Tag Archives: kid crafts

Happy Holidays friends! I am so excited to participate in the 12 Days of Christmas this year for PNC. The PNC Price Index ® is a really cool way to see the price of my project from the actual 12 Days of Christmas song.

This is PNC’s 35th year calculating the cost of purchasing the gifts in the holiday classic “The 12 days of Christmas.”

I was stoked when I found out I was doing the 1st day of the 12 Days of Christmas, A Partridge in a Pear Tree. This year I will show you how to make a DIY version of the gift. This craft will roughly cost you $30. Who’s ready to get started, because I am! You will love this DIY project! 

Supplies for FIRST step:
*Terra Cotta Pot
*Scissors
*Mod Podge
*Craft Brush
*Scrapbook paper that looks like woodgrain Make sure you get enough sheets to cover all of your pots if you intend on doing more than one pot. I like to do more than one because it looks better in a group plus you never know when a friend will come over and you might want to send them home with “Partridge in a Pear Tree.” Step One: Get a damp cloth and wipe down the entire surface of your terra cotta pots. Did I mention how affordable these pots are? Terra Cotta pots are the best pots to craft with because of this!  Step Two: Cut pieces of your woodgrain paper longways to ensure one strip fits completely vertically. We want this to look as real as possible in the end. Lay down a whole sheet and cut long strips while leaving them in the correct order. Apply them in the order you cut them so once they are all on, everything will line up properly!  Step Three: Apply a coat of Mod Podge onto one strip of your terra cotta pot. Make sure your strip is ready to place on the pot because we don’t want this to dry.  Step Four: Once you place your strip on the pot, apply more Mod Podge on top of the strip. Initially it looks white but once it dries it will be clear. Use your finger to rub in the Mod Podge and push down any cracks or pieces of paper that’s not flat.  Step Five: Continue until your entire pot is covered. Just a quick tip, if your strips of paper aren’t lining up 100% perfectly don’t stress about this ok…I promise it will look fabulous once it’s completely dry! 

How amazing are these woodgrain pots! I am still in awe at how beautiful they came out. Such a quick and affordable way to dress up a plain pot, right!  I didn’t add paper to the inside of the pots because it will be filled with paper.  Supplies for second step:
*Brown Craft Paper
*Stapler
*Clear Tape
*Stapler (Optional) Step One: Cut long pieces of the brown craft paper so we can have a stack ready to roll. Don’t worry if the strips are too long we can always cut them when we are done.
Step Two: Carefully twist the paper using both hands. Don’t be too rough during this step because you will tear the paper. For the main branch (that goes in the middle) I twisted one piece and continued adding more strips around it till the width and thickness was where I wanted it. 

It’s important to get that first piece really strong since we will be adding other branches, leaves, pears and moss to them.

Step Three: Make sure to roll multiple sizes of branches.  Step Four: Grab your big branch and tape it down to the inside of the pot. I added a few pieces of tape to just make sure it was really secure. Continue doing this with as many branches as you want.  This is what it will look like when you tape them down inside the pot. Keep in mind we will be filling the negative (empty) space with crunched up craft paper so that will also keep your branches secure. You can also use a stapler or clear tape to add branches onto other branches. It will all be covered in the end!
Step Five: Start crumbling paper and filling it inside the pot. Also, notice that I used some clear tape to bunch up the base of all my branches so it looks like one massive tree on the bottom. 

Wow y’all! It’s starting to come together!

Supplies for third step:
*Different shades of green craft paper (Make sure to get the paper that has    texture/lines on them)
*Different shades of green ink pads
*Hot glue gun
*Scissors (Kids can use kid friendly scissors)
*Faux Moss Step One: I actually eyeballed cutting out my leaves because I knew in the end once I bent them up with my hands they would look like different shapes.

This is a great step to have your kids do! Put a good movie on and let them cut leaves for days, haha!  Step Two: Make sure to grab some craft paper that is pre-printed with leaves like this because they will be nice to add in random spots to add some texture!  Let’s just take a second to look at how beautiful these ink pads are.
Step Three: Add multiple shades of ink onto your leaves to make them look realistic. P.S. Make sure you cut all different sizes in different shades of colors.

