Saturday, September 21, 2013

Pretty Paper, Pretty Ribbons Birthday Blog Hop

Hey, everyone!  Welcome to the Pretty Paper, Pretty Ribbons Birthday Blog Hop.  The date of this hop just happens to be on my birthday (YAY!), so we made it a Birthday-themed hop.  So, you'll get to see all sorts of birthday projects created with Pretty Paper, Pretty Ribbons (PPPR) files.  I also put together a bigger collection of blog candy for this hop, and I have a FREEBIE just for hoppers!  YAY!  And, of course, we'll be kicking off another monthly challenge. So, be sure to read on to find out how to join in on the fun.


I created these little cupcake toppers using the brand new PPPR Birthday Critters and PPPR Birthday Gator Cutting Files, along with the print and cut feature of my Silhouette Cameo.  I also printed and cut the cupcake wrappers form the PPPR Cupcake Wrappers 1 Cutting Files. The great thing about this is that I could match the colors of the wrappers to the colors of the images.  So, they coordinate perfectly! The cupcakes shown in the photo are fake cupcakes I still have from the days when I sold cupcake toppers on Etsy.  They are a bit taller and poofier than standard cupcakes, so the wrappers would fit real ones much better. :)  Oh, well. You get the idea.

I know that, when I started making cupcake toppers for my daughters' birthdays and to sell on Etsy, I had to do a lot of research to find out the best way to make them.  So, I thought I'd share the process I went through to create these.  First, I created "outsets" or shadow layers around each of the full color SVGs in Silhouette Studio.  These have outsets of about 0.08 px.  Then, I set the cut line for the outset, only, and made a copy of the outset.  So, I ended up with an image with a white border and a blank border layer (without the image).  I hope this makes sense.  It's more difficult to explain than I thought it would be.

Anyway, once the pieces were all cut out, I used my hot glue gun to glue lollipop sticks to the extra blank outset pieces I cut.


Then, I surrounded the lollipop stick with foam double stick tape, added a little ATG gun tape to the top of the lollipop stick, and attached the image cuts.


Here are a couple of more angles to show how the toppers look all around:



Putting together a large number of these for a party or class treat would be pretty quick.  Here's an important tip, though, that I found out from experience.  Don't put the wrappers around your cupcakes until the last minute before the party starts.  The paper wrappers will get soggy if left on for too long, and the ink on anything you printed could run and smear if they are left to soak up the moisture of the cupcakes for too long. Mine have always lasted through the actual party if I put them on just before guests arrive. 

Our hop also kicks off our 4th monthly challenge.  YAY!  The theme this month, of course, is BIRTHDAY. Create anything birthday themed using Pretty Paper, Pretty Ribbons files, and link it up.  Here are all of the details of the challenge:


  1. The project must be Birthday-themed.  Pretty Paper, Pretty Ribbons products must be the focus of the project.
  2. Please link to your actual blog post...not to your blog.  If you don't have a blog, you can add a photo of your project to the Birthday Challenge photo folder in the Pretty Paper, Pretty Ribbons Project Parade Facebook Group.
  3. You can enter as many different Birthday projects as you want for more chances to win.
  4. The challenge will run for 3 weeks.  You must link up your project by 11:55 pm CST on Saturday, October 12, 2013.
  5. One random winner of a $10 Gift Certificate to PPPR will be chosen.  Our Design Team will also choose our PPPR Top 3.  Winners will be announced on Wednesday, October 16, 2013.
The Linky will be at the end of this post. :)

Okay, now...how about some BLOG CANDY???


One lucky hopper will win a $15 Gift Certificate to PPPR, 2 My Mind's Eye 6x6 inch paper pads, some My Mind's Eye buttons, a set of baker's twine, 2 little acrylic stamp sets, and a set of Studio G shaped card bases. Here's what you need to do for a chance to win this awesome prize:

1.  Be a follower of EVERY BLOG in our little hop.  There are just 10 of us, so that shouldn't be too hard.  You won't be sorry...I'm super lucky to have such talented ladies on my Design Team.

