Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Are you still intimidated by Studio J? Then you must read this post!

Hi Everyone! We are finally home from our trip to Wisconsin. We had a great time, although I am now finding that I am super behind with my emails and Convention projects that I was hoping to have finished by now. (I have some great photos to share with you later.)

Before we even unpacked this morning, my 7 year old son was begging me to show him how to use Studio J so he could create a layout with some of the photos from our trip. So, while the laundry and emails await, I showed him how to use Studio J and this is what he created...

Click on the image to see it larger.

Yes, my 7 YEAR OLD just created this in about 15 minutes this morning and was thrilled to order a FREE JPEG file so he could download it to his computer, share it online, and print it out here at home. He likes it so much that we may even order a print of it next month. He is so proud! So, let me tell you that if my 7 year old son can create a layout using Studio J, so can you! *Ü*

Be sure to take advantage of the FREE JPEG file promotion that ends tomorrow, June 30th! You can create your layout for FREE, order a FREE JPEG file, and download it within minutes, just like we did this morning!

Click here to read more about Studio J and what to do with all of those digital photos you have sitting on your SD cards or computer!

Contact me if you have any questions. I’d love to sit down with you and help you get started creating beautiful, quick and easy scrapbook pages!

Or click here to get started now!

Monday, June 20, 2011

Creativity with Trees & Things Stamp Set

Sorry I haven’t posted much artwork lately. I have been working on some top secret stuff that I will be able to share next month after Convention. I can’t wait to show you what I have been making!

I am heading out of town to Wisconsin for a family vacation tomorrow, so I will leave you with this great video until I get back. The Trees & Things stamp set is soooo cute. Click here to order yours today!


Sunday, June 19, 2011

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father’s Day to all of the wonderful Dads out there who sacrifice so much for your families! I’d also like to say a special Happy Father’s Day to my wonderful husband and father of my children. You are a man of integrity with a heart that follows after God and we are so very grateful for you! We love you!!


This was a photo taken a little over 4 years ago when Hannah was just a tiny baby and Ryan was three years old.


This one was taken last year when Hannah was 4 and Ryan was 7! (Don’t they grow fast?)


I’d also like to remind everyone to hug your husbands and fathers today and tell them how much they mean to you. It was almost 20 years ago that I lost my Dad and every Father’s Day my heart aches because I am reminded of how special he was and how much I miss him. I wish my husband and kids could have met him. Now...go hug your husband and/or father and tell them you love them!

Happy Father’s Day!

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Dreams Come True Project Video

Check out this video and learn some fun ways to use the Dreams Come True stamp set.



Click here to order your set now. (Don’t forget to add some of the deeply discounted “while supplies last” products to your order!)

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Special Gift for Some Special Gals



Now that I know my fabulous downline have received their gifts, I can post them here for the rest of the world to see. I am so, so proud of my dear friend and downline Christine Adams who was recently promoted to a Close to my Heart Director! I am also very proud of her downline, Pam Thor, who also promoted to Director. I sent them both a heart shaped Brighton key fob with a little note inside. I hope they will be reminded of how proud I am of them each time they use it! Congratulations my friends!
Love you both tons!

xoxo


Saturday, June 11, 2011

Today’s Studio J Class


Six gals joined me today for a super fun Studio J class! In fact, everyone had so much fun that I am thinking of making this a monthly event. Let me know if you would like to join us for the next one. Everyone learned the basics of how Studio J works and we all created the layout below. (Of course everyone else’s layouts didn’t have photos of my family on them. LOL!) Many of them changed the colors and designs to match their photos! They all turned out GREAT!


Most of the gals who attended the class already have a Studio J membership, but even those that don’t, walked away wanting to get one. They loved the idea of getting layouts for 1/2 price, free shipping, free JPEGS and access to all of the Members-only layouts and kits. Don’t forget that you can get a FREE JPEG file of your Studio J layout this month without a membership! Click here to check out Studio J for FREE!

Vanessa (in the photo with me below) was one who wasn’t into “digital scrapbooking” before today. It was funny to hear, “That is so cool!” and “Wow! I love this!” coming out of her mouth every five minutes! I am not one to say, “I told you so Vanessa, but...” LOL! By the end of the class she was not only very comfortable with Studio J, but she was comfy in her hard wood chair! *Ü*

(Hey, check out my new pink Convention shirt. Yep. I couldn’t wait until Convention to wear it. I had to break it in today.)


Click on the image below to check out Studio J for FREE!



Looking forward to our next Studio J class! Stay tuned for more info...

Friday, June 10, 2011

HUGE discounts on "while supplies last" items and a chance to help the tornado victims!


Many Close to my Heart Consultants have asked if there is something we could do to support those affected by recent severe weather in the US, and we’ve also had requests to extend the availability of the You & Me scrapbooking kit offered during the month of May. We’ve combined those two aims into a single campaign called You & Me: Stronger Together, to raise funds for the survivors of the severe storms that have pummeled the Midwest and Southern states.

During the month of June, order a You & Me kit for only $15 (a retail value of $34.95), and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross 2011 Floods and Tornadoes relief operations. Simply use item number CC1012B to place your order for this sensational kit and help those in need at the same time. The You & Me: Stronger Together campaign will continue until June 30 at 11:59 pm (MDT) or while supplies last.

