Friday, March 19, 2021

Owlcats, Pumpkin Heads, & Cute Stabby Mushrooms

Hey, you know what your day needs?

This:

Squeeeeeeeeeee


Kartoniq is the self-proclaimed "Owlcat Lady" who combines two of my favorite things: OWLS AND CATS.

And it's so hard to pick a favorite!

omigosh omigosh omigosh

I've especially loved barn owls since Labyrinth, so it delights me to no end to imagine Jareth the Owlcat chasing around crystal balls, scratching up the goblins' favorite armor, and slowly sliding their drinks off tables without breaking eye contact:


Kartoniq if you write a comic about Jareth the owlcat I will love you forever.

Kartoniq doesn't ONLY paint owlcats, btw. Sometimes she paints just cats:



"I've brought you... A GIFT." (It's too late now I have Labyrinth on the brain.)

Tragically I can't find an online shop for us to purchase these beauties, but definitely follow Kartoniq Art on Instagram to get that fluffy owlcat goodness in your feed.

*****

I know I'm not the only one who enjoys a little Halloween spoop year 'round, so buckle your witch shoes, ghouls and boos:



LeeAnn Kress of Charmed Confections makes the most vivid eye candy creatures, and I can't get enough of her retro Halloween style:



This pumpkin head is a shaker wand: it rattles when you shake it!

I don't know how I would even display it, and yet, WANT.

Then there are LeeAnn's drool-worthy poison apples:

::grabby hands::

....which she also makes heart versions of!

All the different color combos! Her shading on these is so good, and dig that metallic gleam.

Head over to the Charmed Confections website to shop and browse more of LeeAnn's designs.

*****

 Maia Zeidan is a 2D digital artist with a knack for making me want to hug all of her characters:


Aw, guess it's not just me. :)


The title of this next one is "Never Too Cute To Fight" and it is a MOOD I feel in my BONES:


When you spend your life workin' that cute glowy aesthetic but also you're a protective badger wielding stabby things.


There are only 3 prints in Maia's webstore right now, but one of them is this one:


EEP

...so it's worth a click over!


*****

Izzy Art Designs has the most eclectic art account I've ever seen, with styles and mediums ranging from sweet story book prints to terrifying zombie baby dolls to miniature dioramas. She has less than 300 followers, so I suspect she's just finding her "thing" - but I found plenty of gems worth your follow:



Her 2D layered prints under glass are my absolute favorite things she makes, look how magical!



I had this one in my cart - I can't believe it's still available! - until I saw the cost of shipping from Austria, ouch. So one of you who live closer go grab it, k?

A few more of my favorites from her:

Sparkly fairy door! I love that glitter fade.

And then the coolest little piggy sculpt:

This could be a character in Coraline, right? Really has that stop-motion feel to it, with all the intricate details.

Head to the IzzyArtDesign's Etsy shop to browse her wide array of creations; there's a little something for everyone.


*****

And finally, here's a new-to-me take on needle felting by the incredibly talented Kiichigonomori:


How clever is this? They combine their 3d felted creatures with embroidered backdrops. This lets them create an incredible sense of motion and gravity-defying poses:


They also felt plenty of stand-alone creatures, which Kiichigonomori sometimes embellishes with delicate beadwork or florals:




They sell their pieces on this Japanese auction site, but I'm not sure if it's possible to purchase from outside the country, so you'll have to do a little research. And of course, be sure to follow them on Instagram!

I often forget to mention it, but many/most of the artists I feature in these roundups have relatively small accounts. Kartoniq the owlcat lady has just 330 followers on IG - and Izzy Art has even less. Two others here have between 2-3k. So if you have an extra minute please go spread some love to your favorites: give 'em a like, share with a friend. Let's be that weird internet group that floods indie artists with appreciation and support, because we need them, gang. We need the beauty and passion they create in this world. If anything I featured here today make you smile, pass it on.


Ah, but before you go: Let's give away some art!

All of today's picks I've purchased myself at past conventions, and I've made bundles again to try to get through my art stash a little faster. (Even without going to any cons for over a year, I still have SO MUCH.)

Here come your choices!

First, a trio of 4X6 Pixar-themed prints by the amazing (and super sweet) Ben Byrd:



Next, a signed Star Wars 4-pack by Edbot5000 (no relation):


These are printed on a heavy glossy cardstock, very cool. 

