tuesday . . .

I thought for sure it was happening today - a few little signs here & there - reminiscent of when I went into labor with Ryan - but nope - still here, baby intact in my belly - oh & did I mention that regardless of how big he is in there - he is still having quite the party. Sometimes it actually is painful the twisting & turning & "partying" he is doing in there - usually late at night - leaving me with maybe 3 - 4 hours of decent sleep at night & days full of a "zombie-like" existence. Ryan, fortunately, has been very understanding of mommy being tired - thank goodness. I dream about labor every night & when I wake up every hour to go to the bathroom - I always wake up in a panic like I am in labor and need to head out the door. Then I realize no, it was a dream, I just have to pee. I packed my bags tonight - well the baby bag at least - I don't even know what I should be packing - I'm sure there is some list online somewhere. You think I would know but it has been 4 years & I am a little bit rusty on all this. A little secret - as much as I am ready for this baby to come, I'm scared - I feel like a first time mom all over again. Like I can't remember anything & I have such anxiety about it all - probably not helping the sleeping either . . . today I am exactly 36 weeks - 4 weeks left of this little one's journey within me. I purposely ordered spicy food for lunch just hoping it might kick this into gear - I'm so ridiculous - all it did was give me some seriously painful kicking from little man. Lesson learned - don't tick off the little one :)

I have been trying to enjoy the holiday season as much as I possibly can, although I'm definitely pretty uncomfortable & could just sit in front of Grey's Anatomy re-runs until this baby pops out :) However, I think Ryan wouldn't be so understanding of that :) We had a great family day Sunday & headed to the diner with all my brothers & sisters & mom & then to Homestead Gardens to take in some holiday beauty . . . here's some pics of Ryan amidst this gorgeous place (btw - new haircut was a little on the short side in the front - oops) . . .

A bit of holiday baking (or rather eating) in the Bonner house . . .

Decorating some gingerbread people . . .

Bringing home a new friend - Rudolph from the Build-A-Bear store . . .

Oh & this one - the only other female in the house - she's obviously enjoying the rest & relaxation I really need - if only I could learn a thing or two from her :)

Now . . . have I been scrapping . . . well, a bit, here & there. I have finished up all my assignments except one which is waiting to be glued down - hopefully tonight . . . I do have LOTS to share though . . .

In addition to this month's sketch challenge over at My Creative Scrapbook, Pam is still running her BIG sketch contest in the forum as well. The new sketch was posted - check it out . . .

It is due January 20th to be included in the running for this FABULOUS prize . . .

Hope you have time to play along - check out all the details in the forum HERE !!!

In the craziness of life, I missed out posting my sketch for The Scrap Room last week . . . although the challenge is over, you may still want to use this one - a great layout to include multiple pics!!!

Speaking of multiple pic layouts . . . I was featured on the SEI blog today for my December projects using the awesome Kris Kringle line - such a fun mix of patterns :) I created this layout - super simple design & quick easy photo collage to display 4 pics. I can't say enough about the ease of using Picnik - if you haven't checked it out you must, you must!!!

The border punch is by Martha Stewart (LOVE IT!!!). A quick close-up on the layering in the corner - a mix of SEI's fab die-cuts & felt accents - love them!!!

I also created another layout for my SEI December assignments - same line but totally different color scheme :) Love this pic of Ryan "making friends" with our snowman :)

A close-up of some layering - love these glittery stickers, fun die-cuts, and gorgeous felt accents all together :)

Making the title sticker "pop" by adding some black cardstock & a little decorative edge via my old-school border scissors :)

Typically I don't do rhinestones - mostly because I scrap boy pics & they seem to work more for girly. However, I really enjoyed "sprinkling" a few among these snowflakes on the patterned paper - they mimicked the rhinestones on the felt accents perfectly :)

Finally, my last assignment to share tonight & my last assignment to share for BlueMoon Scrapbooking until March. I have taken a bit of time off of some of my assignments to focus on all things baby for the next couple months :) Love this pic - and love the 2 of them - Ryan & AnnaKate (my best friend's daughter) playing with a doll together - our little married couple :)

