It's that time again!

Challenge #3:

When I grow up... What profession did you want to be when you were little? Are you in that profession now? If no, why not? Create a page or altered Item with the theme of "When I grow up I want to be...." you can use the previous sentence as a kick start for your journaling, or create a layout featuring your dream career.


Here are the X Teams' takes on the challenge:


Diva Extraoridinare
By Emily

Journaling: (Pulls out of tag from top of photo) No. Not THAT kind of Diva. The REAL definition of a Diva is a female performer who sings well. THAT is a Diva! I can't remember a time when I wasn't day dreaming about being onstage, nor a time when I wasn't singing. It truly makes my heart soar to be able to have my family, yet still get time to sing. So glad I have the outlet. Music will always be my first love.




A Vet
By Wendy

I always wanted to be a vet when I grew up.  As far back as I can
remember.  I love animals of all kinds.

It was my plan for a career when I was little then at some point I
realized...

Sometimes sick animals don't make it.  They go to Animal Heaven.  I
couldn't stand the thought of being there when that happened.

I am not a vet, but a Stay at Home Mom!

SAHM
By Kimmi

Journaling: There were many things I wanted to be growing up-A Lawyer, or a professional photographer. Ultimately I didn't want to work, I wanted to get married and become a stay-at-home-mom. After a divorce when Brayden was 3 months old, I thought it would never be financially possible. Then I met Travis and my dream came true!

Full Circle
By Patti

Journaling: I've always loved science and Art. When I was a kid I wanted to "Invent" something. But in college I studied computers because that was where the money was. Now as an adult I came FULL CIRCLE. I am a Certified Group Exercise Instructor and Personal Trainer. My hobby is scrapbooking. I have the best of both worlds! March 2008.

And here is the layout from our fabulous Guest Designer Kimberly Garofolo!


I am
By Kimberly

Journaling: For as long as I can remember, I've wanted to be loved truly, a mom, a hairstylist, and a photographer. I am so blessed to have accomplished my life long passions and make them reality.

Now go forth and create!!

We are always so excited to see what our readers come up with, so to show our appreciation,
there will be a RAK for the winner!




Happy Scrapping!
The Design X

The Beautiful and Talented, Kimberly Garofolo!!



Here is a bit about Kimberly:

Hello, my name is Kimberly and I am a proud mom to 3 blessings and engaged to the most wonderful man Todd. My greatest passions are wrapped around my love for my family with Photography and Scrapbooking. I launched a photography business in 07 and have been scrapbooking for nearly 12 years. I enjoy designing for Sassafras, Upsy Daisies, Pick of the Patch kit club, and do free lance work for 3 bugs in a Rug. I get my inspiraration from God, as before I even sit down to create, He is who I pray to for ideas and designs. I enjoy the scrapbooking industry so much, as it offers and opportunity to create as well as forming lasting friendships and bonds with other women with similar passions in life, and that in itself brings me great joy!

I am so honored to be asked to guest design for "Design Experiment" and hope to bring you inspiration as well. Thank you so much for this AWESOME opportunity Emily and team!

We can't wait to see what you create Kimberly!

We just wanted to share a quick peek at what is coming in the future!

Here are who we have lined up to guest design for us in the coming weeks!:

Kimberly Gorofolo
Angela Daniels
Jen Jockish
Leslie Ashe
Corinne Delis
Rachel Carlson
Tessa Ann Watte
Kara Dudley
Suzy Plantamara

And more coming!!!

I hope you are as completely stoked as we are!!!!!!

Croppin' Carla!!!

You are the winner of the first challenge!

Thank you to everyone who participated in the first TDX challenge! We appreciate your support!

Be sure to check out Challenge #2, and check back often for some exciting news!



Here is Carla's Layout:

Super-Human You:

We challenge you to remember a time when you had super-human strength, either physically or emotionally. Think back to this time, how did you feel? How do you feel know? How has this changed you?

You can also think about what gives you strength in those tough times, what do you rely on to give you that super-human strength, even if you don't think you can make it through.

Create a layout or altered project, and add the link in our comments for this post. We will choose a winner on March 31st, so make sure your entries are posted in the comments by the 30th at midnight!

