Just Give Me Stamps...

Just a Note...

Hi there!  How is your weekend going?  We plan on having a small get together/BBQ tomorrow.  It's still pretty cold here, but at least the snow is gone!!  LOL!

I've got a quick and easy little card to share with you today...

  
I brought out my In the Garden clear stamp set (by Penny Black) and was immediately drawn to this sweet little potted daisies image!  After watercoloring them in using some of my Tombow markers, I added some Stickles to the pots.  That's it!  A simple little card, but it sure was fun to make!  :-)

I want to wish all of my American friends a wonderful and safe Memorial Day!! 

Hugs,
Laurie 

Thoughtful Hearts...

Happy Friday!!  Well, I'm headed out in a bit to take Julee back to the airport.  :-(  In spite of all the snow, rain, and then snow (not to mention Julee getting very, very sick) it's been such a wonderful visit!!  I really hate to see her go...

Before I took off, I wanted to share one of the cards I created this past week!  What's so special about this card, you ask?  Well, hold on to your hats!!  I made a Clean & Simple card!!  It's an honest to goodness "clean & simple" card through and through!!  Can you believe it?? 

I started with some heart shapes (from the Sticky Sheets by Stampin' Up!) and then started adding some different colored micro beads.  I found that there were some small "holes" where the beads did not cover completely, so I added some ultra fine glitter to help fill them, in a bit (and add some yummylicious sparkle!!)!

I embossed the sentiment (from the Meditations set from Verve) along the bottom using Detail Black embossing powder.  This is where I really started struggling.  I mean, there really wasn't a place to add any ribbon or embellishments (and I didn't want to take away from the hearts) but NOT add ribbon?  Is that even DONE???  LOL!  I finally decided that a bit of stitching on the sides would do.  :-)

 

Here's a close-up of a couple of the hearts.  Isn't that little bit of sparkle pretty?  Happy sigh...

Well, I better go and get ready to leave!  Have a fantastic day!  ~Laurie 

Oh, before I leave I thought I would enable you just a bit!!  Verve Stamps is having an awesome Memorial Day sale (now through Monday)!  All sets are 20% off!!!

A Scrappy Thanks...

Woohooo!  The sun has finally made an appearance here in cold and soggy Montana!  It's not going to break any heat records today, but it's starting to melt all the snow we've gotten over the last several days!  :-)  Maybe the sun will help chase away all the sickness that has settled on our family (and Julee :-).  She has "affectionately" (as she put it) named the cold she came down with the "Montana Plague"!  But let me tell you, there is NO affection in her voice when she talks about it!  LOL!!!

Enough of my chattering...I actually have another card to share with you today!! 

 

I'm not sure what's up with me, but I've sure been in a "scrappy" mood lately!!  Well, it might be the MOUND of patterned paper that is surrounding me in my stamp room...  :-)  LOL!

I started by layering some So Sophie patterned paper strips (by My Mind's Eye) onto a newsprint type patterned paper background layer (by Teresa Collins).  I embossed the large open line flower (from Waltzingmouse Stamp's Big Blooms set) onto some coordinating patterned paper (also from the So Sophie Collection), cut it out, added a turquoise bling brad to the center, and popped it up using dimensional tape.  I embossed the sentiment (from the Fancy Phrases set) on the bottom patterned paper strip and then added some ribbon. 

That's all from me today!  Thanks so much for stopping by!!  ~Laurie

Tweet Heart...

Happy Sunday to you!  Well, I believe Julee finally believes me that it snows here in Montana!  DH told me that there was a "little" snow in the forecast (and thankfully Julee did bring a coat :-), but I was pretty shocked when it dumped almost a foot of the white stuff!  After I started my second round of complaining...I realized that it does this every May!  So, I will spare you my whining!  (Julee isn't so lucky though... heeheheee)!

 

I've had these Nested Ice Cream Cone Shapeabilities (from Spellbinder's) for a while now and have been anxious to use them!  I have so many ideas to use them for (I especially can't wait to try a shaped birthday card/invite).  To start, I thought I'd use them with some of my most favorite patterned paper - October Afternoon's Fly a Kite Collection to create a fun, paper-pieced look!  The background paper is from Basic Grey's new Manilla paper pad (I'm telling ya, this notebook stuff is SO trendy right now :-)!

