Throwback Thursday Retiring My Acrylix Stamps

I guess it is sometimes true that all good things come to an end, and for the following list of Close to My Heart My Acrylix stamps, the end is near!

A1124 A Tree*
A1139 Congrats Graduate*
A1141 Be Still*
A1154 Friendly Thoughts
A1156 Flower Confetti
B1418 Love Doily
B1423 Hoppy Easter
B1439 Dreamer*
B1440 Fancy Fair
B1441 Buggy Love
B1444 Greatest Love
B1445 Happy Hive
B1450 Owls
C1571 You're the Best*
C1573 Do Your Best
C1574 Believe in Yourself
C1577 Mother's Day*
C1579 Coming Up Roses
C1583 Robot Family
D1547 Paper Doll*
D1579 Windy Day
M1035 Newlyweds*
M1036 Perfect Polka-Dot Day
M1037 Balloons
M1038 Shooting Star
M1039 Good Job Stencil
M1040 Parasol
M1041 Hi
M1042 Colored Egg

There is a handy-dandy new category on my website HERE that lists them all with pictures. 

My FAVORITE retiring stamp is Be Still.  I have used it in so many cards for my friends.  Here are a few that I have made over the past couple of years and also some projects made with some of the other retiring stamps ( I put an asterisk next to the names of the sets with pics below)...

If you have your eye on any of these stamps, be sure to pick them up before January is over, along with the following specials!!!  

Year Noted

January Stamp of the Month

Be Still and Know that I am God

I wanted to stop in and let you all know that our wonderful Grandma Florida (as dubbed by my girls many years ago) passed away late Friday night.  Our hearts are heavy as we will miss her terribly until we see her again.  I cannot say enough about this generous woman whose 91 year old body truly just plain wore out while living life to the fullest.  She is my grandma by marriage, but I realized that she was mine for longer than one of my own even.  Grandma was a fantastic Scrabble player, a beautiful soul, and a force to be reckoned with, all in one dainty little frame.  My children all bear some of her remarkable genetics down to her energizing blue eyes. 

I made her a little card to keep with her at the rehab center that I was going to give her when we were supposed to see her at Thanksgiving.  I used one of my favorite My Acrylix stamps, Be Still, a Verve cross stamp, Cocoa Exclusive Ink, and the Yuletide Carol Paper Packet.  I didn't have the chance to give it to her, so I wanted to share it with you...

It will be pretty silent on my Facebook Page and blog as we take care of each other for a while.  I will be back after our Thanksgiving celebrations are finished, though, and have lots to still share with you from paper creations to new shimmer trim colors coming soon.  Yep.  I certainly will have my sparkle back in a bit, so Be Still, have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and I see you next month my friends! I am most thankful for you all!

Cards for Comfort

I made a couple of cards recently that I would like to share with you.  They were not easy for me to make, but unfortunately, sometimes these are the cards that we MUST make.  Each card features the Be Still My Acrylix, and the new Skylark Paper Packet from Close to My Heart.  This is a gorgeous set of papers, take a peek...

One of my goals with this versatile paper was to have both a male and female version of the card, but after I finished, I realized that they could both really work either way.

This first version is made for CAS-ual Fridays Challenge 127:  Over the Edge.

It is a little hard to see in the picture, but the pattern paper extends past the right edge of the Kraft card base.  The inside of the card is lined with a piece of White Daisy CS that is the usual A2 size, so it creates a lovely border when closed.

I stamped the sentiment in Cocoa Ink to contrast the colors of the paper distinctly.

The only embellishment I added here are the bronze and gold sequins from the Ivy Lane Workshop on the Go Cardmaking Kit.  The rest is just included in the pattern of the paper, which I love.  I especially wanted this sunburst pattern to go with my sentiment.  The faux Washi is a brilliant touch.

The second card was intended to be a more feminine version using the same basic elements, with a bit of glitter added.

This Bronze Shimmer Trim from Close to My Heart is a truly gorgeous color.  I love it paired with this paper.  I also used the zip strip and flip side from the same pattern paper as a banner/flag element in this corner.

Just a few more sequins in the bottom corner.

 And a little detail inside...

What about you?  Do you think you can get away with sequins and sparkle on a card for a guy?  I think these can for sure.  I really love how this pattern paper lends itself to stamping a sentiment right on the pattern.  

Celebrating with Mojo Monday 300!

Hi everyone!!!  I am sooooo glad to be back in my scrap room after a wonderful trip out to WA state for a family reunion.  I'll share some pics a little later, but I really needed to bust a move and get my Mojo Monday 300 entry blogged and linked!  They are having some amazing giveaways over there to celebrate, so check it out if you can whip up a card in a few minutes...lol, sorry, but I am totes last minute on this one!  (My pre-teen taught me that word--totes--it is apparently hip and short for totally, but only when used correctly...huh?)

Anyhow, here is my entry and the gorgeous 300th Mojo sketch!

I fell in love with this sketch immediately...and even knew which stamp sentiment I was going to use from looking at it just once.  :)  That strong square in the front was begging for the Close to My Heart Be Still My Acrylix stamp.  I also wanted to use the gorgeous round stamp from Love Doily in place of the circle in the sketch. 