AND

2.  Leave a comment at EACH blog along the hop.  Be sure to let us know you are a follower and leave us your e-mail address.

That's all you have to do.  If you would like EXTRA entries, you can also do one or more of the following:

3.  Like the Pretty Paper, Pretty Ribbons Facebook Page.  Leave me a separate comment on this blog telling me you did.  Don't forget to leave your e-mail address.

4.  Sign up for the Pretty Paper, Pretty Ribbons Newsletter and leave a comment on this blog telling me you did.  You'll get a weekly e-mail telling you about new files, coupon codes/sales, and freebies. Don't forget to leave me the e-mail address you signed up with. :)

Please only US and Canadian mailing addresses....sorry.  I will randomly choose a winner of the hop candy on Tuesday, September 24, 2013.

OKAY.....WHEW!  Here's your SURPRISE. Only hoppers can pick up this adorable little freebie.  This TWEET little birdie and title will be available here for free on Saturday and Sunday ONLY!  So, grab it before you can buy it!  Just click on the Add to Cart Button to download it...but don't forget to come back to finish the hop.  You don't want to miss all of the fantastic projects and your chance to win the blog candy. :)

***NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR FREE, but you can purchase it HERE for just $1.25***

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  Your next stop on the hop is Barb.


100 comments:

  1. Thanks for the super cute freebies, love them!

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  2. Happy Birthday, Lisa !!! Great project.

    Be blessed, Beckie

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  3. I'm also a facebook "liker" :)
    leekubinec@gmail.com

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  4. Happy birthday to you!!!!! Happy birthday dear Lisa, happy birthday to you! I hop you enjoyed your surprise! You deserve it!
    Xoxo

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  5. Your cupcake topper are adorable and thanks for the tips! Happy birthday!

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  6. Fun cupcake toppers!!! TFS joy4umetoo at hotmail dot com

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  7. I'm a FB follower too! joy4umetoo at hotmail dot com

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  8. I'm signed up for the newsletter! Great hop! joy4umetoo at hotmail dot com

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  9. Happy Happy Birthday!! Definitely a blog follower!! cissy770@gmail.com

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  10. I already like your FB page and I do get newsletter! :)

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  11. Happy Birthday!!! What a fabulous Blog Hop so far... hahaha...Enjoy your day, and thanks for the Birhtday "Freebie" I love him!!
    Tina B

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  12. Happy happy birthday !!!! Your designs are so lovely and fun !!! I can't wait to create ! After I see all of the wonderful inspiration !!

    Mayra
    MayrasDesigns.blogspot.com

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  13. Wishing You A Very Merry Birthday... and omg... how cute are your cupcakes... i def can see how you can make a whole birthday out of a file, thanks for the inspiration... and loving the hop...

    I am a follower of your blog.

    morentin1326AT aol dot com



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  14. I am a facebook follower on my page and on my blogs fb page:

    https://www.facebook.com/PrettyPaperPrettyRibbons21

    morentin1326 AT aol dot com




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  15. I am a twitter follower
    https://twitter.com/PrettyPaperPR

    morentin1326 AT aol dot com

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  16. I am a follower on Pinterest

    http://www.pinterest.com/morentin1326/likes/



    morentin1326 AT aol dot com

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  17. I am a network blog follower:
    http://www.networkedblogs.com/blog/pretty_paper_pretty_ribbons?ahash=add629babc4d96d18275c6433fb6b68d


    morentin1326 AT aol dot com

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  18. I am an email subscriber
    morentin1326 AT aol dot com

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  19. Happy B-day!! Your cupcakes are adorable! Thanks for a chance to win!

    bdcampers@msn.com

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  20. Happy Birthday to you!! Love the cake toppers.

