tuesday . . .

12.21.2010

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) . . .

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

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Decorating some gingerbread people . . .

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

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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 :)

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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 . . .

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

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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!!!

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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!!!

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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!!!

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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 :)

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

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

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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 :)

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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 :)

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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 :)

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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 . . .

12.17.2010

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 . . .

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

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

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

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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!!!!

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

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

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

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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!!!

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A close-up on the first page . . .

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And the second . . .

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

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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 . . .

12.08.2010

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 :)

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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 :)

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!!!


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ttyl!! - julie :)

friday . . .

12.03.2010

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

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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 . . .


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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!!!

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Close-up of first page . . .

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and second . . .

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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 . . .

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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). :)

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 . . .

11.29.2010

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

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(cousins all decked out for the holidays)

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(getting silly)

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(adorable little niece)

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(making gingerbread houses)

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(time with Grammy)

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

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(a little lunch gathering from mom)

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(all the sisters)

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(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!!!

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

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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!!!!

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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 :)