For the pears I eyeballed cutting one out until I was happy with it then I just used that one as my template to cut around to make the rest of them.  Make sure you use a bright green paper for the pears, we want to make sure they stand out against the other green shades. I love how they look a little real, at least from one angle!

Bend the edges with your hands over and over until they are not flat anymore.  You will do the same thing for the leaves. I found pinching one end of the leaves inward then folding the other end backwards, made them look extremely real.  I am super happy with the way the different leaves and pears came out! Make sure you cut MORE leaves than you think you will need because you will need a lot! It’s always better to have more than less, plus a real pear tree has lot’s of leaves!  Step Four: Grab your glue gun and start gluing a pear on one of the branches then adding leaves around the tops of them. If your kids are helping, make sure to monitor this step. Kids can use glue for this step. 

Step Five: Add faux moss to our gaps and holes. Since we are making a real tree, we want to add ton’s of texture to it. Cover the spots of tape with moss! You can’t go wrong with this step, just be careful with the hot glue!

Supplies for fourth step:
*Colorful pack of craft paper
*Scissors
*Hot Glue Gun
*Print out of a Partridge Step one: Print out a picture from the internet of a Partridge just to use as reference.  Step two: Take your print out and trace it onto a dark brown piece of craft paper.
Step three: Using the print out as reference, start cutting all the shades you see out of your stack of craft paper and hot glue them down onto your brown cutout. 

Now it’s time to add that Partridge in our Pear tree! How fantastic is this tree!

I had to add a few real pears to bring to life the “Pear Tree.” Plus you will have a snack to eat after you are finished with these trees.  Notice how I added the stamped pears along with plain ones next to each other to accentuate the different shades that pears actually go through while blooming.
I think my favorite thing about this project is that adults can have fun doing this as well as kids. It’s the perfect “family” project that you can put out on display throughout the holiday season. 

I hope you enjoyed this project! Happy Holidays and huge hugs from my computer to yours!!!

Don’t forget to follow me on all of my social media channels because I love all of you to pieces!!!!

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The Simple Secret: How to Spray Paint like a Pro! 

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by HomeRight and contains affiliate links. All opinions are my own.

Hey y’all! It’s been a hot minute and I am so happy to hang out with y’all online today and show you how to spray paint like a pro! How many of you are in awe that Summer is already here? I woke up the other morning and freaked out when I realized it was May! Now let’s be real, I write dates down daily and I have been writing May down for some time now, but it REALLY hit me that it’s almost Summertime. I just pray I am not the only one who has these “realizations”, haha! How many of you are ready to see a spray paint shelter for small paint projects!

Don’t get me wrong I love Summer, said no one ever! Incase you didn’t know I live in the hottest place in the world. LOUISIANA. Who doesn’t love walking out of your house at 7 am and within 2 minutes your back is sweating and mosquitos are eating you alive. It’s ok because now I have a small spray shelter I can turn into a magical getaway with watermelon and fans, or I can just paint small projects in it! Let’s get started!

If you are anything like me then you love to transform lot’s of things with spray paint. I am super stoked to share this product with you! I usually grab something, plop it in the grass then spray away with my spray paint. Yep, overspray is all over the place when I am doing this. I won’t mention the time I spray painted too close to my car (insert eye roll).

This Small Spray Shelter from HomeRight is seriously the best thing to ensure that you won’t get overspray on anything! Did I mention how easy this baby is to set up? You just unzip the small package it comes in and magically watch it open up.

  • Set Up Anywhere
    This portable, lightweight Spray Shelter makes it easy to position on a tabletop, floor or workbench. It naturally pops up into position to be used almost instantly.

  • Spray Paint the Right Way
    The Small Spray Shelter is a tent-like structure that provides a safe area to spray paint or stain, and protects your surrounding area from overspray drift. It can be used with aerosol cans, airless paint sprayers, or HVLP sprayers like the Finish Max or Super Finish Max.
  • Sets Up Quickly
    In just a few simple steps, the Small Spray Shelter can be set up in your working area. That means there’s more time for painting!
  • Great for Small to Medium Projects
    This small, temporary Spray Shelter is perfect for spraying lamps, wood crates, home decor, and other accessories!
  • Contains Overspray Drift
    Designed to contain overspray by directing airflow away from your project. This provides greater protection for your piece and breathing area.

