tuesday . . .

over 2 weeks since I blogged . . . tsk, tsk, tsk . . . is everything okay????? Absolutely - just the end of school & start of summer break & being a mommy of two & being a wife & daughter & sister & aunt & scrapping assignments & everything else in between :)

Guess what??? Someone is growing, growing, growing . . . check this 20 week old out . . .

And this one . . . so grown-up these days . . . too fast I say!!!

And the two of them . . . stealing my heart . . .

(don't ask me why Ryan is wearing a sweater when it is a million degrees outside - he's into picking out his own clothes these days & usually I have to send him back upstairs to change at least one thing!!)

Now - on to the scrappy people!!!!

Lots of Jillibean Soup projects brewing these days :) Their new lines are just fabulous - but Dutch Mustard Soup really stole my heart :) Here is a mini I created to showcase the first year of Nicholas (yes a mini by Julie Bonner - doesn't happen often - LOL) . . .

I did put in pics for the first 4 months so far - here are the close-ups of the first 4 pages . . .

See the scalloped border - that's me breaking out the old decorative scissors - you know you have 'em in your stash!!! The base of this album is the JB soup kraft 4" x 4" accordian album - these are AWESOME & super easy & fun to work with - I highly reccommend!!!

I also created a layout of the little man using this collection again - this picture totally makes my heart melt!!!

I love that heart patterned paper & yes the deco scissors are in this project too :) Here is a quick close-up of the awesome JB die-cuts & stickers in action!!!

One of my June assignments was posted early to show a sample of a new sketch I created for the Jillibean Soup blog :) Use the sketch below & your fave JB products to create a layout or card, post it to their Facebook page. They will randomly select a few projects for an upcoming Soup Spotting & at the end of June at least one person will be randomly selected for some JB Soup goodies!!! Fun, fun, fun!!!

Here is the layout I came up with using the Watermelon Gazpacho collection - seriously a must have for summer everyone - such great patterned papers & of course tons of fab coordinating goodies!!!

Check out the adorable sprouts, die-cuts, and stickers with this "soup"!!!

But wait, I have more!!! My second May assignment for SEI features the White Elegance collection as a background & my all-time favorite SEI line Corinne!!! I just love the color scheme - so bright & cheery :)

The die-cut title & stickers are AWESOME!!!

Be sure to check back this week - I PROMISE I'll post again!!! I am a featured artist over at Scrapbook News & Review this week & had LOTS of fun playing with some October Afternoon!!! Can't wait to share :)

ttyl - julie :)

sunday . . .

Celebrating 34 . . .

I must say Ryan is a sweetheart - he is a true party planner - I think we have at least one pretend party each day - he always has something to celebrate :) When he asked what we would do for my birthday I told him I wanted a princess party - I don't think I ever had one - so of course - this little planner did some organizing with grammy and a princess party we had - cinderella plates and of course a gorgeous tiara :)

I have gotten a few emails wondering about the little one (since it has been so long since I have blogged - right????) - Nicholas is doing pretty good - we have had some ups & downs recently - that troublesome reflux!!! He is so stinkin' cute though & his smile - well I mean just check this kid out . . .

He's already an avid reader - hah!!!

And I am teaching him to hug - I tell him mommy wants a hug & he puts his hands out & then when I get close he puts his arms around my head & pulls my hair - we are still working out the logistics on that one :)

Being a mommy of one was hard & being a mommy of two is even harder, but day by day it is getting easier & I just love them both to pieces . . .

As I mentioned before - I turned 34 - today :) I am so thankful for my life & the people in it & it wouldn't be right to not acknowledge the two beautiful people who brought me into this world . . .

thank you mom for your kindness, your love, the Halloween costumes you handmade, the songs you sang us, always knowing just the right words to lift my spirits, baking cookies with us every Christmas, making me a Cabbage Patch kid doll when we couldn't afford to buy one, instilling in me a love of crafting, loving my children as if they were your own, talking to me every day, and for being not just my mom, but a true friend.

thank you dad for your protection & watchfulness, I have always known you would keep me safe, for believing in me, for carving pumpkins with me at Halloween, for dressing up like Santa every year when we were kids, for playing games with my children & loving them from the bottom of your heart, for instilling in me a love of education that made me want to teach myself, for being strong & gentle & caring & devoted to your family.