Here are the X Teams Takes on the Challenge:

Birth Story
By Emily

Journaling:
I was so ready for you to come out. You had been growing inside me for nine and a half months, and I couldn’t wait to meet you. I was overdue, and very uncomfortable, and my doctor decided to induce me on a Tuesday morning, November 27th, 2007. I immediately knew that it would be a lucky day. Not just because you would be born on this day, but because you’re birthday would be 11-27-07, all prime numbers, and I was born on the 27th day of April. I don’t know why this put me at ease, but it did.
I was called at 4:15am on Tuesday morning by the admitting nurse, and were told it was time to come in and be induced. Within 15 minutes, we were out the door. Nana had stayed with us the night before, ready to watch your brothers if we had to rush off to the hospital.
We arrived at the hospital twenty minutes after they had called and they laughed to see our eagerness. Mommy and Daddy were so excited to finally get to meet you!
Once I was checked in, the induction process started. I was given an IV of fluids, and had chosen to be induced by a pill called Cytotec which was a much slower and more natural drug for induction. I was afraid of using the IV drug Pitocin, which causes extremely hard and fast contractions and I was set on delivering you naturally.
Seven hours later nothing had happened. I was still dilated to the two centimeters I had been when I was admitted to the hospital. The decision was made to start a pitocin drip, and I was scared. Scared that my labor would be too intense to handle naturally, I was afraid of failing. Failing myself, my resolve to deliver naturally, and fail you. But I relented. The Pitocin was given at 2pm, and I immediately began to feel its effects. Two hours later I was in active labor, breathing heavily and making low toned noises through each painful contraction. I sat on the bed, on all fours, rocking gently back and forth to try and ease the pain. I was checked again and my cervix was dilated to 4cm. I was crushed. I thought for sure the pain I was feeling would mean that I was close to delivering you. I began to doubt my ability to make it through the pain. I then asked for the epidural. Daddy asked me if I was sure I wanted to have the medicine, he knew how desperately I wanted to deliver you naturally. I told him I didn’t think I could make it. I was then told that there was a wait for the anesthesiologist, apparently there were three other mommies having their babies who wanted epidurals too! I was fourth in line. I never expected the wait to be as long as it was. We waited and waited, and I breathed and breathed through each contraction. Each contraction would be more painful than the previous one. And each time the pain intensified my moans became louder and louder. Two hours later the anesthesiologist arrived and began the process of preparing for the epidural. By this time I was screaming through each contraction, the pain was almost unbearable, but I knew that the end result was worth the discomfort. It took twenty minutes for the anesthesiologist to prepare, and as he put the needle into my back, my water broke. I looked up at the nurse and said: “Oh! I think my water just broke!” She said it was okay, and I needed to be very still. As soon as the needle was taken out of my back, I was beginning to feel and intense urge to push. I told our nurse that I felt like I needed to push, and she said I needed to wait because our doctor, Doctor Blackburn, was on route from the clinic and had not arrived at the hospital yet. She decided to check my cervix and we were all extremely surprised to learn I was 9.5cm dilated! The nurse immediately shut off the epidural IV, and told me to hold on. She ran out to the hallway and asked for any on-call doctor to assist in the birth of you in case Dr. Blackburn couldn’t make it to the hospital on time! By this time I was squirming, just aching to push. The intense urge was so hard to deny, but I knew it was safer to wait until a doctor, ANY doctor arrived to assist. I screamed out to the nurse, “I NEED to push!!” And she came over to check me once again. Within the five minutes that had passed, I was fully dilated to 10cm, and you were coming! She informed me and Daddy that she could see the top of your head and that you had a lot of dark hair! At this point I became nervous! I had never done this naturally before! Your brothers were both born while I was under the influence of an epidural. I was scared of the pain, scared of the unknown. Just as I thought I could not bear the urge to push any longer, Doctor Blackburn came rushing in. He threw on a gown over his suit and stepped into booties over his nice shoes. He said, “Okay, lets have a baby!” And I began to push. Ten minutes later I heard the most beautiful sound a mom can hear. A sound I would hear for the third time in my life. My little child taking their first breath. You little cry warmed my soul and washed over me like a warm blanket. I felt such pure joy. Daddy looked at me with complete adoration in his eyes and said: “You did it!” I looked back with tears and said, “I did, didn’t I?!” And he gently kissed my forehead. You were placed on my chest and within seconds you were nursing contentedly. You were the most beautiful little girl I had ever seen in my life.
Each labor and delivery I have been through has been special in it’s own way. But this was so different. I felt so empowered: as a mom, as a woman. I felt like the strongest person alive, and felt that from then on, I could accomplish anything. Your birth forever changed me. I now see myself as a strong woman, someone who knows who she is, and what she wants. I am no longer afraid of the unknown. No longer afraid to stand up for what I want, what I think is right. Your birth did this for me, and for that I am forever grate ful. I love you so much my sweet girl, and I hope one day you will read this, as a mom with children of your own, and know exactly how I felt and know the strength I have received by simply becoming your mom.


