or copy paper. Give them the same treatment.
Now, carefully open the crumpled book pages and smudge them with Vintage Photo Distress Ink. You can always find the tried and true recipes in any cookbook by looking for the smudged and soiled pages!
Fold each page in half down the center just like a real book. Then use a bone folder or the side of a ruler to curl the pages to give them a used, dogeared appearance.
Run a thin bead of glue along the fold of each page and stack the pages together.
Next, adhere just the “spine” of the book “cover” to the card base.
Then, when the glue has set, sort of push the outer edges of the pages toward the spine while adhering the corners of the book “cover” to the card base. I added a small dab of adhesive here and there to keep the pages from flying open.

Christmas Kitchen Easel Card: The Wooden Spoon

Dressing this wooden spoon up for the holidays was a blast! It was a yard sale find that cost me a whole quarter! For some reason, the spoon has a normal sized bowl, but is only 6″ long. I can’t imagine what it would have been used for, but now it decorates my card. Here’s how I did it:

First cover the spoon with a layer of Aged Mahogany Distress Stain. I still have the dabber top stains, but you could use the spray stain as well.
Now, dry the stain with a heat tool.
Next, open the top of a Ranger Emboss It Dabber and pour a dime sized puddle in the bowl of the spoon. Then use a paint brush (or your fingers, which is what I did) to spread the embossing ink all over the front and sides of the spoon.
Then place the spoon in a funnel tray or on a clean sheet of paper and cover with Seth Apter Vintage Beeswax Baked Texture. Tap off the excess, and put it back in the container. Then heat emboss. This transformation is so much fun to watch!
When the spoon is fully embossed and cooled, randomly paint the edges, handle and bowl with more embossing ink. Don’t go for full coverage! Just light coverage and random strokes.
Then cover the spoon with Seth Apter Ancient Amber Baked Texture, tip off the excess and heat emboss. The end result is so lovely!

I decorated my spoon with ribbon, die cut Tim Holtz Holiday Greens, Little Birdie Crafts Elsie Florals, Rusty Jingle Bells, Gold Twine and Sherry Shimmer Satin Ribbon. When I had everything arranged to my taste, I tapped greenery and bells with Distress Grit Paste to resemble snow. So fun!

Christmas Kitchen Easel Card: Pocket Inserts

I used images from the Vintage Christmas Scrapbooking cards to create a couple of 4″ x 6″ recipe folios to tuck in the front pocket.

The recipes for Mom’s Shortbread and our favorite Gingersnaps are written inside.

Christmas Kitchen Easel Card: A Peek Inside

In this photo, you can see that the “stopper” for the easel is also a pocket. Isn’t that fun?

I created a little tea bag wallet to tuck inside, along with a pretty ephemera card.

There’s room on the back of the ephemera card to add another recipe. And you just have to have a cup of tea with a Christmas cookie!

Here’s a peek at what the card looks like when it is not standing up for display. That’s something I love about an easel card. You can fold them down for storage or mailing, then stand them upright for display.

Now it’s YOUR Turn!

I hope you’ll play along in this sweet “In the Kitchen” challenge. To do so, simply link up your vintage or shabby chic kitchen themed project on the Frilly and Funkie Blog before 11:59PM EST on Tuesday December 18th.

The winner of this challenge will earn the chance of a Guest Designer spot at Frilly and Funkie, and everyone who enters and follows the rules will go into the draw for the chance to win a $25 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique. In addition, the Design Team will select three further outstanding entries and those creators will receive a Top Pick badge to display on their blogs!

I can’t wait to see what you make!

I hope I shared some tips, techniques and ideas that you can use in your own crafty adventures. If so, I’d love to hear from you in the comment section below.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

Product Links to The Funkie Junkie Boutique

Stamperia – Christmas Vintage 12×12 Paper Pack	Stamperia Cards Pad 4.5″X6.5″ 24/Pkg	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Stain Spray – Aged Mahogany TSS42129	Ranger Tim Holtz Mini Distress Ink Pad – Vintage Photo TDP40262	Seth Apter Baked Texture – Vintage Beeswax
Seth Apter Baked Texture – Ancient Amber	Sizzix Thinlits Die Set 11PK – Holiday Greens, Mini by Tim Holtz	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Grit Paste – TDA53422	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Sprayer TDA47414	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Embossing Ink Reinker TIM21827
Tim Holtz Tonic Studios Paper Distresser 370E	Tim Holtz Tonic Studios 8.5″ / 22cm Trimmer – 160e	Tim Holtz Tonic Studios Mini Scissors	Tonic 5″ titanium snips	Ranger Inkssentials Mini Ink Blending Tool – With 4 Blending Foams IBT40965
Tim Holtz Idea-ology Design Ruler Clear 12 Inch TH92481