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  21. Happy Birthday!! Love the cupcake toppers and thanks for the tips.
    I am a follower.
    slrdowney at hotmail dot com

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  22. Wow, cute cupcake toppers. I like how you have the backing to them. Thanks for the instructions on making them and thanks for the freebie today. I am a follower of your blog. einersonsgirl@yahoo.com

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  23. Yeh~~~~~
    so cute!!!
    I did "like" your facebook, named Jumi.
    My email add jjumscand at gmail dot com

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  24. These cupcake toppers are adorable. Love the tutorial!
    Julieodil at charter dot net

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  25. I already "like" your FB page and follow all your designers blogs.

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  26. I look forward to Fridays to get the newsletter!
    julieodil at charter dot net

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  27. I LOVE this file and they look soooo cute as cupcake toppers! Happy Birthday sweetie... We LOVE you!!!

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  28. Happy Birthday Lisa. Your toppers are over the top cute.
    Have a creative day.
    Hugs Nana
    ♥ My Crafting Channel ♥
    ♥ 2 Creative Chicks ♥
    ♥ Silhouette Challenges ♥

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  29. Happy Birthday Lisa!! Your project is adorable! I am off to check out the design teams projects!
    Hugs,
    Deb C
    aka bugjuiced

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  30. Happy Happy Birthday Lisa!! Hope you are having the BEST day ever :)
    I LOVE LOVE LOVE those adorable toppers!!! Super CUTE and such a GREAT party touch!
    Thanks for sharing and have a GREAT rest of your weekend!!!

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  31. Hi Lisa,

    Happy Birthday! I already follow you on Facebook and by e-mail, but...not on pinterest so I decided to follow you there too! I love your toppers!

    Hugs,
    Chriss
    www.chrissandlou.blogspot.com
    america57@comcast.net

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  32. Happy Birthday Lisa!! Hope you're having a great day!! You're toppers are adorable!! Thanks for the freebies :)

    Lisa C

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  33. Happy Birthday to you! What an AWESOME hop and an AWESOME team! Great toppers super CUTE!

    Have a GREAT day!
    Shelly

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  34. So fun! love the hop! Happy Birthday Lisa! Hope it is an amazing day for you!

    Julie
    Simply Silhouette
    aka: Cricut Chick

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  35. Happy Birthday Lisa! I'm glad I found this HOP through Enmma at MCT, that Candy Corn card is simply adorbs. I am a new follower. This design team rocks!

    Crafty hugs,
    Debbie

    dhawk@centurylink.net

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  36. First off, Happy Birthday, I truly hope you have a great day :) Your cupcake toppers are just so adorable and I love that you showed us how to make them. thanks so much for the adorable freebie!!
    Kathy
    Salido99@msn.com
    http://3spoileddogs.blogspot.com/

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  37. I am a follower on Facebook too :)
    Kathy
    Salido99@msn.com
    http://3spoileddogs.blogspot.com/

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  38. Your toppers and wraps look adorable. Thank you for the surprise bird file. So sweet. :) Already a follower.

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  39. Thank you very much for the freebies... I am a follower and HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!
    lindaplusthree@yahoo.com

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  40. this is very cute Lisa I love this idea thanks for sharing and also for the surprise freebie as well
    Hugs
    Debbie

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  41. Your toppers are Super Cute!! love them and your cupcakes!!!
    Thank you for the adorable freebie and the awesome giveaway!!
    Happy Birthday Lisa and wishing you many & many more!!!
    Please stop by my blog for the Trendy Twine Giveaway!
    Have a wonderful day,
    Migdalia
    ♥ Crafting With Creative M ♥
    ♥ 2 Creative Chicks Challenges ♥

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  42. I am a follower on FB too!!!You know that!!!
    Yiippee!
    Please stop by my blog for the Trendy Twine Giveaway!
    Have a wonderful day,
    Migdalia
    ♥ Crafting With Creative M ♥
    ♥ 2 Creative Chicks Challenges ♥

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  43. I already received the newsletter!! Yiippee
    Please stop by my blog for the Trendy Twine Giveaway!
    Have a wonderful day,
    Migdalia
    ♥ Crafting With Creative M ♥
    ♥ 2 Creative Chicks Challenges ♥

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  44. Beautiful cards...
    http://thecardnook.blogspot.com/
    Happy Birthday Lisa...