I was really impressed with the packaging and how easy it is to put back in the bag. It comes with two handles at the top making it easy to carry around from one spot to another. I won’t lie the first time I had to fold it back up I probably sacred my neighbor. If I had to guess I may have looked like a flamingo that was just learning to walk while stepping on and off a few balloons. Yes, I know sometimes this DIY life turns us into things we never knew we could be!

I thought I would be nice and save yourself from this embarrassment so you can click below to see this easy video showing you how to put it away when you are done with it!

Click here to see video

Today I will be showing you how to make some chic and cute Summertime flower pots that will look great on your front porch. Of course we will be using the spray shelter so let’s get started.

You will need:
Home Right Spray Shelter
Ceramic or Plastic Pots
Spray Paint
Painters Tape
Glitter (Optional)

I wanted to mix up my pots by using some terra cotta and some plastic. It really doesn’t matter which ones you choose to use what’s important is to make sure you use the right spray paint. Your project will come out better if you use spray paint designed for plastic, so be aware of this before you start your project. 

Now it’s time to have fun with your project. Get out all the colors you want to use because we will be doing some striping on our pots, which means we will use more than one color on a pot. I am officially ready to teach you how to spray paint like a pro? Who’s ready?

I suggest always using painters tape because it sticks nicely on the pots and is easy to peel off. I am going to be using a little glitter on some of my pots because, why not! Glitter makes everyone smile so I figured it could possibly make my plants smile too!

Step ONE: Clean off the outside of the pots to get off dirt and prep for spraying. Start by adding one strip of tape from top to bottom along the pot. Don’t be too hard on yourself, these tape lines do not have to be perfect. Once they are fully painted the lines look great!

Step TWO: Once your pots are all taped up it’s time to paint them with your spray paint. I suggest placing a piece of cardboard or foam board on the base of the spray shelter so your pot is on a hard surface. It will prevent it from tipping over. Spray multiple light layers of spray paint until its fully coated. 

You can see below how the first layer of spray paint will look. Here is a good example of the size of the paint shelter. This is a medium sized pot and there is still an ample amount of room left! I placed a lamp in here and it barely took up half of the space.

Here are a few projects I used spray paint for and boy I wish I had this spray shelter!

Check out this paper towel holder and this glass vase!

Step THREE: Let it sit for a hot minute until it’s fully dry.

You can see below how the white looks once you put spray about 4 coats of spray paint on it.

Step FOUR: Once it’s dry carefully peel off the tape. Don’t fret if some of the white bled under the tape. In the end it will look very vintage when you add your plants. 

Now that you know how to make these pots you can get busy with tons of other colored pots. I am seriously loving the look of the natural terra cotta and white! 

For the red and white ones I painted the pots all red, let them dry then applied tape to them and painted them white. When you peel off this paint it’s like circus heaven! I find these all look sorta like 4th of July pots!

I decided to plant cacti and wax plants so they could last a while. For some strange reason I can’t seem to keep anything alive except plants that require low maintenance, go figure. 

I wanted the blue and white to look a little distressed so I put the painters tape on the pot before the white was completely dry then peeled it off before the blue was completely dry. Kinda reminds me of denim!

How darling are these babies!  This spray paint shelter for small projects is the perfect thing to have on hand, trust me! If you have enough room in your garage or covered spot you can keep it up year round! Maybe put a cat bed in it for a mini house when you are not using it, haha!!! 

I say one is my favorite until I look at another one then I go back to square one, confused! HAHA! I have officially showed you How to Spray Paint like a Pro, and I can’t wait to see what you create using your spray shelter! 

I hope you enjoyed this post! Can you imagine what a bunch of rainbow ones would look like all together with stripes. Make sure to hop on over to the Home Right website so check out all of their products and projects! You can also find them here on FacebookTwitterInstagram, and Pinterest.

Don’t forget to follow me on all of my social media channels because I love all of you to pieces!!!!

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The Simple Secret to using Popsicle Sticks! 

Today is the day that we all learn what to do with those left over popsicle sticks!  Wait, does anyone even eat popsicles anymore? When I was little I would rush to get to the wooden taste of the stick!  The craft stores fixed our problems by selling these sticks in packs I will tell ya! I am excited to team up with Kwik Stix for this project and show you how to brighten up your personal space with good ole popsicle sticks. 