Dragonfly Days Pocket and Tag Folio Tutorial

Dragonfly Days Pocket and Tag Folio Tutorial for Back to Nature Challenge at Frilly & Funkie

Hello, Friends! Welcome to the latest challenge at the Frilly & Funkie Blog, sponsored by The Funkie Junkie Boutique. I’ve created a mixed media Dragonfly Days Pocket and Tag Folio Tutorial for this “Back to Nature” challenge. Our lovely hostess is the amazing Sara Emily, who I call the Queen of Techniques. This is what she has to say about the challenge:

Having just returned from our annual trek to the mountains of West Virginia where we observed so much natural beauty on our hikes, I couldn’t help but make my challenge nature themed. You can make anything you like, from a card or tag to altered art, just be sure to include a natural element in your vintage or shabby chic project. Think real twigs, leaves, shells, pebbles. Or you could include a die cut or a stamped or stenciled image representing a natural object.

My mind went immediately to summer….and blue skies…and dragonflies. And that was how this lovely little Dragonfly Days Pocket and Tag Folio Tutorial came into being.

Dragonfly Days Pocket and Tag Folio Tutorial: The Base-ics

I designed a brand new style of folio for this challenge, which is always a good way to start any project in my world! This is a 7 1/4″ x 5 3/4″ side opening folio with a 1/2″ nested spine. The album has a fun staggered edge pocket and tag interior with my usual flaps and pockets. I think you will enjoy creating this base following the simple tutorial in the YouTube Video below.

TIP: Reinforce the folio spine by wrapping it with burlap. This not only looks awesome, it protects those delicate creases in the spine,

TIP: Punch holes in the spine and thread custom dyed seam binding ribbon through them. Alter the keys and dragonfly charm with Seth Apter’s incredible Patina Oxide Baked Texture. I am completely smitten with these Baked Textures! Look how old they made these keys look. And it took mere seconds to accomplish. Ya gotta love that!

Dragonfly Days Pocket and Tag Folio Tutorial Close Ups and Tips

TIP: Use an embossing pen to add Versamark Ink to the wings of the dragonfly. Then heat emboss with Seth Apter’s Baked Texture. Even my husband was amazed at how cool the wings look!

TIP: Distress Opaque Crackle Texture Paste adds subtle texture and design to this image. Mix a few drops of Old Paper Reinker in with a quarter sized blob of paste. Mix with a palette knife. Spread through the flourish stencil from Tim’s Mini Layering Stencils Set #10. It’s just so pretty!

Dragonfly Days Pocket and Tag Folio Tutorial: A Peek Inside

Stamperia Wonderland paper is filled with dragonflies and botanical images like these. That’s why I chose it for this project.

TIP: Create a fancy edged pocket by fussy cutting a floral cluster from the corner. Score a 1/4″ line along the left and the bottom edges. Fold, angle the corners, and fold to create a unique pocket.

This photo shows you the neat staggered edge/pocket and tag layout of the folio. I have to confess, I am really tickled with the way this turned out.

TIP: Cover tags in a flash! Use a Graphic 45 Regular Kraft Tag Album in combo with the G45 Regular Tag and Gears Die. You can cut up to 4 layers of designer paper at a time with this die.

Stamp covered tags with the Dragonfly image from Stamper’s Anonymous Classics 1. I used Butterscotch Archival Ink (retired). Heat embossed with Seth’s Vintage Beeswax Baked Texture. For this project, I decided handwritten quotes would be cool. Tear the paper edges, then adhere the quotes with Vintage Collage Distress Medium. I talk more about this in the video.

Dragonfly Days Pocket and Tag Folio Tutorial: The Video

Enjoy this album tour, see all the products I used to create it, and learn some neat tips and tricks as you view.

Back to Nature: Now it’s YOUR Turn!

Play along in this Back to Nature Challenge, by creating your own vintage or shabby chic project following Sara’s guidelines. Then link your project up at the Frilly and Funkie Blog before 11:55PM EDT on Tuesday, August 28th.

The Frilly and Funkie team will pick our favorite project to be a Guest Designer on the blog. Our top 3 picks will also receive badges to display proudly on their blog. And, everyone who plays along and follows the challenge guidelines will be entered into a drawing to win a $25 shopping spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique.

I can’t wait to see what you make!