American Crafts Dear Lizzy Christmas Scrapbooking Remarks Stickers Mistletoe

American Crafts Dear Lizzy Christmas Scrapbooking Remarks Stickers Mittens

Dear Lizzy Christmas Scrapbooking Paper Poinsettia and Pine

Dear Lizzy Christmas Scrapbooking Paper Jolly Jingle

Dear Lizzy Christmas Scrapbooking Paper Comfort and Cheer

Dear Lizzy Christmas Scrapbooking Paper Sleighing Song

Basic Grey BASICS Scrapbooking Paper Tally

Used that FAB Martha Stewart punch again & a mix of Basic Grey & Dear Lizzy Christmas. Love the Maya Road sheer doilies - wasn't sure how I'd use them but like how they looked split in half and staggered on either side of the layout :)

Hope everyone out there is enjoying the holiday season . . . found some good holiday songs or versions of traditional holiday songs - check them out at the top of my sidebar (click play).

Be back to post in a couple days . . . (unless I am in the hospital delivering a baby . . . )

ttyl - julie :)

thursday . . .

Hello!!!!!! It has been a bit since my last post - so busy, busy with the holidays & trying to survive the last month of this pregnancy!!! I have been experiencing some very uncomfortable carpal tunnel syndrome in my wrists which is definitely impeding upon my scrapping - lots of swelling in the ankles which is absolutely no fun - and a bit of acid reflux. Nothing like going out with a bang right - I shouldn't complain because the pregnancy has been great up to this point but I am so . . . very . . . exhausted . . . and ready to bring this "little" man into the world. I put "little" in quotes because that is a bit of a joke right now. At my last sono Monday the baby was measuring 3 weeks 4 days ahead and currently estimated at 8 lbs. 2 ozs. - let's hope I go early because at this rate I could be pushing out a pretty big baby by January 18th!!!!

Although my wrists and hands are sore, I have been squeezing in some scrapping whenever I can - it keeps me sane you know :) First up to share is my sketch & layout for My Creative Scrapbook. Here's the sketch . . .

And here is my layout. The kit was full of gorgeous, traditional themed papers for the holidays - loved it . . .

A quick close up of this fabulous Prima holly pick found in the kit - love that vintage Santa - don't you???

Another quick close-up on the border - this is the Martha Stewart Cherish punch around the border set - awesome punch people!!!!

I also have 2 layouts for Blue Moon Scrapbooking I have not yet shared yet (shame-shame on me!!!) The first is a bit of a vintage pic - that's me at 3!!!!

American Crafts Dear Lizzy Christmas Scrapbooking Paper

American Crafts Dear Lizzy Christmas Scrapbooking Remarks Stickers Mistletoe

American Crafts DEAR LIZZY Christmas Scrapbooking Remarks Dimensional Stickers Jingle

Basic Grey JOVIAL Scrapbooking Paper Snowball Fight

Basic Grey BASICS Scrapbooking Paper Table

Cosmo Cricket MITTEN WEATHER Scrapbooking Paper

Cosmo Cricket MITTEN WEATHER Scrapbooking Paper

Cosmo Cricket MITTEN WEATHER Scrapbooking Ready Set Chipboard 12x12

Echo Park Scrapbooking Paper EVERYBODY LOVES CHRISTMAS

A quick close-up of some Cosmo Cricket goodness here - love their elements & chipboard!!!

This is a close-up showing these fun layered snowflakes - I made one long stitch for each one to look they they were hanging :)

Here's me in all my 3 year old glory (eating snow of course!!!) - Loved the Maya Road envelope tucked over the pic here!!!

I ventured in to the 2-pager world again - trying to re-create the idea of the December Daily a bit & do weekly pages instead. This was mostly created with the adorable Cosmo Cricket Mitten Weather line - loved, loved, loved playing with this!!!

