thursday . . .

It's funny - I was so excited for us (J & I) to get away - a break from the kiddos - an overnight escape. It was freedom, for any better word - as you mothers out there know, being a mother means always being responsible for another person - always helping, always worrying, always caring, always being there - and as wonderful as it all is - it is exhausting too. So to get away, even just for 24 hours was an exciting event to me & I don't think I felt this relaxed in a LONG, LONG time . . .

(Yes, I bought an Instax & it is just pure fun - love it!!!!)

Forgive my lack of self-timer skills - chopped off half my head :)

But the next day, when I returned to be with this one . . .

and this one . . .

well, being home felt even better :) It is so easy to get bogged down with the day to day, and to come back to it - even one night refreshed - well you can see things so much more clearly :) And the welcome home from these too - well - I felt like a million bucks :) Love my two little men :)

Being a slacker in the blog department . . . I have 2 layouts that are totally overdue being posted :( Sorry!!!

First up - some Watermelon Gazpacho from Jillibean Soup - this line is AWESOME!!!! Love how between a few sheets of patterned paper & embellies from the collection, I was able to create this fun Fourth of July layout :)

Here is a close-up of the title work - featuring my most favorite corrugated alphas ever!!!

LOVE all the new Pea Pod die-cuts & those kraft mini alphas are so fab!!!

Wait until you see all the other NEW Jillibean goodies coming out for CHA - they are RIDICULOUSLY FABULOUS - I mean it (and I am not just biased because I'm on the team - seriously WOWZER kind of stuff people) :)

Looking for some sketch inspiration???? Well this month's SEI sketch is up - full of multi-pics & these fun little pennant embellies :)

Here is what I came up with using their I'm An Athlete line - a GREAT sports themed collection people :)

Here is a quick close-up - love the tickets and die-cut stars from the collection :) See those cute pennants - just took some of the die-cuts and added a toothpick to the back - voila - instant pennant embellie :)

I haven't seen any pics of SEI's new collections yet, but I'm anticipating some WONDERFUL new collections - can't wait!!!

Speaking of NEW collections . . . have you seen this . . .

or this . . .

or this . . .

or this . . .

or this . . .

A new collection coming out this summer at CHA - a collaboration between Amy Tangerine and American Crafts - so fun - totally right up my alley kind of scrapbook supplies - I know I will have to have 2 of everything - better start my Christmas list early :) HAH!!!

Before I go, I am excited to share that I will actually be attending CHA this year!!!! This has been a dream for a LONG time - I have always wanted to go & it has (for one reason or another) never worked out - but thanks to Jill I will be able to attend this year - SO EXCITED!!! A bit nervous though, I have never traveled alone - so this will be a first - anyone else going??? I'd love to meet up with anyone who's going to grab lunch or do some perusing of the new CHA goodies :)

Oh - and I am SUPER excited to be guest designing in August for a manufacturer that I have LOVED, LOVED LOVED since way back when I began this hobby (or obsession - hah!!) - can't wait to be able to share with all of you soon!!!! Hope all is well out there :)

ttyl - julie :)

sunday . . .

I was hoping to have posted this a few days ago, but seeing how hubby was out of town & mommy was on solo - not too much scrapping & blogging has been happening :) As I mentioned in my last post, I had the honor of being asked to be a featured artist at Scrapbook News & Review. I am super excited to share the two layouts I created for the post . . .

As you may see from my close-ups, the technique I shared was a quick how-to on faux stitching. Check out the full post HERE.

While playing with all these October Afternoon goodies for my assignment, I was inspired to also take a bit of time to create with their newest line, Rocket Age, just for fun :) Here is what I came up with . . .

And a quick close-up on the title work - LOVE these sticker alphas!!!

Many of the comments from my post at SNR mentioned my "splattering" & how I did this . . . I also think a few of you have mentioned that in comments before. I took a few moments today to take a couple pics of this super simple process. The real trick is to not actually use the sprayer as intended :)

Step #1 Get yourself an old box to contain you paper - this process is messy so ideally the sides of the box have some height to them. (You can tell mine has been well used!!)

Step #2 Now, instead of using the sprayer, take the sprayer/pump out of the actual container. When unscrewing it and pulling it out, make sure to tap it a bit on the sides so that there is just a little ink remaining in the pump/tube.

Step #3 Fling the end of the sprayer (the tube part) towards your paper (this can get messy, hence why the box is helpful). This allows for some fun splatters here & there around your paper. Also - you can control where they fall a bit by flinging the tube towards the direction of the paper where you want the splatters.

Hope that helps!!! Be back soon to share more :)

ttyl - julie :)

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 :)