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

Product Links

Please note, the flowers used on this project are from Little Birdie Crafts: Wendy Arctic Ice, Martina Arctic Ice, Bernice Ocean Mist, Rosemund Arctic Ice

Stamperia – Wonderland 12×12 Paper Pack	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Collage Medium Vintage TDAK47940 (February Pre-Order)	(February Pre-order) Tim Holtz Idea-ology Quote Chips	Ranger Palette Knife Set	Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Mini Layering Stencils – Set 10 THMST010 (March Pre-Order)
Stampers Anonymous Rubber Stamps – Classics #1	(MID-JANUARY PRE-ORDER) Seth Apter Baked Texture – Vintage Beeswax	(MID-JANUARY PRE-ORDER) Seth Apter Baked Texture – Patina Oxide	(February Pre-order) RANGER CRACKLE TEXTURE PASTE	(February Pre-order) Tim Holtz Idea-ology Botanical Layers
(February Pre-order) Tim Holtz Idea-ology Snippets Ephemera	Graphic 45 Staples Regular Tag and Gears Dies	Graphic 45 Regular Tag Album Kraft	Tim Holtz Ideaology Adornments Index Clips Fasteners TH93574	Ranger Tim Holtz Old Paper Distress Ink Reinker
Tim Holtz Ideaology Clippings Stickers TH93583	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Remnant Rubs, Gilded Holidays	Seam Binding	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint – Tumbled Glass	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad – Cracked Pistachio
Ranger Tim Holtz Mini Distress Ink Pad – Frayed Burlap	Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Paint – Antique Linen	Tonic Guillotine Comfort Paper Trimmer 8.5″ By Tim Holtz 160E	Tim Holtz Tonic Studios Paper Distresser	Tonic 5″ titanium snips
2 Piece Antiqued Bronze Dragonfly Charm	Bronze Metal Keys for Scrapbooking and Mixed Media	8 Piece Small Metal Keys for Scrapbooking and Mixed Media	Antique Bronze Filigree Fleur – Set of 3	Tim Holtz Assemblage Mirrored Medallions Charm Set
PTJ Vintage Craft and White Decorative Tape

Together Card Folio: Simple Stories Vintage Blessings

Together Card Folio with Simple Stories Vintage Blessings and Textured Ribbon

Hello, Ribbon Lovers! Time for another fabulous Really Reasonable Ribbon challenge! Once again, the theme is “anything goes” using ribbon or trim. I love using ribbon and trim to add texture to my cards. That’s what I’ve done with this Together Card Folio made with Simple Stories Vintage Blessings Collection.

Let’s look at all the ways I added texture to this cute vintage card folio:

First, I machine stitched a double border around the card perimeter.
Next, I used Turquoise Center Stitch Ribbon to create borders between my patterned papers.
Then, I created a lovely little bow cluster with Turquoise Burlap Center Stitch Ribbon and crochet lace.

Next, I added a couple of Tammy Tutterow Posie Part Felt Flowers and a small rolled up doily from my stash to my bow cluster.

Finally, I added a stained wood word title to the card, as well as painted/embossed/distressed wood doilies beneath that cute little house. Which is where I want to live when I retire, just so you know!

Together Card Folio: A Peek Inside

Adding pockets, mini folios and little treats to a card like this turns it into an instant gift. This would make such a lovely hostess gift or a thoughtful housewarming gift….or even a “gee I’m glad you’re my friend” kind of gift.

The side pocket on the top of the card holds this vintage button card. I jazzed it up a little with a strip of washi tape. The tiny envelope is decorated with some die cuts from the collection. It holds a lovely tea bag.

The bottom pocket holds this little photo wallet. 4″ x 4.5″ photo wallet. To add texture here, I created a string closure from Natural Burlap String and a fuzzy vintage button from my stash. Can you see the honey stick peeping out of the pocket? That’s to go with the tea bag, of course!

Here’s a peeky inside the photo wallet. The little embellishments are glued just on one end, so photos can slip right behind them.

Now it’s YOUR turn!

You can play along in this fun “anything goes with ribbon or trim” challenge, too. Just link your project up over on the Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge Blog. You’ll find all the rules and details at the bottom of the page.

I can’t wait to see what you make!

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

Counting My Blessings Fall Folio

RRR Anything Goes Challenge: Authentique Counting My Blessings Fall Folio

Hello, Ribbon Lovers! There’s a brand new challenge over on the Really Reasonable Ribbon Blog. This is an “anything goes” challenge. As long as you use ribbon or trim on your project, you are good to go. The RRR team is here to inspire your creativity with all kinds of fun projects using ribbons and/or trim. I dug into my crafty stash of retired Authentique papers to make this Counting My Blessings Fall Folio.