Cosmo Cricket MITTEN WEATHER Scrapbooking Paper Woolens

Cosmo Cricket MITTEN WEATHER Scrapbooking Paper Deck the Hollies

Cosmo Cricket MITTEN WEATHER Scrapbooking Paper Elements

Cosmo Cricket MITTEN WEATHER Scrapbooking Paper Borders

Cosmo Cricket MITTEN WEATHER Scrapbooking Ready Set Chipboard 12x12

Basic Grey JOVIAL Scrapbooking Paper Snowball Fight

A close-up on the first page . . .

And the second . . .

Here is another close-up featuring the title work - LOVE those Jilllibean alphas don't you????

Alright, since it is the wee hours of the morning I must be off. As always I still have tons more to share but I am waiting on many to be posted online . . . be sure to hop over HERE on Friday - a little birdie told me a layout I created might just be featured on this FABULOUS manufacturer's blog!!!!! Happy Friday people!!!!!

ttyl - julie :)

wednesday . . .

Welcome to the first ever Samantha Walker Blog Hop!!!! If you came here from Jennifer's blog then you are right on track :) If not, head over to Samantha's blog to begin this fun & exciting journey!!! The Creative Team and I will be showcasing all sorts of fun projects on our blogs to get you inspired & creating :) Today I'd like to share with you an altered printer's artist tray I created using the Traditions paper line by Samantha Walker for Creative Imaginations. Full of rich maroons, deep greens, and a splash of gold - it is the perfect color palette for some classic christmas home decor. When I saw "The Real Meaning of Christmas" sticker within the Traditions collection, I was instantly connected to a quote from the story "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas":

"It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes, or bags . . .

What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What is Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more."

We had just spent the weekend with our closest friends and their children - Ryan LOVES being with them & when we get together it is like one big happy family :) Ryan is always beaming from ear to ear :) Although we did exchange gifts with the children - I knew what Ryan was most excited about was just spending time with them. I loved the opportunity to use this project to showcase the moments of joy & happiness in simply spending time with these special friends of ours :)

To create this project I began by cutting 12 rectangles measuring 3 3/4" by 2 3/4". I quickly added a little pen outlining to each & then glued them all down in the empty boxes of the tray. Next I placed the decorative frames from the Samantha Walker's Traditions cardstock stickers down on kraft paper. I cut them in half & then trimmed off all excess kraft paper. I adhered these on the corner boxes of the tray & added additional decorative cardstock stickers from the line as well. Just some fun, easy touches to add a little extra something to the corners of this display :)

Next I created the paper ribbon accents. I cut 2 strips of Creative Imaginations Cardstock Foundations paper in Toast measuring 8 1/2" by 7/8". I cut one end on each to resemble a ribbon & then outlined the entire strip. The first strip was adhered under a cardstock title sticker from the Traditions line.

For the second strip, I layered up 3 of the gorgeous cardstock sticker trees from the Traditons line using some pop-dots and tucked the paper ribbon under them.

TIP: The decorative paper ribbon strip was a bit flimsy to adhere well to the tray - to strengthen this add a strip of heavy cardstock or chipboard that runs the entire length of the element. Works great!!!!

My final step was to adhere 4 pictures along the center of the tray. I printed these as 2" x 3" photos which fit perfectly within the space.

This is a quick & easy decor project that you can make for yourself or as a gift - thanks so much for stopping by!!!!

Make sure to leave a comment below to be entered in the drawing for some fabulous prizes . . . but don't stop here!!!! Head on over to Nancy's blog by clicking below to check out her inspiring projects & leave a comment there as well. (All comments need to be posted by December 12th & winners will be announced on the 13th!!!) Thanks so much for stopping by!!!

ttyl!! - julie :)

friday . . .