On to some long overdue scrappy shares . . .

First up, SEI - this month we were asked to showcase the White Elegance collection. I decided to use it as my background & for one of my embellishments & then also mix in some of the gorgeous Couture collection as well. Here is what I came up with . . .

I used the new Tim Holtz Accordian Die & the White Elegance paper to create this flower. The die-cut butterflies are also from the White Elegance collection - some quick zig-zag stitching helped accent the body . . .

Here is the sketch that corresponds with the layout - be sure to grab some SEI from your stash or invest in some of the new collections & see what you can create using the sketch. Then be sure to join us for the SEI link party at the end of the month - can't wait to see what you come up with!!!

Next up - Jillbean Soup!!! This month is our first to share projects on the Jillibean Soup blog - I created this layout featuring the adorable Blossom Soup collection . . .

Broke out one of my Martha Stewart border punches to create this background - a perfect punch for this spring-themed layout!!!

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Jillibean's coordinating die-cuts & stickers - they are just the perfect touches on your layouts :)

I also created a card featuring the new Dutch Mustard Soup line - I'll be honest, cards are tough for me & I definitely struggled with this part of our assignment. No worries though, I am hoping to "rock" the card world this month - I have some ideas brewing :)

My final share tonight are the layouts for the June She Said Monthly Subscription club at A Page 4 All Seasons - this month I worked with Crate Paper's Emma Shoppe - what adorable paper & embellishments!!

You can find more info about joining the club & purchasing these layout kits HERE.

Thanks so much to all of you for still keeping up with me on this blog - even though I have been a bit of a slacker on updating recently :) Hope all of you are well!!

ttyl - julie :)

monday . . .

quiet . . . that is exactly what I hear right now, in my house, at 12:40 am . . . and I am soaking it all up . . . it has been one of those days, full of noise & craziness & tears & tantrums & me wanting to be everything to everyone but really ending up short all around . . . that's what happens when you try to accomplish too much in a day or be too many things to too many people :) Anyways - I am exhausted & should be sleeping, but I know tomorrow may bring the same wild day . . . so for now, I will enjoy my quiet :)

This boy . . .

so handsome and sweet and loving . . . but today angry, out-of-sorts . . . he's been wetting the bed a bit recently - not sure what that is about, hoping it doesn't become a regular thing . . .

This boy . . .

completely adorable and getting his own little personality :) He rolled over yesterday and is babbling up a storm. He will be quite the talker I think!! He is an incredibly happy child considering he barely sleeps all day - usually 2 - 3 hours tops. The acid reflux seems to always wake him up - I can see a quick jerk or twitch from him while sleeping, then a sour face and then, eyes open. We have been trying a few new things to help with the reflux, hopefully we will see a difference soon . . . anyone out there with reflux babies??? I'd be happy to hear any suggestions on things that help :)

I haven't scrapped much in the past week - taking a bit of a break . . . however I do have my last 3 layouts from BlueMoon Scrapbooking to share. First up, "She Makes You So Happy" - full of My Minds Eye goodness and a pic to make your heart melt!!!

The title work was a mix of Prima, Sassafras Lass, and My Minds Eye - the layered flower, a mix of Prima mistable canvas (awesome stuff!!!), patterned paper flowers, and a gorgeous My Minds Eye brad . . .

Next up - "Growing" - loved this pic of Ryan - looking back at me :) This layout is a mix of Prima, Sassafras Lass, and My Minds Eye . . .

Love the Prima butterfly above the "i" - I think I am currently a bit obsessed with tying twine around tags :)

''

Close-up on the journaling . . .

And last - my favorite . . . "4 years" - something about the overlapping sewn circles . . . love that . . and the pic of little man picking flowers . . . love that too :)

A few close-ups . . .

I will have more to share from SEI & Jillibean Soup this week so stay tuned!!! Hope all is well out there :)

ttyl - julie :)