Fall is such a gorgeous season. Bright blue skies, cooler days, turning leaves and, one of my personal favorites, a fresh crop of apples! Yum! This 5″ x 7″ top fold folio was inspired by apples. I chose to work with the RRR Autumn Harvest Ribbon Club Assortment. Authentique’s “Fall” collection (retired) is a perfect color match for these gorgeous ribbons.

I made a belly band with Sherry Delicate Stitched Satin and Crochet Lace. The Autumn Harvest Ribbon Club Assortment also has this elegant Sherry/Ivory Plaid Ribbon and it’s the perfect companion for these patterns, colors and images.

These Cream Cherry Blossoms do a pretty good job of standing in as apple blossoms. I love the vintage vibe they add to the folio design. A loopy bow tied with natural burlap string helps anchor them to the corner.

Counting My Blessings Fall Folio: A Fun Way to Add A Bow

I created a lovely bow cluster with the Sherry/Ivory Plaid Ribbon, Natural Burlap String and a vintage button from my stash. But there’s more than what meets the eye where this bow is concerned.

There’s a hidden tag pocket behind the sentiment panel. Isn’t that fun?

After matting this sticker onto kraft cardstock, I topped it with a square knot bow made with Sherry/Ivory plaid ribbon and a little novelty button. A trio of mini buttons down the side of the tag are the perfect finishing touch.

Counting My Blessings Fall Folio: A Peek Inside

This recipe for Hermits is probably older than I am…and that’s saying something! LOL My mom used to make these in the fall, and they make the whole house smell like apples, cinnamon and spice! I hand copied the recipe onto the top half of the folio interior.

The lower pocket holds this 4″ x 6″ mini folio. It’s bound through the center with Sherry Delicate Stitched Satin Ribbon. Natural Burlap String is wrapped around the mini folio, then wound around a decorative brad. I love the rustic look of this closure mechanism.

Use it to house back to school photos, or recipes or pictures from fall family gatherings.

Now It’s YOUR turn!

Do you feel inspired to create now? If so, I’ve done my job! Why not pull out some paper pretties and ribbons and create your own “anything goes” project with ribbon or trim? Then link it up over on the RRR Challenge Blog. The team will be popping by to take a look at your lovely creations. Then we’ll pick our top 3 favorite projects to receive a badge to display proudly on your blog.

You have until midnight on Wednesday, August 30th to create and link up your project. You can find all the challenge details HERE.

I can’t wait to see what you make!

Thanks for stopping by!

Graphic 45 Proper Gentleman Pocket Card Eileen Hull House/Pocket Stitchlets Die for Frilly & Funkie

Proper Gentleman Pocket Card: The Inspiration

Proper Gentleman Pocket Card: Details

Proper Gentleman Pocket Card: What’s in Your Pocket

Proper Gentleman Pocket Card: A Peek Inside

Now it’s YOUR Turn

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Stamperia Vintage Christmas Kitchen Easel Card for Frilly and Funkie

Christmas Kitchen Easel Card: The Inspiration

Christmas Kitchen Easel Card: The Design

Christmas Kitchen Easel Card: How to make a miniature cookbook

Christmas Kitchen Easel Card: The Wooden Spoon

Christmas Kitchen Easel Card: Pocket Inserts

Christmas Kitchen Easel Card: A Peek Inside

Now it’s YOUR Turn!

Cheerio,

kathy

Product Links to The Funkie Junkie Boutique

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Dragonfly Days Pocket and Tag Folio Tutorial for Back to Nature Challenge at Frilly & Funkie

Dragonfly Days Pocket and Tag Folio Tutorial: The Base-ics

Dragonfly Days Pocket and Tag Folio Tutorial Close Ups and Tips

Dragonfly Days Pocket and Tag Folio Tutorial: A Peek Inside

Dragonfly Days Pocket and Tag Folio Tutorial: The Video

Back to Nature: Now it’s YOUR Turn!

Cheerio,

kathy

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Together Card Folio with Simple Stories Vintage Blessings and Textured Ribbon

Together Card Folio: A Peek Inside

Now it’s YOUR turn!

Cheerio,

kathy

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Like this:

RRR Anything Goes Challenge: Authentique Counting My Blessings Fall Folio

Counting My Blessings Fall Folio: A Fun Way to Add A Bow

Counting My Blessings Fall Folio: A Peek Inside

Now It’s YOUR turn!

Cheerio,

kathy

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