After I had my paper and ice cream cone figured out, I then went searching for a fun stamp set to pair with it...that's when I saw this Kioshi Tweet Bitsy Stamp set (from Basic Grey) and thought it was perfect!!  For embellishments, I added some Maya Road chipboard, Stardust Stickles, Ribbon, a button, and a Doodlebug Strawberry Braddie!

Hope your day is a fantastic one (and warmer than ours LOL!)!!  Hugs, Laurie

Totally Rad...

Happy Friday!!  I was so looking forward to relaxing a bit today but realized that my daughter has an orthodontist appointment today!  Sigh...  Poor Julee, we've been dragging her around with us to all of our appointments this week, and now another one!!  She will need a vacation after she gets home!  LOL!

Here's one of the cards I created with Julee the other day.  It's been so much fun having company in my stamp room!!  I have to admit though, I don't get that much done...  I'm either watching her in action (she IS the sponging queen), or laughing so hard my side hurts!!  Take this card for instance...  When I first started, I rather boldly proclaimed that I was going to make a CAS (clean and simple) card!  I could definitely tell Julee was skeptical.  Weeeeellllll, as you can see I passed CAS after the first two layers!  Heeheheee!  I'm not sure if I will ever live this one down...  LOL!!

Even if it's not clean and simple, I really love how it turned out!  I embossed the black background layer using the Victoria Cuttlebug embossing folder, then lightly rubbed it with some Brilliance Pewter ink.  The focal image was embossed using the Totally Rad Plain Jane (by Verve Stamps) and some Versamagic Dew Drops. 

Thanks for stopping by today!  I hope you enjoy your Friday!!  ~Laurie

Happy Mail...

Good morning!  I know, I've been pretty quiet lately.  We've had a lot going on lately (dance recital, piano recital, doctor appointments, therapy appointments, church events, AND fun company)!!  Julee (owner of Verve) is here visiting and I am having a blast!!  I hope we don't overwhelm her...because she's getting a peek into the "real life" of the Schmidlin's!  It's even trying to snow outside right now...talk about real life!!  Teehehee!  Good thing she brought a coat...

Well, we have been spending some time in my stamp room...so expect to see lots of new stuff!!  Speaking of new stuff, my card is LOADED with new stuff!!  This sweet little image (Happy Mail by My Favorite Things) arrived at my house last week and I couldn't WAIT to ink her up!  I have to admit, I am totally smitten with the Pure Innocence line by My Favorite Things!

After coloring the image with Copics, I mounted it onto some new Max & Whiskers paper (from Basic Grey).  The punched border was made from one of my new EK Success punches (see...LOTS of new stuff :-). 

Well, I'm off to fix some lunch!  I'll be back tomorrow with something new for you to see!  :-)
~Laurie

Waltzingmouse Birthday Blog Waltz!

Good morning!  Today is the seventeenth...which means it's time for the Waltzingmouse Blog Waltz!!

The theme this month is birthdays (which is a wonderful theme, seeing as Waltzingmouse just celebrated their first birthday)!  The design team is playing along as well today, and has hidden little teacups in their photos!   Count them up and post your guess HERE (there are some fab WMS prizes to be had)!  

 

I decided to create a little gift card holder (a card and gift in one)!  I like to keep some iTunes gift cards on hand...they are the perfect gift for almost every occasion!  And when Claire came out with this Free Spirit set a couple of months ago, I thought it would be the perfect way to package the gift cards up!  Along with the Free Spirit set, I used the Free Spirit Sentiments set and the Off Beat Backgrounds set to complete my holder.

Here's a peek at the insider of the holder...  I used the same colors and images as the front to tie it all together.

For more info on the Blog Waltz, you can check out this post on Claire's blog.  Sure hope you can play along with us!  :-)

Thanks for popping by!  I hope your day is wonderful!  ~Laurie

Thinking About You...

