A Day to Raise Awareness

Hello all,

It's leap day! What are you going to do with your extra day of the year?

Since it is also Rare Disease day I am going to raise awareness about a rare disease that has affected my life. It is called Neuromyelitis Optica also known as Devic's Disease and my mom was diagnosed with it 2009. Because it is so rare, she was miss diagnosed three times.

I am hoping by dedicating my blog to NMO today I can do my small part to spread the word about this disease. Maybe you are or know a nurse, doctor or someone else in the medical field. Please take the time to read this blog and watch the videos. Pass it on to everyone you know. It may be rare, but its real and is affecting family's like mine all over the world. If the doctors would have diagnosed her with NMO earlier it could have prevented her from becoming paralyzed.

 

My mom and I 7/14/09

The photo above was taken a few weeks before her paralysis started. I remember she wasn't feeling that great, but still came to celebrate my birthday with me.

This is a video that was made for You Tube to spread awareness of the affects of NMO. Before you watch, please note that my mom has made much progress since this video was made, but it's a real eye opener.

You Tube Video

She has also been featured on a television show in Canada. Another awesome way to raise awareness.

Dangerous Diagnosis Global News

Here is the definition of NMO

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO), also known as Devic's disease or Devic's syndrome, is an autoimmune, inflammatory disorder in which a person's own immune system attacks the optic nerves and spinal cord. This produces an inflammation of the optic nerve (optic neuritis) and the spinal cord (myelitis). Although inflammation may also affect the brain, the lesions are different from those observed in the related condition multiple sclerosis (MS).^[1]weakness or paralysis in the legs or arms, loss of sensation (including blindness),^[2] and/or bladder and bowel dysfunction.^[3] Spinal cord lesions lead to varying degrees of

Devic's disease is a rare disorder which resembles MS in several ways, but requires a different course of treatment for optimal results.^[3] NMO has also been suggested to be a variant form of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis.^[4]. The likely target of the autoimmune attack at least in some patients with NMO has been identified; it is a protein of the nervous system cells called aquaporin 4.^[5]

^{Like I said before,  she has been doing very well and has come a long way. She is a fighter and refuses to let this disease take over her life. She is determined to walk again and I support her 100% It's going to take time and perseverance, but I know she can do it.}

 

My mom and I at her first annual Easter Egg Hunt 2011

^{Don't get mad at me mom. I know you don't like this picture, but I think it's cute and I like the Easter bonnet. :)}

^{If you would like to contact my mom or check on her progress you can visit her blog Keeping Up With Carla http://carlaweller.blogspot.com/}

To find out more about NMO you may also go to the Guthy Jackson Foundation website. It is a great resource.  http://www.guthyjacksonfoundation.org/

^{Thank you for taking the time to read my blog today. More cards to come tomorrow!}

^{Happy Creating!}

Pretty and Simple

Hello all

Card making time! I'm still working on simple cards for my beginners card class. This is one I found on Pinterest and is a case originally made by eco-paperie on Etsy. I changed up the colors and added the Basic Pearls which I think gives the ordinary card a little something extra.

Sharing in your Sorrow

This would also be a nice Get Well or Praying for You card as well. 

Happy Creating!

Preschool Busy Bag Idea #2

Hello all

My spring fever is still in full affect. This weekend I did some early spring cleaning. I started with wiping down a little spot on the wall and from there was no stopping me. Pretty soon I was on my hands and knees wiping down baseboards and balancing on the step stool to reach the cobwebs in the corners of every room. 

I also go to cleaning and organizing the playroom. We're ready for play dates! I also wanted to have a place for the kiddo's to play during my card classes. It's always an option to bring your kids to the card classes I hold in my home. I hate to brag, but our play room is pretty awesome. Just sayin' :)

Sensory, Art and Story area of the playroom

Needless to say, I was exhausted from all that cleaning and didn't get around to any card making. I did however make another Busy Bag activity. Here it is...

I Spy Bottle

Both of my girls (4&2) really enjoyed this one. I used little toys and trinkets I found while cleaning the play room. I colored the rice with liquid food coloring and used my scanner to scan in the objects that are hiding in the bottle. I also covered the picture with contact paper to protect it. Simple and fun.

I'll be creating more cards soon, I promise.

I found this idea at: www.countingcoconuts.blogspot.com

 

Happy Creating!

Preschool Busy Bag Idea #1

Hi all

For those of you who may not personally know me, I am a mom of two. I have a four year old and a two year old. I absolutely love my stay-at-home mommy job don't get me wrong, but I so look forward to nap time every day. It's my time to clean, craft or rest.  It's the only time in the day I get to be Jessica.

Unfortunately, My four year old is starting to protest nap time. I have tried calling it "rest time" instead, but that doesn't always work. There are days where it doesn't matter, she is to be in her room with the door closed until her little sister wakes up. These are the days I really just need a break, a mommy time out if you will. These are also the days where if she does not fall asleep, she is creating a disaster in her room.

While searching Pinterest I've come across many neat ideas for  "Busy Bags". Quiet time activities that she can do while her sister is sleeping other than watch television, play video games or destroy her room. This seemed like a novel idea, so I worked on making one today. Here it is...

