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 :)

tuesday . . .

Anxious, worrisome, nostalgic, exhausted, uncomfortable, excited, and curious these days - at least one moment of crying a day - usually because I am worrying about something going wrong. Nervous, but ready to have this little one in my arms so I know he is okay.

I can't believe Thanksgiving is Thursday - Christmas will be here before I know it . . .

I should be scrapping right now, that was my intention, but instead I am surfing the net & now blogging . . . just not feeling the creative juices tonight :) My mom is taking Ryan tomorrow for the day so I can get things ready for Thursday . . . hoping to squeeze a bit of scrapping in somewhere . . . I work so much better during the day . . .

I had a new post up on the BlueMoon blog yesterday . . . I was so excited to use the Basic Grey Wander line & doubly excited to fit on so many wallet sized pics!!!! Check it out . . .

Basic Grey Scrapbooking Paper WANDER Travel Size

Basic Grey Scrapbooking Paper WANDER Lightrail

Lily Bee Design CATCHING FALL Scrapbooking Paper

Jillibean Soup PASTA FAGIOLI Journaling Sprouts

Jillibean Soup PASTA FAGIOLI Cardstock Stickers

A close-up on the title work showcases these 2 awesome alphas that coordinate with the Wander line - love the contrast of colors & materials :) And yes, that is a little Jillibean Sprout peeking out - love how well this worked with the BG goodies here :)

I have always been a bit daunted by the BG doily papers - but decided to cut this one up in strips & use them as border strips - love them!!! I also worked in some of their AWESOME die-cuts & a Jillibean sticker :)

Ryan & I don't get too many pics together - I am usually the photographer - so this page is really a treasure. I love these pics of us - it was such a great vacation together & during this anxious time of mine right now - this page is a wonderful reminder of peacefulness, happiness, contentment, and joy - looking back I was pregnant here - just didn't know it - only days pregnant - having miscarried just the month before - we were escaping a bit - as a family - trying to relax & just enjoy life - all the while - a new little life was starting . . .

And with that - I bid you all goodnight - off to rest this weary body & start anew tomorrow :)

BTW - loving this song tonight . . . not thinking about the words & their meaning . . . just the sheer beauty of the sound of it . . .

ttyl - julie :)

sunday . . .

Hello!!!! Hope your weekend was fun - busy, busy, busy here - as usual. Feeling VERY uncomfortable & large because of this "little" growing man . . .

the current sonogram as of Friday measures this "little" peanut at 5 lbs. 6oz - WHAT????? Now I know sonograms aren't always accurate but seriously??? I still have 8 weeks left for this guy to continue to grow - let's hope I go a bit early or this could be one tricky delivery . . .

Anyone in the holiday spirit yet??? It seems Thanksgiving never gets a fair shake - Christmas has already sprung up all over the place - including my own home. Just a few decorations here & there - Ryan is ready to bring it all out though. I decided to take him to a Christmas open house at a nearby garden center to divulge ourselves in some Christmas fun :)

So excited at all the Christmas . . .

LOVIN' the village displays . . .

Enjoying train watching with Aunt Lori . . .

Mailing a wish list to the North Pole . . .

Hanging with Santa . . .

A fun weekend - but oh so tiring . . . I did manage to wrap a bunch of gifts tonight (with Ryan as my helper) and hope to finish up most of my shopping this week. Also this week - working on the baby room - the last of the furniture comes this week and I can't wait to get everything set up :)

I did a bit of scrapping this weekend although I can only share one . . . a layout FULL of Samantha Walker goodness!!!! This features her Harvest Collection for Creative Imaginations as well as some stickers from her Halloween collection - such gorgeous papers . . .

See those brown leaves???? Those are punched from wood - Creative Imaginations makes these 12 x 12 sheets of adhesive-backed wood & you can punch them - how cool is that???? And the SW cardstock stickers are awesome - the perfect embellies for this fall-themed page!!!!

I am currently addicted to Martha Stewart punches . . . see this border punch - one of the newer Punch Around the Page sets called Cherish - seriously a must-have on the Christmas list scrappers!!!! Love the SW tags layered up here & tied with a bit of twine :)

Alright - off to bed for me but before I go - the WINNER of the Cosmo Cricket Circa 1934 collection kit is . . .

#16

sherryann (aka Sherry Eckblad) said...

I'm not even pregnant and keep list so don't worry you will be back to your old self soon.
Love all the layouts and they always inspire me to want to scrap.

NOVEMBER 18, 2010 3:52 AM

Thanks to everyone for such sweet comments & please keep checking back - I am planning on another fun giveaway & have more to share :)

ttyl - julie :)

thursday . . .