And finally, my favorite, the Borderlands Moxxie/Claptrap pack:


The burlesque Claptrap - which cracks me up so much, omigosh - is also be Edbot5000, Moxxi is by Chris Butler, and the robot dressed as Moxxi is a OOAK original we commissioned from Randall Smith. I'm counting on this group to have a fellow Borderlands fan to give these a good home, y'all!

I've featured all of these give-away artists before, but be sure to explore their accounts to see their latest works, too, because DANG. They're all so good.

Now, the moment of truth: Tell me in the comments which of these three sets is your favorite, because there can be only one. I'll choose three of you at random, and announce the winners in my very next post.

Happy commenting!


UPDATE: The give-away has ended!

The winner of the Pixar print set is MadWild

The winner of the Star Wars set is Degera

And the winner of the Borderlands set is the appropriately named Pandora

Congrats, you three, and please e-mail me your mailing addresses!




116 comments:

  1. Pixar.. but Star Wars pack is giving it a run for it's money. It just can't beat WallE and Eve!

    Also that little felted dragon. I actually squealed when I saw it.

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  2. OMG those owl cats are amazing. Thanks for all the great finds. I would love the Disney Trio.
    Thank you!

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  3. Star Wars set. Those felted creatures are just the cutest!

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  4. This post was *EXACTLY* what my Friday needed. Thanks for rounding up (and sharing!) the cute!

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  5. Uh the corgi and robot is something i need! Also borderlands is my favorite so I'll go with that!

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  6. Definitely Borderlands. I love Moxxi, she's so fun and sexy, but dancing claptrap is something that always makes me smile. He's one of the best game characters ever made!

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  7. Pixar is MY no.1 (my brother would say Star Wars, lol).

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  8. Pixar pack - thanks for sharing the art!

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  9. Those pixar prints are adorable! thank you for introducing me to so many new fun artists!

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  10. It's close between the Pixar and Star Wars, but I'll go with Pixar this time. :-)

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  11. That Pixar set is just so cute!

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  12. Id love the Borderlands set! love your art round ups :)

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  13. Oh my goodness, those owlcats and the felted embroidery pieces are stunning! And I'd love to be entered in the Pixar giveaway. I love those prints!

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  14. All the giveaway sets are awesome, but I love the Star Wars one the most! -Heather LN

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  15. I love the colors on the Pixar; they are so sweet and playful.
    Your art picks are always amazing.

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    1. This is juliesmith.singer88. No clue why the username isn't showing.

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  16. You've got a friend in me <3 Pixar Forever!

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  17. I love the Pixar art. I have wall-e and mike w watching over my desk while I work.

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  18. I love the Pixar set because... Wall-E but I am a Borderlands gal as well! <3 Thank you for the chance to own something from a small corner of your world. :)

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  19. Oh the Star Wars pack please! That Kylo pic is SO a mood.

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  20. Oooh, Pixar! Wallllllllll-E? Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeva!

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  21. Pixar. No, Star Wars. No, Pixar. No, Star Wars... Darn you for making me choose! Pixar. Final answer. (maybe)

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  22. The Pixar pack. I have some great-nieces and great-nephews that would like these!

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  23. I think that the Pixar is slightly edging out the Star Wars, but it is darn close!

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  24. OMGoodness! Owls and cats together! So much squeee!

    And I'm squeeing over the 3 Pixar prints! Pick me! Pick me!

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  25. Pixar! When I got my first rescue dog, he came with the name Wally. My second dog had been given the moniker "Lady Mimi" by the foster family, but I just wasn't a fan. So... Wally and Eva it was!

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  26. Pixar for me! What a fun roundup! Love those owl cats!

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  27. Pixar or Star Wars! AND OMG!!! The work of kiichigonomori!!! Needle Felting is NOT easy!!! And did you see her DRAGONS!!!! **Grabby hands** All the Dragons!!

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  28. I'll have the Star Wars pack, please and thank you <3

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  29. OMG the Pixar!!!

    And, not to pull heartstrings, here, but, uh, I may be kind of looking to decorate a nursery, if you know what I'm saying.

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  30. Those Pixar prints give me LIFE.

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  31. The Pixar prints are just adorable!

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  32. I'm a sucker for the Pixar prints!!

    And that stabby mushroom probably doesn't want to hear how adorable it is... but it's STINKIN' ADORABLE!