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  45. Happy Birthday Lisa. I hope you had a wonderful birthday.

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  46. Happy happy birthday Lisa! I hope it has been a wonderful day for you and I hope you enjoyed your highjacked Birthday Blog Hop ♥ Oh and by the way, I adore those sweet cupcake toppers!

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  47. Happy, Happy Birthday Miss Lisa. Your cupcakes look so yummy and your cupcake toppers are so stinkin' ca-ute. Thanks for a chance for a wonderful prize. I signed up for your newsletter.

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  48. Happy Birthday! Your cupcakes are adorable.. and thanks for the topper tips :)

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  49. Happy Birthday!! your cupcakes look yummy & the cupcake toppers are ADORABLE!! I always forget I can make my own! LOL great job! I'm a follower, signed up for your newsletter, & am following you on Facebook!! Your blog hop ladies did an amazing job!

    Jennifer.rose112@gmail.com

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  50. First of all I want to wish you Happy Birthday, with a lot of love, happiness & health. May your dreams become true very soon. I hope you continue to be very creative and make many more fantastic creations.
    Avigail

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  51. I had wonderful time being a guest designer for this hop, so a big thank you to your DT for asking me to join in on the fun :)
    Hope you have a wonderful Birthday and get spoiled rotten :)
    hugs
    Nanné

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  52. First off Happy birthday I hope you have a wonderful day! I am now a follower

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  53. I have started following your facebook page my email is mitch@tbwifi.ca

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  54. Woo Hoo I will now be getting your newsletter and looking forward to it :)
    mitch@tbwifi.ca

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  55. Happy Birthday! I hope you have a Wonderful weekend! Love the cupcake toppers!

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  56. Those are the cutest toppers! Loved the "how to"!

    mimiscraftcorner.blogspot.com

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  57. these are sooo fun!! love how you added foam stickers in the middle!! so glad you loved your surprises!! :)

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  58. Happy Birthday! LOL, guess the surprise is on you today, and they did a fantastic job too! Thanks for all the inspiration...just found you guys at PPPR...um Pretty Paper, lol! ;)

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  59. Oh, and I love your toppers! Great idea with the foam tape! :)

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  60. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LISA!!! :)

    I love your cute cupcake toppers and wrappers! Thank you so much for the cute file! I can't wait to cut it.

    Crafty hugs,

    Jennifer
    Partridgelu at yahoo dot com

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  61. I am already a Facebook fan!!! :)

    Crafty hugs,

    Jennifer
    Partridgelu at yahoo dot com

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  62. I already subscribe to your newsletter!!! :)

    Crafty hugs,

    Jennifer
    Partridgelu at yahoo dot com

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  63. What an exciting hop, looking forward to checking out your files and happy to be a new follower too. Thank you. teachermom5@gmail.com

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  64. Just subscribed to your newsletter too and thank you for the digital download, that little birthday birdie is adorable. teachermom5@gmail.com

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  65. Happy Birthday Lisa! Hope you had a great day.

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  66. Hope you had a great birthday. I just completed the hop and loved to see all the different creations! I am looking forward to new inspiration to use with my new silhouette cameo. I am a follower to your blog and on facebook.

    bethwulff at gmail dot com

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  67. Happy Birthday Lisa!!! So excited that we could surprise you!!! <3 Love you, you're the best boss ever!! :)

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  68. Happy Birthday Lisa, we all love you very much!! Hope you liked your surprise, you have no idea how hard it was for all of us to keep it a secret 😜 I love you sweet cupcake toppers these are absolutely adorable!!