♥ This is a sponsored post.  All ideas and beliefs are based completely off of my personal opinion and I only post products on my blog that I stand behind. 

You will  need: High Temperature Glue Gun * Glass Candle Holders * Candles * Craft Sticks * Kwik Stix from the Pencil Group 

Tired of the endless mess of painting?  Fear not! Kwik Stix Solid Tempera Paint sticks take the mess out of painting while keeping all the fun!  Simply uncap, twist, and paint! Kwik Stix have a fast drying formula that allow them to dry in 90 seconds ( YES 90 SECONDS ) while still leaving a paint-like finish! You can also purchase these from your local Michaels stores or click here to purchase. 

No cups, smocks, water or brushes required. Kwik Stix come in assorted vibrant colors with coverage that won’t crack.  Great on poster paper, cardboard, wood and canvas and much more!

Let’s just all take a moment and stare at this beautiful hot pink paint stick!  I literally opened it and thought about using it as lip stick!  You can’t lie- you thought the same thing as me! 

Step one:  Paint one side of your popsicle stick with the color of your choice.

I wanted to have a fun theme and a more elegant theme so pull up your britches because it’s gonna be a fun ride with me today!

I was quite surprised to see this product in action and I literally mean this!  At first the paint appears wet but then within seconds it starts to dry.  It’s the most fascinating product that I have used in a while. 

The colors literally come alive once you apply it, which had me thinking.  Why didn’t anyone ever make colored popsicle sticks?  Just a thought… 

I asked myself what kind of picket fence would I would want around my house and if you know me then you know I would pull for ” Team Rainbow” but some days I wake up and feel like Cher and my inner sophisticated side comes out, which leaves us with a black picket fence. 

The black popsicle sticks kinda remind me of the Nightmare before Christmas.  Personally I would keep these candle holders up all year long and decorate around them!  Can I get an AMEN! My imagination is screaming like a kid on Christmas morning thinking about all the things I can create with these paint sticks. 

Clean your glass candle holders with cleaner before glueing the popsicles to them. The glass needs to be really clean otherwise the sticks won’t stick properly. 

Once you are ready get your glue gun and start glueing them on one by one.  If small kids are doing this project, now is the time I would suggest having an adult help out. We don’t want to burn those little fingers.  Let your kids color the sticks- trust me they will love it!!!!

I made two passes with my glue gun to make sure there was enough glue on them. 

Make sure to press firmly on each stick right after you place it on the candle holder. 

I am really in love with these Tempera Paint sticks.  They are perfect for people on the go since they dry so quickly, this means no mess for the parents to clean up after! 

Not sure what to do when you are busy cooking, cleaning and working? Throw some popsicle sticks on the table with these paint sticks and you won’t hear a word for hours.  Seriously how do I know this? it happened to me, I found myself so zoned into painting them that I didn’t realize I painted much more than I actually needed! 

How beautiful are these picket fence candle holders! 

Just close your eyes and imagine yourself snuggled up on the couch watching your favorite movie with these just glowing away, pure happiness. 

Fill these containers up with candy and treat your guests to a warm surprise. 

You are welcome, I just made life amazing for you! 

The ideas are endless with these tempera sticks!  I can’t wait to try them on paper! 

 

I feel like these belong on the set of a whimsical movie with lightning bugs flying around.  Did I mention you could put these on your desk with pencils and pens in them.  You can put so many different things in them just use your imagination. 

Check out all of the Kwik Stix colors. You can purchase from The Pencil Grip

I hope you enjoyed this project as much as I did! See you in the next post, until then hugs from my computer to yours!

Don’t forget to follow me on all of my social media channels because I love all of you to pieces!!!! 

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

From playful pumpkins to spooky sights, Michaels has everything you need to MAKE it Spooky this fall!