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  33. I really appreciate your use of they/them pronouns for everyone! Normalizing not assuming gender identity FTW!

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  34. I would love the Pixar for myself, but would want the Star Wars to gift to my chosen family 🥰

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  35. Oh, I think my sibling would love that Borderlands art. I'd really love to give that to them. Thank you so much for giving art away like this, it's really generous of you.

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  36. The Ben Byrd group is my fave. I love Pixar.

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  37. The Pixar set is my favorite, by the narrowest of margins.

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  38. Meh, none of them blows my skirt up-- I'm just here to say that the wee li'l felted dragon is SO frickin' adorable that every hair on my body stood up and I cried a little. Weird.

    Also, the owlcats make me miss our Weegiecat so much! The Vulcan and I used to have a Norwegian Forest Cat (Yahooglesearch them, they're AMAZING!) that I called Owl Cat; she kinda looked most like the third of the four, but white with grey tabby. Enormous yellow eyes that would suddenly go BLACK like a demon on "Supernatural" when she spotted prey, and HUGE tufts of fur coming out of her ears. So pretty, so evil; Weegies are hunters, it's in their blood. They were bred to catch Brown Norwegian Rats. Eight years gone on 4/20, and we miss her every day, especially since the house we live in now has the occasional rodent sneaking in on cold/wet nights. I may be a fierce Klingon bitch, but those suckers skitter by and I'm up on a chair like an old-time cartoon woman "TAKEITAWAYTAKEITAWAYTAKEITAWAY!"

    Your Pal,

    Storm the Klingon

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  39. The Pixar set, definitely. It would go well with the rest of the Pixar stuff in our house.

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  40. omg i have to pick?!? GAHHHH!!!! I mean, it has to be the pixar.... that WallE and Eve print!!

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  41. I think the Pixar set is my favorite! I love Ben Byrd’s artwork!

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  42. That pixar set is amazing! The only animated movies my husband likes is the Toy Story saga, and that Buzz and Woody is adorbs!

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  43. ... Wrote out a nice long comment then lost it by hitting preview instead of publish! Let's see how much I remember...

    I absolutely love the pixar set! Wall E and Eve hold a special place in my heart as Wall E was one of the first films my other half and I went to see together. I'd love to surprise him with those prints as a belated birthday gift as they'd look super cute displayed above his desk. We both love Toy Story and Monsters inc/university too!

    I don't often comment but I read every post here on Epbot, so thank you for all the wonderful content. Love you both!

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  44. The Borderlands pack would be perfect for my partner! Love all the artwork, thanks for sharing!

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  46. I love that Pixar set so much, please enter me! Your finds are so cute, I follow your blog all the time and rarely ever comment, but I love your creativity and how you want to share the love with fellow artists.

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  47. The Disney pack!! Wall-e and Eva are my husband and mines Disney couple!!

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  48. Thanks for the artist recommendations. My Instagram feed is so much better because of you. <3 If I'm lucky enough to win, I'd choose the Pixar pack by Ben Byrd - so incredible!!

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  49. I would take the Pixar as my first choice, or the Star Wars as my second. So fun!

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  50. Pixar for sure! My hubby gets teary eyed when Wall-E comes on now because our little munchkins he always watched it with aren't so little anymore. It would be the perfect birthday present for him!

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  51. Love those Star Wars print. I want them for myself but I know I’ll end up giving them to my nephew.

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  52. I would love the pixar. We need new art foe the bigger house we just moved in to :)

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  53. Pixar trio please 🤞🤞🤞

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  54. Oooh the Star Wars set. My husband would LOVE them!

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  55. Pixar pack because Wall-E is my favorite!!!!

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  56. The Pixar pack would be awesome!

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  57. Pixar please, please, pretty please!

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  58. The Star Wars ones are the BEST!!

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  59. OMGoodness! The Pixar prints are so adorable!

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  60. “Wait a second, that’s Buzz and Woody!!!” - My four year old. Guess I know which one we’d love to have in her room!

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  61. They all are lovely, but the Pixar ones.... Squeeee!

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  62. Definitely the Pixar ones. My husband and I had Wall-e and Eve for our caketopper at our Disney themed wedding, you would love them! You probably would have approved of our centerpieces too, we worked so hard on them and everyone went nuts over them.