Addiction...Strength
By Wendy

Journaling:
I am a complete and total sugar addict! I have always loved a good meal of just candy or dessert. It's comforting to me for some reason. Especially chocolate. If I am feeling down and out or tired or I have gotten bad news... something sweet seems to always pull me through. I think it is my strength sometimes to get me through some situations or just a bad day. Pure comfort that I don't think I could ever give up.



Leaving You
By Kimmi

Journaling:
One of the hardest days of my life was the day that I was discharged from the hospital after giving birth to you. You were admitted to the ICU when you were one day old and spent fourteen more nights in the Special Care Nursery. Having to walk out of the hospital without you in my arms was heartbreaking. I had to be strong. I came and sat with you every morning and every evening. Bathing you, feeding you, and tucking you in. Most days there was no one to bring me to see you. I wasn't supposed to drive, but I did. I was supposed to be resting and recovering, but how was I supposed to rest and relax, knowing you were not home with me. The doctors and nurses assured me just about every day that you should be able to go home the following day. That finally happened the day after your first Valentine's Day. One of the best days ever.


The Most Important Phone Call
By Katie Watson

Journaling:

It's like you knew that it was your daddy on the phone. You were less then 30 minutes old and I was trying to describe you to Daddy. You were watching me like you understood exactly what was going on. Daddy was in Japan on a six month deployment. You and I were in Washington State and this was our most important phone call....the one from Daddy.

We can't wait to see what you all come up with for this challenge!

Happy Scrapping!

The Design X

Is Katie Watson!!!


Katie is an amazingly talented designer, and a wonderful lady all around! She is currently on the Maya Road Design Team, as well as the Pink Paislee Design Team, and we can't wait to see what she comes up with for Challenge #2!

You can find Katie's gallery Here.

Wendy Reed has agreed to become a permanent member of the Design X Team!!!





We are sooooo blessed and excited that she is going to be with us!

We can't wait to see all her creations to come!

Here is the first official Design X Challenge!

Challenge #1:

A Note to Your(younger)Self.

If you could go back in time, what would you tell your younger self? What would you want to know to get you through the years? Design a layout with an emphasis on journaling to yourself as a younger person.

Here are the X Team's takes on the challenge:

He Loves You
By Emily

This is a layout about my Step-Dad. He has been married to my mom for almost 20 years, been my dad since I was 5....and he has never told me he loves me. It's something that hurt me for a long time. But I finally realized a couple years ago, that he does love me, he just doesn't know how to tell me.

Journaling:

Little Girl, I know you are hurting. I know you think he doesn't love you. I know you wish he would open up and be closer. Don't worry honey, one day you will realize that he loves you very much. One day he will walk you down the aisle and you will see the love in his eyes. One day he will hold your first born in his arms and transform into "Papa". And one day he will tell your kids that he loves them.

Be You
By Kimmi

Note to Self
By Patti:

What You Need 2 Know

By Wendy Reed

Journaling Reads:

You need 2 know...
March 2008
little Wendy... a few things I want you to know... be strong, no matter
what happens you will survive... stand up for what you believe in, you
will be a better person and feel better about yourself... you can,
always know you can do anything you put your mind to... Don't get
intimidated, no one is better than anyone else, everyone is equal...
Stay in touch, always stay in touch with your friends and family, it is
so easy to lose touch as lives change... Enjoy everyday, like it's your
last, you never know what tomorrow will bring... take control, of your
future, you are the one that can make it into what you want it to be...
love yourself, you can love yourself unconditionally, make that a priority.

Love,
the older you!

So there it is! Challenge #1! We would love for you to participate in our challenge! You can post a link to your layout in our comments, You have until March 17th at midnight! Then we will we pick a winner and post a new challenge! Thank you for visiting our new site! We look forward to seeing your creations!

-The Design X

We are pleased to announce that the fabulous Wendy Reed is our very first guest designer here at The Design X!

She is soooo talented, and such a fun and spirited girl! We can't wait to see what she comes up with for the first challenge!!!

Oh, and if you would like to be considered as a guest designer for future challenges, just drop us a line at thedesignx@gmail.com with a link to your gallery! Thanks!!!

-The Design X