My list of "to-dos" is as big as my growing belly . . .

* re-organizing rooms & closets in the house to get ready for the baby (in the process I have created "messes" in almost every room)

* preparing for Thanksgiving - I'm hosting (I know - crazy pregnant lady - what am I thinking???? No worries people - Boston Market is handling this meal :) This is definitely not the year to try & figure out the whole "cooking the turkey" thing)

* Christmas shopping - 21 adults/kids - a slight dent has been put into it - but meeting my self-imposed December 1st deadline is gonna be tough . . .

* scrapbook assignments - surprisingly I have been keeping up pretty decently - I have pushed the deadlines with a few assignments but all in all - I have been okay . . .

* trying to be a good mommy - this one is hard because I am exhausted . . . luckily Ryan is a pretty good kid & he enjoys helping mommy with decorating and organizing and shopping :)

* trying to be a good friend, sister, daughter - sometimes yes & sometimes no - feeling pulled in a thousand directions these days - trying to be as helpful as possible to everyone - have had a few meltdowns when I can't - keeping it together though :)

* trying to be a good wife - this is pretty much not happening :) I have told my hubby the old Julie will be back sometime next spring/summer - see him then :)

I have tried to blog a million times in the past week but every time I have sat in front of my computer I've fallen asleep - the screen must be mesmerizing me :) I spent the weekend at a scrapbook retreat with my mom & sister - so fun!!!! I finished 3 single page layouts & 1 double page layout - pretty good for me - last year I only did 2 so at least I was ahead of the game this time :) I am an extremely slow scrapper . . .

BTW - I have LOTS of scrappy to share - please don't be offended if this sounds like a check-off list - secretly it kind of is :) I don't want to miss mentioning anything & with this pregnancy brain - well - you never know :)

My Creative Scrapbook:

We are in round 2 of the 3 month sketch contest over in the forum - here is the second sketch due by December 15th . . .

You can find all the details HERE - check out this prize being offered - WOWZERS!!!!

In addition, my regular monthly sketch challenge that I already mentioned here last week is running through December 10th - check out all the details here.

SEI:

My first post is up on the SEI blog!!! I worked with their gorgeous Moonrise Collection - perfect for some of my recent fall pics - here is my first layout of Ryan at a local fall festival . . .

A close-up on the title tag that features some of their gorgeous papers & awesome die-cuts!!! The "Autumn" was cut from SEI patterned paper using my Slice die-cutting machine :)

I love this next layout because of the adorable pic of Ryan & the fabulous quote by A. A. Milne included in the SEI die-cuts :)

The stars were cut using my Slice (yes I really am breaking into my tools people!!!). To attach them to the layout I stitched down the center, then folded them in half - resulting in some fun, dimensional stars!!!

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this quote . . .

I just sent off my December projects using their Kris Kringle line & I can't wait to share them with you next month - the papers & embellishments are so fun - feel free to check them out here!!!

A Page 4 All Seasons:

Lots to share here - when I first hooked up with Shyloh, the owner, I was only going to be a guest designer. She had sent me out some Cosmo Cricket & My Mind's Eye goodies to play with

- here is a single pager I did with the Cosmo Cricket Early Bird collection earlier this summer . . .

Love the simplicity of this one :)

I also completed 2 double page layouts & guess what - both are up for sale on her site. Remember these will be pre-cut & ready to assemble - just add in adhesive & your own pics!!!

First up - "Grow" using Early Bird by Cosmo Cricket . . .

And, "Together" using Meadowlark by My Minds Eye . . .

Check out the details & pricing HERE.

Also, I have pics of my December He Said layout up for sale as well . . . this layout features Echo Park's Merry Christmas line . . .

Click HERE to become a subscriber of the He Said page kit club :)

I still have one more December layout that will be up for sale soon as well as a Year in Review mini album kit - as soon as they are posted on the site I will share them with all of you :)

Work In Progress Kit Club:

As you may have seen on earlier posts, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to guest design for Work In Progress Kit Club this month. I created this additional layout "Rainy Day Love" using the November kit . . .

These Bella Blvd clouds are to die for . . . so cute . . . the title was cut from my Cricut (look at me busting into my tools - right???)

I punched these sunbursts from my new Martha Stewart punch - a fun overlapping border & super easy to create!!!! Great use of scrap patterned paper too :)

The Scrap Room:

The new sketch for November is up on their blog . . .

This month's prize is full of Crate Paper yumminess so be sure to play along!!! Check out all the details HERE!!