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  63. Definitely the Pixar one. Though they are all super cute! 🥰

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  64. Pixar please! The Star Wars ones are a close second, but you made me pick.

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  65. I love your art roundups!! I’d happily give any of those sets a new home—I love the Pixar ones myself, but I have a lot of needy friends who would the Star Wars and Borderlands sets too, so if I won one of those I’d pass it on to them!

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  66. I have to go with the Star Wars set. All of it is amazing, but Star Wars is where it's at.

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  67. Pixar every time! I am always so excited to watch the films bo matter how many times I have seen them!

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  68. Add me to the list of those who love the Pixar set best. So sweet!

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  69. Pixar with star wars in a close 2nd. My 5yo loves star wars but mostly the original 3. But the cute fluffy Sully and the Woody and Buzz combo, eekkk! So much cute.
    Also, I love your roundup posts. I love to see the art and artists you share. I'm not on Instagram much (just enough to keep track of what my kids are following and posting) so I love when you share your finds. Owlcat?! I never knew how much I needed that until I saw it!

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  70. The Pixar ones are just the cutest, I can't count he number of times the kids and I have watched Wall-e snuggled under a blanket.

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  71. Pixar or Star Wars! Love those felted embroidery hoops too!

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  72. I love the Disney ones, my boys love those characters especially!

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  73. I love the Ben Byrd Pixar prints. I adore all the Pixar projects. These pix remind me of when my kids were little. ❤️

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  74. Those felted embroidery scenes are AH-mazing!

    I'd love to win the Star Wars with Disney a super-close second. ������

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  75. I love the Pixar art, they're my favorite!

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  76. I respectfully request being put in for the Pixar set.

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  77. Omg 100% Wall-E. He’s my absolute favorite character! Is there a way I can purchase this from the artist if I don’t win???

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  78. I love the Pixar art! It would be fun to share those with my Pixar fan friends. And thank you again for doing these art roundups! You have introduced me to many new artists over the years and I always love seeing these posts.

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  79. Going to have to go with Pixar because my daughter would be so disappointed if I didn't 😂

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  80. This aspiring animator would love the Pixar art set to hang by my work station! Cute and inspiring! :)

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  81. The Pixar trio by Ben Byrd...so cute!

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  82. Pixar prints are adorable! You find the most amazing things!

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  83. The Pixar ones are amazing! Love them so much!

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  84. I am so in love with the Pixar prints! Love the Wall-E and Eva one!! Squeeeee!

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  85. Oh my goodness, I saw that Ben Byrd trio when you originally posted it and really wanted a set myself, but forgot to follow up on his site to see if they were available. Would love to recieve them!!

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  86. The Disney Pixar ones are fabulous!

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  87. Pixar, please!! Love WALL-E and Eva!!

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  88. Once again you have helped me grow my Instagram feed with more happy warm fuzzies! My partner would LOVE those Borderlands prints. It is hands down their favorite game. I'd love to play as well but I can't play FPS to save my life so I watch just for Claptrap and Tiny Tina.

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  89. Amazing artwork all around! Those owlcats - I could line my walls with those. So beautifully done. My DD would love the Borderlands art - she is playing the game right now and keeps coming in and giving me updates about her game.

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  90. AngieStearnsJarmanMarch 22, 2021 at 1:58 AM

    Omigoodness I am in love with the Pixar ones!

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  91. ahhhh! I love the pixar ones but I know my husband would love the star wars ones! I CAN'T CHOOSE.

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  92. Not entering the drawing, just here to gush over the owlcats. They're SO CUTE!! I played a D&D-style game based off Avatar: The Last Airbender, and my ranger had a cat-owl familiar. Looking up pictures for it made my whole month. There are some SERIOUSLY cute owl cat hybrid pics out on the interwebz.

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  93. The pixar pack makes my heart beat fast!

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  94. These are all amazing. I actually have the Wall-E pic and I love it. I would love a chance at the Star Wars set.

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  95. I'm in love with the Pixar prints!

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  96. The WALL-E and EVE one stole my heart but I am forever a Star Wars gal and those prints are EPIC so I have to go with that pack. BADASS REY FOREVER!

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  97. So many talented people out there! I will forever be amazed by the talent that other people have! So flipping cool! As for the art bundles, the Pixar is the cutest!!! Look at Sully's little face!! GAAAAH!!!

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  98. I love the star wars prints! Those owl cats have my whole heart!

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