Just Give Me Stamps...

Waltzingmouse New Release Previews Day 2...

 Good morning!  It's day two of the Waltzingmouse new release previews!  For the next several days, the design team will be sharing projects made with the 8 brand new sets!  All sets will release this Friday, November 2nd!

 Today, the design team is sharing projects made with Vintage Christmas Backgrounder and Compliments of the Season 2!

 For my first card, I decided to create a shaped card.  I cut out the tree card base using my Silhouette.  I then embossed the Vintage Christmas Backgrounder on the card front using clear embossing powder.  I cut and colored several poinsettias (from the Big Blooms - Poinsettias set).  I layered them over some gold cording.  For the tag, I stamped the Noël sentiment (from the new Compliments of the Season 2 set).  To finish the card, I added some rhinestones randomly all over the front! 

For my next card, I went with a completely different look!  I stamped the Merry Christmas sentiment (from the Compliments of the Season 2 set) and layered it over a stamped ornament (from the Vintage Ornaments set and cut out with the coordinating Heirloom Ornaments dies).  For embellishment, I added some stained wooden snowflakes, rhinestones, and a strip of glitter paper. 

You won't want to miss any of the Design Team blog today!  Lots and lots of inspiration awaits...

Bonnie Sharp
Lynn Mercurio
Belinda Change Langner
Sarah Martina Parker
Tosha Leyendekker
Anya Schrier
Kelly Schirmer
Sandie Dunne
Clare Buswell
Becca Feeken
Julia Aston
Jennifer Holmes
Laurie Schmidlin  <--- You are Here
Claire Brennan

 

Have a great day!  ~Laurie

Noël Card
Stamps: Vintage Christmas Backgrounder, Compliments of the Season 2, Big Bloom - Poinsettias (Waltzingmouse Stamps)
Paper:  Spinach cardstock (American Crafts), Shimmery White cardstock
Ink:  Versamark, Field of Greens Ink (Hero Arts), Tuxedo Black Memento Ink
Accessories:  Copic Markers, Silhouette Cameo, Shape from Silhouette Store, Clear Detail embossing powder, Gold Cord, Rhinestones

Merry Christmas Card
Stamps:  Compliments of the Season 2, Vintage Ornaments
Paper:  Festival of Prints Designer Series Paper (SU!), Dark Chocolate (PTI), Cream (PTI), Champagne Glimmer Paper (SU!)
Ink:  Pool, Soft Sand, Cup O' Joe Ink (Hero Arts)
Accessories:  Heirloom Ornaments Dies (Spellbinders), Rhinestones, Wooden Snowflakes (Studio Calico), Early Espresso Ribbon (SU!), Banner Dies (Spellbinders), Twine (May Arts)

 

Just a Note (and some personal stuff)...

Good morning!  Well, this week my daughter started back to school.  Wow.  Where in the world did the Summer go?  This is her junior year...her JUNIOR year!  It really hit me the other day.  We don't have that much more time left with her!  Alison is such and AMAZING person and we (DH & I) have a great relationship with her.  I totally love that girl young woman!

This year is quite different than the other years.  Not only is she a junior, but she is starting school knowing that she has a HUGE fight ahead (more on that below).  I whipped up this card over the weekend for her.  I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut out he bird and branch (it's a file from Echo Park).  Ali loves birds of all kinds...whimsical birds, realistic birds, majestic birds...if it's a bird, she loves it!  :-)  I thought a long time on what I wanted this card to say.  I mean, "normal" sentiments didn't feel right.  With what lies ahead for her, wishing her a great year just didn't seem right.  Don't get me wrong, I sincerely hope and pray (literally...pray often) that she will indeed have a great year, but I didn't want it to sound like a platitude.  Instead, I chose the Just a Note sentiment (from the Sentiment Sampler by Paper Smooches).  For a little extra texture, I ran the bird through my Cuttlebug using the Swiss Dots embossing folder.  A polka dot bird.  Teeheee!

So, here's the photo I took this morning of her.  Isn't she SO beautiful?  I cannot even tell you how proud I am of her...words just fail me.

We finally heard back from Alison's neurosurgeon at Seattle Children's.  They took so long because they met several times to discuss her case.  As it stands now, the medication (two anti-seizure meds) seem to be holding them off for a week to two weeks, then she has break through seizures.  Not only that, but the medicine is starting to become toxic to her (Dr.'s words...not mine).  The bad news is that the scar tissue is located extremely close to the part that controls the left side movement.  What they (and we) have decided is that they will do two surgeries.  For the first one, they will put electrodes all around the area causing trouble.  He described it as "brain mapping".  Then, three days later, they will go in and remove as much as they can making sure to stay away from the movement parts as best they can.  So, in a nutshell, she will be having two major surgeries with some definite risks.  There is a 67% chance that the surgery will be successful (no more seizures).  Those are not as great of odds and I would have liked, but it looks a lot better than the alternative (continuing break through seizures and toxic medicine). All of this will take place in a couple of weeks.

If all things go VERY well, she will be able to return to school after 5 weeks.  Trying to make up that much work after having brain surgery will be hard to say the least.  We're not sure what will happen, but have decided that we will make decisions as we need to. Since she has already gone through brain surgery once...we definitely don't have rose colored glasses on...we know what it's like.  We know how long therapy and recovery takes.  Having said that, we are SO incredibly grateful to have an opportunity to fix this for her...AND having one of the best surgeons out there today! 