This flower is made from some retired CTMH blooms in Tulip and Creme Brulee.  They are the perfect accent colors for the black and white papers.  A black button with black sparkle grounds the flower to the rest of the black tones.  Black shimmer trim fishtail flags instead of green leaves keep the monotone in the background nicely.

Now, lets take a look at this skinny little border that I added as per the sketch.  I didn't think faux stitches would work with the overall feel of this card.  I opted instead to use the zip strip from one of the B&T duo papers from the For Always paper packet where I found these black and white patterns.

I carefully trimmed the sides from this zip strip....and used my bonding memories glue pen to adhere it nicely to the card.  LOVE the way this looks...it reminds me of a ball chain or a zipper.  :)

I added dimension to the layers on my card as well.  What would I ever do without my foam squares?  Actually, I don't want to find out, so it is time to order more!  ;)  I used a 5x7 card base for this one since my sentiment was so large...I forgot to mention that!  ;)

Thanks for coming in to see my Mojo Monday 300 entry!  Hey, did you know that this month Close to My Heart is running a super special!  In case you wanted to check out any of the supplies I used for this card, you can also get the Workshops on the Go Canvas Art Kit for HALF PRICE!!!  You read that right, for this month only, you can get this fantastic kit for only $19.95!!!  There is no other purchase required to get this fantastic deal, so check it out!  :)  Better hurry, because when they are gone, or when July is over, they are history!  Here is a pic...but it doesn't show the stamp set that is included! 

Damask Divas Dream Pop Blog Hop!

Nope, you are not seeing double, lol!  The Damask Divas are putting on two blog hops this month!  So let's get to it!

If you found your way here from Cheryl's Blog, then you are in the right place!  If you want to start at the beginning, just head on over to the Damask Divas Blog for the whole line up.  :)

I used the colorful Dream Pop papers to make a cheery banner for my friend's birthday.  She is battling cancer, and I wanted to make something for her to look at each day and be lifted up by God's promises.  I am thrilled with how it turned out, and I know I used exactly the right papers.

It isn't easy to photograph a banner, unfortunately, so here are some partial shots to see the details better.  Can you see the shine of the specially embossed cardstock?

 

These are some of the other Close to My Heart products I used to make the banner:

Joyful Jar (retired)
May 2013 Stamp of the Month
C1538 Girls Rock
D1545 Wheel of Life
A Rainbow (retired)
He is Risen (retired)
Be Still
D1440 Everlasting Life
Cricut Art Philosophy Collection
Cricut Artiste Collection
My Creations Mini Banner
For Always Textiles
Sparkles
Shimmer Trim
Baker's Twine Paradise Assortment
Black and Grey Glitter Paper

I hope you are inspired by this one to make something bright and cheerful with the Dream Pop papers too!  Your next stop is Traci at Papercrafting 101.  Enjoy the rest of the hop!

Don't forget to stop by the Claire Hop too!  ;)

Be Still And Know that I AM God

I have a request to go along with this card.  Prayers, and lots of them.

I made this one for a friend who has been very suddenly diagnosed with stage four cancer.  There it is again...THAT word.  I don't want to say it anymore, don't want to hear it anymore, don't want to feel the pain of another family struggling to deal with it.  I'm giving this one to God, just like the verse says.  "Be Still and Know that I AM God."  Without Him, I don't know what else to do.  Her treatment has been nothing short of miraculous so far, and I expect nothing less in the weeks to come.  Thanks in advance for all your prayers for her, it means the world to a lot of people, including me.  We love you, Betty Boop! 

Be Still and Know Take Two

Hi again!  I combined this beautiful Close to My Heart My Acrylix sentiment with a different paper packet today.  It really is striking to see how different it can look.  Here is the wonderful A1141 Be Still sentiment with the Chantilly Paper Packet.

I used a new embossing folder from Lifestyle Crafts called Whimsy for the background on this card.  Then I sanded the paper to let the white core peek through a bit.  All of our Close to My Heart papers have a white core that can be used in this way, and I love the versatility it adds.  One of the other things our paper packets have are these lovely little trim strips called Zip Strips.  Do you see the strip of paper behind the sentiment and across the card?  I cut it from the end of one of the B&T Duo papers in Chantilly and there is still a full 12 x 12 sheet of paper after you cut it off.  Each double sided pattern paper has a different Zip Strip pattern too.  This one inspired me to actually purchase the embossing folder since it matched so well!

This is my old friend the Color Ready Seam Binding Ribbon--but this time I used my Cotton Candy Alcohol Marker to color it!  It was so easy and dried right away.  Thanks to Consultant Pamela O'Connor for that fabulous tip on her Facebook Page!  :)  I used my trusty bow-easy tool to make the perfect little bow.

This sentiment is just such a comfort for so many occasions.  It really is a steal at only $6.95!  It is one of my favorite stamps in the new Idea Book, and I highly recommend it!


Before I let you go, here is our current Stamp of the Month!   I am sooooo excited to try this one soon!  Click HERE to see it on my website and get it for only $5 with a $50 purchase!  Otherwise, you can always get it for the regular price of $17.95 during the month of March.  :)

Floral Happiness, March 2013 Stamp Of The Month