Thank you SO much for all the heartfelt comments you left me yesterday!  {{{Hugs}}}  I know I've said it before, but I am still so amazed by the care and support you all have showered upon us!!  We still get out the box where I keep all of the gorgeous handmade cards sent to us and re-read them often! 

Here's a quick little card that I wanted to share with you today...

I started by stamping the vine (from the Pic-nic Patterns set by Waltzingmouse Stamps) using White Craft ink onto Kraft c.s.  Because I wanted the flowers (that I stamped and cut out) to really pop, I kept the colors all neutral...except for those flowers.  The sentiment (from the Fancy Phrases set by Waltzingmouse Stamps) was embossed using Detail Black embossing powder.

Oh, and did you notice I didn't use any patterned paper??  GASP!!!  Can you believe it?!?!?!!!  LOL!

Hope you have a wonderful day!!  ~Laurie

 
Stamps:  Pic-nic Patterns (Waltzingmouse Stamps), Fancy Phrases (Waltzingmouse Stamps)
Paper:  Stamper's Select White (PTI), Kraft (PTI)
Ink:  White Craft Ink, Red Craft ink, Versamark
Accessories:  Oval Nestability die, Sewing machine, Rhinestones, White satin ribbon

Dude...

 ...put your sunglasses on because I have one BRIGHT card to share with you today!  Talk about a shock to my system!!  LOL! 

This colorful card is for my daughter, so I stayed far away from my usual "vintage" preferences and chose bright colors, lots of texture, and of course this awesome sentiment (from Verve's Dude set)!

I know I don't talk about my kids very much here, but I am definitely going to make an exception today!  LOL!  You see, I'm just so proud of my daughter!  She's been through so much in the past year and a half (longer, actually) and through it all has been such a light and a source of hope to those around her!  After her brain tumor was removed last year she has had some lingering symptoms as well as some weakness in her foot (meaning some of her muscles in her foot do not work).  She has worked so hard in therapy and even though she doesn't see the results she wants, giving up has never been in her vocabulary.  On top of all that, she is blossoming into such an amazing woman!  Her love for God is evident, and her willingness to serve others is inspiring!  She is even going on a mission trip with her youth group this summer!   Rewind to a year ago, and we considered it a good day if she could keep her food down!  I am amazed and grateful to see just how far she has come!  She truly is a special person and DH and I are honored to be her parents!!

Thanks for indulging me today!  Don't forget to hug your loved ones!!  ~Laurie

 

Stamps:  Dude (Verve Stamps)
Paper:  Raspberry Fizz (PTI), Orange Zest (PTI), New Leaf (PTI), Stamper's Select White (PTI)
Ink:  Orange Zest & Raspberry Fizz PTI), Tuxedo Black Memento Ink
Accessories:  Blossoms Nestabilities, Buttons, Twine, Ribbon (PTI), Rhinestones, Corner Rounder punch, Orange Stickles

Riding Pretty...

Hi there!  My two youngest munchkins are now old enough that they play together pretty well (meaning I am no longer their sole source of entertainment)  LOL!  They are such a kick to watch!  Their imaginations are limitless, and the "adventures" they dream up together are amazing to me!   Another benefit is while they are deep in imagination land, I have a small window of time that I'm able to get something done!  :-)

Here's what I made while they were playing this evening...

I started by stamping this vintage style bicycle image (from Impression Obsession's Riding Pretty set) using Tuxedo Black Memento Ink and lightly coloring it in with my Copic markers.  I really wanted the emphasis on the basket, so I kept the colors neutral and muted.  I paper pieced the basket, using some of the same paper I used for the background layer (from October Afternoon), added a little bow, and a sweet bunny (also from the Riding Pretty set).  To make the bunny look like he's sitting in the basket, I used my craft knife and cut a slit around the top rim of the basket and inserted part of the bunny image "into" the basket.

For embellishments, I added a strip of black/cream striped ribbon, buttons, and a Prima flower. 

Well, that's all from me tonight...  I better get to bed, as my littlest guy wakes up at the CRACK of dawn!! 

Thanks for stopping by!  ~Laurie