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  69. Happy Birthday! Love those toppers :)
    Beth
    bfiscus[at]nntc[dot]net
    Beth's Beauties

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  70. I also follow you on Facebook.
    Beth
    bfiscus[at]nntc[dot]net
    Beth's Beauties

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  71. LOVE the cupcake toppers! Hope you have a great birthday! I'm a new follower. TFS, and thanks for the chance to win!

    ~Ashley
    proudusmcwife@gmail.com
    http://marinewifesscrappinlife.blogspot.com

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  72. I love your cupcake toppers...too cute! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Hope you had a super special day. I haven't tried the print-n-cut feature yet, gonna have to put that on my to do list. :)

    cassandracauble@yahoo.com
    www.Ctimz3.blogspot.com

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  73. Super cute cupcake toppers!! Hope you had a fantastic Birthday! I'm a new follower!

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  74. Super cute cupcake toppers.. my favorite is the turtle! Thanks for the birthday freebie. Already a follower :)

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  75. I'm a Facebook fan and get your great newsletter :)

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  76. Happy Happy Birthday Lisa:) Super sweet cupcake toppers. Thank You the super cute free files. Hope your birthday was amazing.

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  77. Happy Birthday!! These are so cute!! Thanks for the hop and for a chance to win blog candy!!

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    Replies
    1. Oops forgot to mention I follow you :)
      davisbabe@gmail.com

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  78. Am already a follower. Like that you put the cute critters on both sides.

    marg0006 at Verizon dot net

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  79. Liked you on facebook.

    marg0006 at Verizon dot net

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  80. Ps your toppers are really adorable and I love the tip you gave about the wrappers!
    DIANA L.
    dianamlarson.blogspot.com

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  81. Happy Birthday! What a fun hop this is going to be!!! Your cupcake decorations are so adorable!!!!

    What a lovely selection of blog candy you are offering!!! I already am a follower of yours by email, but now I am a brand-new follower by Google Friend, too. Yippeee!!!
    <3 J

    jwoolbright at gmail dot com

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  82. I already am on your email newsletter list. Yippee!!!
    <3 J

    jwoolbright at gmail dot com

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  83. On my gosh these are terrific. Love the foam tape idea. TFS.
    Crafty hugs,
    D~
    designsbydragonfly.blogspot
    dmcardmaker at AOL
    email and Google follower

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  84. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!
    Crafty hugs,
    D~
    designsbydragonfly.blogspot
    dmcardmaker at AOL
    I am also signed up for your newsletter.

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  85. ADORABLE! Happy belated birthday! These cupcakes are SO CUTE! I just LOVE how they turned out! I'm a follower of your blog too. Hugs- Glora
    me(at)glorajean(dot)com

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  86. I 'like' your page on FB. I'm a follower of your blog too. Hugs- Glora
    me(at)glorajean(dot)com

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  87. I have already signed up for your newsletter too. Hugs- Glora
    me(at)glorajean(dot)com

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  88. Very cute cupcake toppers. momwyckoff at gmail.com

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  89. I already liked on FB. momwyckoff at gmail.com

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  90. Happy Birthday! I am a new follower. Love those cupcake toppers, so cute.

    Leslie
    cascrapper at gmail dot com

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  91. Lisa,
    I just made it home from vacation-please don't enter me in anything-I just wanted to pop by quick to wish you a Happy Birthday! It looks like everyone did an amazing job with celebrating your birthday! The projects are fabulous! Love your cupcake toppers-they are just adorable!
    Hope you had a wonderful day-Happy Birthday!
    Sherrie K
    http://sherriescraps.blogspot.com

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  92. Awesome cupcake toppers! Thanks for showing how to cover the back! So sweet of you to share such a super cute hop freebie (and the Friday Freebie is suuuuuch a cutie!!). Thanks Lisa, and hope you had an amaaaaaaaaazing bday!!!

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  93. These cupcake toppers are fantastic! And I love your tutorial! What a fun hop and great prizes Lisa. I hope you birthday was fabulous! :)

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Thank you so much for your sweet comments! They really make my day! :D