Not quite 4, but seriously, soon-to-be heartbreaker :)

Little man broke my heart today - he's never been a clingy one - always totally up for school - no tears, no screaming "mommy, mommy" - today was different - of course right in the middle of carline - cars lined up behind me - my son screaming as if possessed - refusing to exit the car - crying that he did not want to leave me - the teachers trying to persuade him - absolute disaster - in the end, mommy went to school today too . . . at least for the 1st hour, he made it through the second on his own - after I left him I sat in my car & cried & felt guilty - we shall see what next week brings . . .

How am I . . . tired, exhausted, feeling like I am moving through water - emotions running rampant these days - the littlest thing makes me cry - too much to do, not enough time or energy . . . ready but not ready . . .

this makes me smile . . .

enormous - 12 feet kind of enormous - ridiculously large tree - but I love it . . .

Lots to do on the scrappy front - working through a number of projects - although I have "lessened the load" for the upcoming months a bit . . .

My new layout for the January She Said club is up for sale over at A Page 4 All Seasons - LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the My Mind's Eye Fine & Dandy line - so adorable!!!

Close-up of first page . . .

and second . . .

Feel free to check out all the details HERE.

A sneaky-peek of my layout for My Creative Scrapbook - btw - AWESOME holiday kit for December - just gorgeous . . .

Oh & the winner of the Jillibean goodies?????

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#4!!!!!!

bbburnett said...

Wow--beautiful mini-album, lovely belly, and wonderful name!! Nicholas is one of my all-time favorites.
One of my favorite (new) Christmas traditions is our advent calendar; I bought a set of three charming (doll-size) houses that have 25 doors... so I get to set up my kids' treasures for all of December. (now that my son tries to peek, I end up going more day-by-day... rascal....) Some days are a tiny treat, others are the first clue to a scavenger hunt, others still are a task we get to do together (like make cookies). :)

NOVEMBER 29, 2010 9:26 PM

Please send me your mailing address at dailyscrap@gmail.com & I will get your goodies out to you!!! Thank you all for sharing so many awesome traditions . . . lots of fabulous ideas there :)

Leaving you with this song . . .

ttyl - julie :) . . .

monday . . .

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!! (belated that is . . .) A whirlwind of a weekend for sure - enjoying all this family time & gathering . . .

(cousins all decked out for the holidays)

(getting silly)

(adorable little niece)

(making gingerbread houses)


(time with Grammy)

(Ryan, and mommy, and baby at work - check out that belly!!!!)

(a little lunch gathering from mom)

(all the sisters)


(baby Nicholas - 33 wks - growing, growing, growing . . .)

I made it through the holiday weekend - and am back at work trying to get this house together & ready for baby - still feeling completely unprepared but hoping to have crossed off some of the items on my to-do list by this weekend :)

Thank you to so many of you who questioned whether or not I might put out a sketch book in the future - I'm totally flattered over here & hopefully one day soon I can make that a reality - I would LOVE to!!!! I'll keep ya posted on that one!!

Not too much on the scrappy front - I have slowed down a bit . . . although I have some upcoming assignments that I need to get crackin' on :) I do have something I have been waiting to share with you for a while now - looking for the perfect gift for family, friends, or maybe just yourself??? A fun little mini celebrating all 12 months of the past year!!!

Here is a close-up of all the pages - a simple design to showcase your fab pics from the past year . . .

This is up for sale over at A Page 4 All Seasons - only $25!!!! Check out all the details HERE.

**NOTE** The letters are a little different for the "year" word. You will get a FULL pack of American Crafts Yellow thickers but they are not fabric, they are yellow chipboard. The letters shown are discontinued!

I can't believe we are just a day away from December - the holiday music, lights, gift-wrapping - it all makes me so happy!!! Love this time of year :) In celebration of this holiday season - how about a giveaway???? Some Jillibean goodies - one of each of the Chestnut Soup papers & coordinating sprouts, canvas stars, and stickers - fun, fun, fun!!!!

Just leave a comment sharing your favorite holiday tradition that you do with your family - I'm always looking for new ideas of fun things to do!!!! Hope all is well with each & everyone of you & so thankful for such fab readers!!!!

ttyl - julie :)