The Paper Variety:

I was asked to create a sketch for this fun challenge site - it's a 2 pager & their DT has some fab examples up on their blog!!!

They are giving an awesome prize away for this challenge - the November monthly kit from Scrapctera Kit Club . . .

Phew - I think that is all the scrappy I have to share right now - but I do have more to share in the coming week :) Busy, busy, busy . . .

I have been doing a little shopping recently . . . so many awesome scrappy goodies out there . . . thought I would share the scrappy goodness with my FABULOUS readers so . . . is anyone interested in a NEW Cosmo Cricket Circa 1934 collection kit????

This includes 12 patterned papers (that's 2 of each kind), a borders sheet, an elements sheet, and cardstock stickers - FUN, FUN, FUN!!!!! Just leave a comment below :) Have a FAB Wednesday . . off to watch Law & Order :)

ttyl - julie :)

tuesday . . .

I am seriously . . .

slowing . . .

down . . . :)

The reality of reaching the third trimester I suppose & simply trying to survive the exhaustion of it. Still walking, but not every day and not 5 miles - I've capped out at half that - which is still good for this late in the game right??? Today I am 30 weeks - it kind of crept up on me actually - I told someone 28 earlier today & then second guessed myself until I had the chance to look at a calendar. Surprisingly I realized that I was actually 30 weeks :) So after this week we are in the single digits - I can't believe I have been pregnant for 30 weeks - amazing . . . and exhausting :) Doing lots of Christmas shopping & baby shopping - trying to get it all finished by end of November (that is my goal at least!!!). I have so much to get organized in the house and in the process have created mini messes in several rooms :) I am escaping this weekend - a girl's weekend with my sister & mom - to Ocean City for a scrapbook retreat - my last hurrah :) I leave Thursday & will be back Sunday night. I am excited to get away for a bit & to be surrounded by scrappers - that always puts me in a good mood :)

On to some sharing . . .

Beginning with . . . my very first project that I have created with the ENORMOUS box of goodies sent to me by Samantha Walker!!! Full of papers, stickers, chipboard, ribbon, stamps, fabric, and more - I simply couldn't wait to dive in!!!!! I LOVED the papers from her Traditions line (especially the die-cut snowflake paper) & her Unity Swirling Snow stamps which coordinated so perfectly. Here is what I came up with . . .

A quick close-up on the layered postage stamp die-cuts - here I used both the front & back of her Snowflakes paper and added a bit of cream paint & stitching. The chipboard snowflakes were sprayed first with Studio Calico Mr.Huey in calico cream & then spritzed with Creative Imaginations Radiant Rain Shimmering Mist in Solar Gold. This shimmering mist is simply gorgeous!!!!

Another quick close-up on the background & journaling. The background was so much fun to create. I am not a stamper (secretly I wish I was!!!) but I have purchased a number of stamping supplies over the years. I liked the idea of creating a patterned paper on the kraft cardstock but any true color seemed to appear too "harsh" . . . too pronounced . . . so I looked in my stash & found a pad of Ranger Watermark Resist - this stuff is awesome!!! I used several of the snowflake stamps from the Unity set designed by Samantha & just stamped away all over the paper. The resist pad crested these beautiful watermark snowflake images all over the kraft - love it!!!! Oh & the Unity stamps were awesome!!! I may be heading over to the Unity site to do some shopping - they actually have a kit of the month club that looks pretty awesome (yes, I am an enabler - shop people shop!!!!).

I have tons more fabulous goodies from Samantha & will continue to share more projects with you this month & in the future :)

Looking for some sketch inspiration & contests????? Look no further - I have 2 for you :)

First up is a fab contest over at the Cookbookin' blog. Cookbookin' is a wonderful manufacturer of scrapbook papers, embelllishments, and stamps just perfect for preserving family recipes as well as creating kitchen-themed projects or gifts!! Kristie Coleman - an online friend of mine who is an ABSOLUTE sweetheart is on their design team & asked if I might be able to create a sketch for them. Of course I was happy to do so & here is what I came up with . . .

Check out their blog for all the details on entering their contest!!!!

Although my monthly contest for My Creative Scrapbook doesn't go up until tomorrow, I thought I'd go ahead & share it with everyone today :) Pam sent me this gorgeous kit to work with . . .

And here is the sketch I created . . .

My layout featuring the fab November main kit . . .

Check in the forum tomorrow for all the details on how to enter!!!

Oh - BTW - a HUGE THANK YOU - to my FAB readers!!!!! You are the best & you keep me blogging :)

ttyl - julie :)