It’s always good to raise awareness of food allergies this season and promote inclusion of all trick-or-treaters throughout the Halloween season. That is what the Teal Pumpkin Project is all about! Check out my other projects I have created for Michaels HERE

The safety of kids being able to trick or treat and receive allergy free treats is key! CLICK HERE for more information about what you should do if you want to participate in this. Faux Pumpkin ♥ Teal Paint ♥ Mod Podge ♥ Teal Glitter ♥ Craft Brush

You can purchase all of the items I used in this project from Michaels. I’ve attached the links above to each item so you can order strait from the comfort of your home!
I specifically chose a paint that was designed for outdoors! On the flip side I am a true fan of Folk Art paints so this was a win/win for me. Can we all take a moment to swoon over this specific color…drooling! 

You can use this paint on so many different materials like metal, terra cotta, wood and any other outdoor craft surface that you can think of! Remember these pumpkins are going to be outdoors so using an outdoor paint is ideal. 

The awesome news is you can pour tons of love into making beautiful faux pumpkins and they will never rot! Simply store them in a safe container and they will be ready to use the next year. 

Why teal? 
Teal is the color of food allergy awareness. It has been used to raise awareness about this serious medical condition for nearly 20 years.
Step 1: Paint the top portion of your pumpkin with the first coat. Once it’s dry paint the bottom and let it dry. I always like to apply a second coat so it looks completely painted. This is what it will look like when you have two coats. If you are wondering why my top has some of the pumpkin showing through it’s because I will be pouring tons of luscious glitter there. Are you feeling all giddy inside yet? There is multiple formulas for Mod Podge however the gloss finish is my all time go to. It adds just enough shine to finish off any project I am working on. If you’ve never used this product, it’s a decoupage glue and sealer.

Tip: If you have never used this product it is white in the beginning but don’t worry friends it dries clear! Did I mention this product cleans up with just soap and water and is certified AP nontoxic! This is perfect since we are doing a allergy free pumpkin for Trick or Treaters! 

Step 2:  Grab a craft brush and start adding loads of Mod Podge at the top base of your pumpkin. The thicker the better because the glitter will look very full on the pumpkin.

I hope learning about the Teal Pumpkin Project is going to give you a jump start to making ton’s of teal pumpkins!Step 3: Make sure to apply a small section of Mod Podge at a time since this dries fairly quick. Once you have a section coated literally pour the glitter on top of Mod Podge. I like to pour over a sheet of paper making it easy for me to pour back into the bottle. This is what it will look like when you do your first section. Continue doing step 2 until your entire top of pumpkin is finished. I will tell you pictures do not do justice because these look like magical candy in person. When done let it dry then add a layer of Mod Podge on top of glitter. This will seal the glitter so it does not shed.

P.S. If you seal the glitter when you add the Mod Podge on top of glitter it will look really white, but remember it dries clear! Once I made one I just couldn’t help it, I had to make more! I love how elegant and classy they look! I hope you enjoyed this project as much as I did! See you in the next post, until then hugs from my computer to yours!

Don’t forget to follow me on all of my social media channels because I love all of you to pieces!!!! 

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The Simple Secret to making a Teachers Gift! 

Today I will show you a fun and quick tutorial teaching you how to make a fun Pencil Vase DIY. Now I know everyone has already started school but it’s never too late to give your teacher a handmade gift. Frankly if you ask me, I would like to give this to my teacher on a random day they are not expecting a gift. 

I wanted to create something that can be used daily so it doesn’t get shoved into a closet or on a shelf! Today’s Pencil Vase DIY can be used to put flowers in (yes it holds water) or you can stick things like pencils, markers, highlighters or brushes in them. Did I mention how bright and whimsical they are in general! Let’s get started. 

As a kid I used to play “school” with all of my stuffed animals, yep you heard that right. I always thought I wanted to be a teacher when I grew up however things shifted and I realized I didn’t have enough patience for that at all, at least not as a full time job! 

For this project you will need: 
Colored Pencils | Cans (Clean Veggie Ones)  | Glue Gun 

To make your life easier I attached links above so you can purchase all of the products I used in this post above! See, you don’t even have to leave your house to shop. Win/Win for the world of bloggers! If you are lucky you might already have most of these! 

*These are affiliate links*

Step One:

Add a strip of hot glue to your can and quickly place your colored pencil on top of it. Do this quick you want the glue to be hot as possible when you put pencil on it. 

Continue lining the can with the colored pencils! It’s already looking beautiful!  So quick and easy.