Letter and Word Recognition Game

Although this is not a Stampin' Up! project, I did use SU card stock. I found the pictures in clip art, printed the word in uppercase letters. The clothespins have uppercase letters printed on one side and lowercase on the other. I can't wait to try this out tomorrow during "rest time".

More busy bag ideas to come

This idea was from www.imperfecthomemaking.com

Happy Creating!

Mixed Bunch

Hi all

I am trying to come up with some simple yet pretty cards for a beginner card making class. Here is one I found on Splitcoast Stampers. I changed the colors to make it a little more spring like.

Mixed Bunch (case from Stacey Lisk)

The card only uses one stamp set and a simple ribbon. This will be a great card to introduce the wonderful world of stamping to anyone who has never stamped before. Looking forward to teaching this class and hoping some of my local followers will join me.

Happy Creating!

Spring Fever

Hi all
 
I have a bad case of spring fever this week. I decided to make a bright and cheery card to lighten my mood. With a little inspiration from Splitcoast Stampers, I created this card. 

Thinking of You (case)

Unfortunately I do not have the Fun Flowers Bigz L Die, which I wanted to use, but I do have a similar non Stampin' Up! die that I used instead. I think it still turned out nice. There is nothing better than bright yellow flowers to remedy your winter blues.

Happy Creating!

New Use for Pop Dots aka Stampin' Dimensionals

Hello All

For the past coupe of months I have been unable to wear my wedding ring. With the combination of losing weight and the cold weather my ring is too big.

I used to wear it anyway until I was washing my hands in the Target bathroom and when I went to shake my hands dry it flew off my finger onto the floor under the sink. That scared me enough that I just choose not to wear it. I would be devastated if I lost it.I've been meaning to get it re-sized again, but life is just getting in the way. 

Last night my husband and I attended a party where I would be meeting people that he works with. I couldn't go without my wedding ring on, so I had to come up with a quick idea on how to keep it in place. My mind immediately went to my crafting supplies. Here is what I came up with...

So, it's not ideal, but it worked in a pinch. Two pop dots stuck to the back of my ring held it on my finger all night. It felt good to be able to wear it again, so getting to the jeweler to get it re-sized is at the top of my to do list.

Happy Creating!

Our Week At A Glance

Hello All

I don't know about you, but I have been completely obsessed with the website Pinterest lately. I have been finding so many neat things to try with my kids, things to make for my home, things to make and give as gifts and so many cute card ideas.

I've been wanting to do this for a while now, and I finally found some time to make it.

 It's "Our Week" at a glance. I thought it was a great way for my husband and I to remind each other what we have going on. Plus it's just cute!

Our Week

 A lot of the examples I have come across say to use dry erase markers, which I sure work just fine. I used Crayola Window Markers. They work really well on glass surfaces and clean up well.

Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper

I was so excited to use the Everyday Enchantment Designer paper. I think it' is so pretty and perfect for this project.  

I got this awesome idea from Kristy@nextoheaven

Happy Creating!

The Lost Valentine

Hello All

I was going through my pictures today and realized that I missed posting one of my Valentine cards. So here it is.

Guy Valentine

This card is a great card to give to a man. It's simple, clean and earth-tones are always good for guy cards. I'm thinking bright pink and purple may not go over as well. Although, any card is better that none at all as far as I'm concerned. 

This card could also be used as a birthday card. Changing out the color of the buttons and bakers twine is always an option.

Happy Creating!

Happy Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day All!

I started my day with an awesome workout followed by a very bad for me lunch. Hope you are having a fun day as well.

In celebration of this lovely holiday, I am sharing some of the Valentines cards I made for my class and for my family and friends.

Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamp (heart)

 I severed these yummy sugar cookies before class started. They were a hit.

.love.

This is my favorite one out of all of them I made. It just screams VALENTINE!

Be Mine

This one is clean and simple. I also made one like this that says Happy Birthday. Hearts don't always have to mean Valentine.

Two Hearts

This one was a big hit. I'm so glad I went to my last down-line meeting. That is where I learned how to do this super cute/super easy bow. I just love the color combos. This one would also be cute for an Anniversary card.

Lots of Love

This is one of the cards I made to send out to friends who "liked" my SU Facebook page. It was a fun way to get people to check out my page.

Be Mine Valentine

This is a case. We made one very similar at our last down-line meeting. I couldn't resist the paper or the stamp. Too cute!

Heart to Heart

 This is just another card I created to send out to my family. It's hard to see, but the card is actually white with a red layer on top. 

Thank You from a Princess

Hello all, welcome to my new and improved blog! 

My first card I am sharing with you is one I call, "Thank You from a Princess". I made it for my daughter to give to a friend who handed down some clothes to her. It was so sweet to see a two year old give a thee year old a card. They both looked so proud. We didn't get to see her open it, but I'm guessing she really liked it. What little girl doesn't like purple, pink and princesses?

I used the Little Princess and Outlined Occasions (in the Sale-A-Bration catalog) stamp sets. For the textured effect, I used the Stripe Embossing Folder to make the background and I used Whisper White 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon for the bow.

 

Happy Creating!