Thanks so much for "listening"!  I have found that talking/writing about it really helps me process everything. 
Hugs, Laurie

CASE Study 2nd Anniversary Blog Hop - Week 2...

 

Hi there!  The CASE Study Blog is celebrating its 2nd Anniversary and I am so honored to be a part of the big celebration!  This week, the blog hop theme is "Think Out of the Box" - and you're asked to tackle something you have never done before, whether it's a style, technique, type of project, etc. 

If you are hopping along in order, you should have arrived here from Jen Rzasa's blog.  If you just stopped by to see what I've been up to, make sure to head on over to the CASE Study blog...you will be so glad you did! 

In this card, I tackled three things that I never do - clean and simple, a tall and skinny card, and NO embellishments!  GASP!!!!  I wasn't sure I was going to make it there for a little while...  LOL!  Just kidding!  Seriously though, I really admire those who can create such amazing clean and simple cards...it is a lot harder than it looks!! 

For my card, I cut the scalloped rectangle layers, mustache, & lips all with my Silhouette.  I then embossed the best wishes sentiment (from the Simply Said set from Paper Smooches) along the bottom.

Funny story...  When I first showed this card to my DH he just stared and stared at it.  After a while, I asked him if he "got it".  Being the ever so tactful guy that he is, he said "no, but it's a really great card".  LOL!!!   That made me nervous though, because I thought it was pretty clear it was a fun style wedding card.  Oh well, at least he said he liked it!  Teeheee!

I couldn't help myself.  I had to make two projects!  The very first thing that I thought of when I saw the theme "think out of the box", I thought of a literal box.  LOL!  So, I created a box that I have never made before...a cupcake box!  :-)

Again, I used my Silhouette to cut out the box.  I then decorated it with some liquid pearls along the scalloped edge.  For the "cherry on top", I added some ribbon and red roses.  To finish it off, I used a tag image and two sentiments (from the Tag Time set from Verve Stamps). 

This little box was SO much fun to make!  I think I might make up several of these to keep on hand for when I need them.  :-)

Next up on the hop, is the super talented Amy Sheffer!! 

 

Thanks for stopping by!  Hugs, Laurie

August Diva Inspirations Hop...

 

Hi there!  Welcome to the August Diva Inspirations Hop!! 

I created my card using two of my most favorite things right now...Verve Stamps and my Silhouette!  :-)  The flowers, leaves, & doily are all cut out using my Silhouette Cameo.  For the stamping, I used one of my favorite sentiments form the Celebrating You set.  Isn't that just a wonderful sentiment?  It would work as a birthday card, thank you card...well, anything really!  :-)  I made the felt heart by cutting out two pieces (using the Wavy Hearts Die Set) and stitching them together.  To finish it off, I lightly spritzed the whole card with some light shimmery spray.  You can't see it in the photo, but in real life the cards really does shimmer!  I love it!  :-)

There is still lots of inspiration ahead!  Here's the hop list so you can make sure to see all of the Verve eye candy today!  :-)  Psssst!  Did you notice a couple of new names on the list below??  Yep, me too!  :-)  Make sure you say hi to Christyne and Laurie W....a couple of the Guest Divas for August!  Wooot!

1. Betty	9. Andrea
2. Jen d.	10. Janelle
3. Jen T.	11. Laurie
4. Julee	12. Maureen
5. Sankari	13. Teresa
6. Sony	14. Charmaine
7. Susan	15. Christyne
8. Amber	16. Laurie

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Hugs, Laurie

Summer Lovin' with Glitz...

Hi!  It's Summer (even in Montana :-) and I am loving the warm, sunny days!  When I saw this month's Glitz Blog Challenge (see image below) was all about Summer, I couldn't wait to start creating!

My two cards embody two things that I automatically envision when I think of Summer - watermelon and ice cream!

Nothing says summer like a big slice of ripe watermelon!  Mmmm!  I created this shaped card with my electronic cutting machine and several different Glitz patterned papers.  Before I glued it all together, I added some chunky glitter around the pink layer.  To finish the card off, I added an Epoxy Sticker, lace, ribbon, and a Giant Rhinestone!

For my second card, I started with an ice cream cone shaped card (also made with my electronic cutting machine) and papers from the Afternoon Muse collection.  I layered on a Cardstock Sticker, a Whatnot, an Epoxy Word, a cut out stamped image (the banner tails), a flower, and lots of buttons and sparkle! 

Here's all the info on this month's challenge!  I hope you give it a try!  :-)

 

Thanks so much for joining me here today!  ~Laurie

 

Watermelon Card
Glitz Design Pretty in Pink Papers:  Ledger, Music
Glitz Design Pretty in Pink Epoxy Words
Glitz Design Afternoon Muse Paper - Carte Postal
Glitz Design Beautiful Dreamer Giant Rhinestones
Glitz Design Beautiful Dreamer Trim

Ice Cream Cone Card
Glitz Design Afternoon Muse Papers:  Banner, Floral
Glitz Design Afternoon Muse Cardstock Stickers
Glitz Design Afternoon Muse Whatnot
Glitz Design Love Games Paper - Damask
Glitz Design Love Games Clear Stamps
Glitz Design Beautiful Dreamer Epoxy Words