These vases are also super easy to make and make the best gifts. 

Purchase a pack of 36 pencils and you will only have one left over. You can now fill them with water and put daily cuttings in them to brighten up any space.  Another thing you can do is stuff these babies with paint brushes! I think even adding utensils in the kitchen would look great in them!

Want to make another bold statement, check out this DIY backpack I created last year. 

Another great back to school gift for anyone are these hand painted journals that I made a while back, you definitely want to check these out! Don’t forget to pin these images to your boards to reference for later on when you are ready to make them. 

I hope you enjoyed this project and I can’t wait to see you in my next post! Until then, huge hugs from my computer to yours!!!!

Don’t forget to follow me on all of my social media channels because I love all of you to pieces!!!! 

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The Simple Secret to Hand Painted Journals!

Happy Summertime y’all! Can’t believe it’s almost time for school to start! Is it just me or do you all feel like this summer has flew by like a bird chasing a worm, haha! Doesn’t the early bird get the worm?! I remember as a kid being so excited to start a new school year. Me and my mom would go to the local store and check everyday for the supply list to come out. Was I the only one excited about this little sheet of paper?

Now let’s fast forward a little because back when I was a little.  Lisa Frank was in style, you know the “good ole days”… These day’s things just feel so generic and don’t get me wrong I love basic colors and styles however this day and age DIY is the way to go… There is nothing more meaningful than creating something yourself and sporting your own unique style.

Today I will show you an easy way to turn a basic journal into a work of ART ♥  

Blank Canvas Notebook | Tulip Fabric Markers | Painters Tape

You can order all of these products from Michaels by clicking on the links above!If you know anything about what I love then you already know how much I LOVE Tulip fabric markers. You can use these on so many different products and create amazing designs. Check out other things I created HERE. Let’s also talk about how wonderful the color selection is! I mean, there is like four different shades of each color! Swoon 101!

Step One: Make sure your canvas journal is completely clean then use the painters tape to create your design. I am sticking to geometric designs for this post. Sometimes less chaos is better believe it or not!

Step Two: Get the fabric marker color you want and go to town! I am doing lines for all of my journals because I think it’s very modern, clean and crisp. I love that these would also look amazing on your dining room table stacked with other books. 

Step Three: Admire what you just created! Insert huge laugh right about now!

Step Four: After letting your markers dry into the canvas for about 10-15 minutes gently peel off your tape. If you are using painters tape it will peel off really easy! What are you left with? Well, beautiful crisp lines that will make your heart pound for days!

The great thing about this project is you can give a journal with a pack of fabric markers to someone as a gift and they can create something special that they will remember forever. 

I am repeating the same steps but doing a different design! What’s great is you can even overlay designs with the tape. It’s the best project to show off your creativity. 

I am totally digging all of these wonderful colors! For me when I see bright colors it just instantly makes me feel better inside and I am sure it will do the same for you! 

There are so many different things you can do with a blank canvas… If you want you can write your favorite quote on it or you can freehand a special drawing, the possibilities are endless!

I even used some very thin tape to get a different look. Mix and match with thin tape and thick tape it’s all up to you!

If you notice below I drew lines completely over the tape to create one long line only because I know when I remove the tape I will have a white line where my tape is. 

Don’t forget to mix and match your colors because they blend really nicely together. 

When I tell you pulling this tape off in the end is my favorite part… It’s like heaven to my fingers. Not even joking!

 l like to use black as a accent color! It just adds a little BANG to the colors. 

With over 800 new styles of craft paint, Michaels has more paints for more surfaces! Check out some of their new finishes including ultra-metallic & watercolor and get started on your next DIY!

Remember my Fairy Gardens I made? Click HERE to see them, trust me you don’t want to miss them! I have these babies all over my house and they just bring me so much peace and happiness. 

I hope you enjoyed this project because I sure had fun making it! Sheesh I already gave away two of my journals… Wonder what I should do with the last one! Maybe I will keep it for myself!  Hugs from my computer to yours, I LOVE YOU!

Looking for even more inspiration? Make sure you visit Michaels’ blog, The Glue String, to see the rest of the Michaels Makers’ DIY projects!

Don’t forget to follow me on all of my social media channels because I love all of you to pieces!!!! 

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