tuesday . . .

11.09.2010

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 . . .

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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!!!!

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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!!!!).

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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 . . .

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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 . . .

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And here is the sketch I created . . .

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My layout featuring the fab November main kit . . .

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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 :)

9 comments:

  1. Awesome layouts!!! And I think you are doing great. It's already been 9 months since I had my youngest, but I very much remember barely getting to finish up grocery shopping before tiring out...so you are doing awesome!

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  2. Hi Julie!!! First thank you for the comments on my blog!!! They truly mean so much to me!!! You are a sweetheart!! Gosh, those last 10 weeks are gonna fly by!!! Before you know it, you will have your sweet boy in your arms to hold!! I can't wait to see him!! Love the sketches you drew!! Saving them to my computer for future use! ;) I just love the LO's too. Everything about them is wonderful!!! Hope you are having a good week!!! Enjoy your scrappy weekend!!!

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  3. Julie... I can't believe you are 30 weeks already, where has the time gone? The count down is on and I'm so glad that you are managing to sneak in one last girls weekend away before the impending arrival. I hope you have a glorious time with your mum and sister. Melinda :)

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  4. These are really great pages! I absolutely LOVE that first one!

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  5. Congratulations! I cannot believe you are already at 30 weeks. You go girl!!!! (no good news from us yet, though...)

    Your layouts are just divine. I cannot wait for the weekend so I can scrap some of your sketches!
    Take good care of yourself.

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  6. Great Taste of Snow Layout. Perfect.

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  7. Love, Love your Lo's, I love to keep up with your work so amazing, congrats on the new little one, the time will fly, and does so after they get here, so enjoy every moment, my DD just had her first, she is 8 weeks...wow where has the time gone, seems like just yesterday my DD was 8 weeks.... TFS you wonderful projects...

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  8. You are almost there, Julie! I can relate to the pregnancy exhaustion, though I am still at the beginning at only 11 weeks. You amaze me with all you are able to do- I find I am struggling to get anything at all done. I am so tired this time...those other girlies are giving me a run for my money!

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  9. Here is my layout based on the second sketch! http://i680.photobucket.com/albums/vv170/scrapbookdeals4u/SD1110Wade.jpg

    Julie, I'm still a big fan!

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