Even if you already have a You & Me Kit, wouldn't it be great to have more of that yummy paper, and that delicious ribbon? Click here to order your discounted You & Me Kit online today.

Offer valid June 2–30, 2011, or while supplies last. No qualifying purchase required. Tax and shipping/handling charges apply. The placement of the donations is prioritized by the American Red Cross, with all money earmarked for disaster relief from the tornadoes and flooding in the midwestern and southeastern United States.

***

And while you are online ordering your You & Me Kit, be sure to check out the AMAZINGLY discounted "while supplies last" items. Here are just a few of the great items available while supplies last...

CREATIVE BASICS® CHERRY-O COLLECTION - only $3
With papers inspired by the Cherry-O Level 2 paper packet, this Creative Basics kit makes it simple and fun to make lots of coordinating cards for all occasions! Available while supplies last. (Includes 12 – 12" × 12" B&T Duos papers (6 each of 2 designs) and 4 yards of 1/4" Cranberry velvet ribbon.)



HEARTFELT™ WHIMSY DIE-CUTS - only $1.50
Add color and texture to your projects with these cute die-cut felt designs. Layer them, add a brad here or a Sparkle there, even a bit of hand stitching would look great! (3 – 12" × 12" sheets; 1 each of Buttercup, Garden Green, Tulip)

MY ORIGINALS HELLO BIRDIE CARD KIT - only $3
12 – 3" × 4 3/4" Preprinted Card (3 each of 4 designs)
3 – 6" × 12" My Stickease® Adhesive Sheets
12 – 3" × 4 3/4" Envelope Flats (not shown)
Colors: Bubblegum, Citrus Leaf, Ocean, Cocoa


BELLA LEVEL 2 MY STICKEASE® ASSORTMENT - only $1
2 – 6" × 12" Coordinating Adhesive Sheets


CREATIVE BASICS™ EMPORIUM COLLECTION - only $2
Cardmakers rejoice! You’ll love the Creative Basics™ Emporium collection with papers and ribbon to craft many coordinating cards in no time! Go whimsical, sophisticated, cute, or pretty—friends and family will love your personalized cards. Available through April 2009 or while supplies last. (Includes 16 – 12" × 12" B&T Duos™ sheets (8 each of 2 designs) and 8 yards of 1/4" Vineyard Berry grosgrain ribbon.)


Click here to start shopping now. You can save a ton of money AND send help to those in need, all at the same time!

Happy Shopping! *Ü*

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Miracle Stationery Box for Operation Smile


I originally made this stationery box to send in with my Extravaganza teaching application a couple months ago. (Extravaganza is one of the highlights of the Close to my Heart Convention where we have 7 back-to-back, 20 minute, high energy creative classes. It is so much fun!) After I received the info that I was chosen to teach and what my topic was, I decided to donate the box to the Operation Smile Auction, which is another highlight at Convention. The CTMH Art Department and a handful of wonderful Consultants create and donate some fabulous projects each year to raise money for Operation Smile which is CTMH’s chosen charity. Click here to read more about Operation Smile.

Front

Back


I have to tell you a funny story about this project. (I know many of you already know the story because I was pleading for help during the process. LOL!) To create the inside of the box, I had to use a lot of adhesive, as you can imagine. I had just bought a new ATG gun (you know the cute new pink one) and some rolls of tape to go with it. Well, apparently the tape I bought had a strong smell to it and I didn't realize it until after the box was finished. Every time I opened the box, I was hit with a funky plastic type smell. I finally realized that it was the tape I had used. I tried everything to get rid of the smell. I tried baking soda, a fabric softener, letting it air outside for 2 days, etc. Finally the deadline to send in my application came around and I had to mail it in. I was tempted to send it in with a note apologizing for the smell and promising that if I was chosen to teach, I would use a different adhesive to make my projects. *Ü*

Have you ever created something and thought to yourself, “Boy, this stinks?” Well my project literally did! LOL! Thankfully I am pretty sure that the smell is gone by now and the person who wins the box should be able to enjoy the stationery without the wonderful plastic-y scent.


Here are all of the contents of the box...outside of the box...

...and inside of the box.

There are two metal containers filled with labels to adhere to the cards.

There is a matching notebook.

The cards and envelopes are all ready to be personalized with the label of your choice.

Each envelope flap is stamped with a subtle border.

This is what the empty box looks like inside. (Boy those dividers sure did take a long time to make.)

This is a sample of what the cards might look like after you adhere one of the labels.

All supplies used are CTMH unless otherwise noted:
Paper: Miracle Collection, Kraft Cardstock
Stamps: Miracle (from the Miracle Workshop on the Go Kit), Salutation Seals
Inks: Heavenly Blue, Sweet Leaf, Desert Sand
Other: Box and Tins (purchased at craft store); Various Sweet Leaf, Heavenly Blue, Chocolate Ribbon; Scallop Scissors; 2" Scallop Punch, White Daisy Just Blooms; Cricut Machine with SCAL software

Monday, June 6, 2011

Sweet birthday card from a sweet friend


Sorry I haven’t posted much artwork lately. It hasn’t been because I haven’t been creating any. It has been because I have been creating things that I cannot share yet. I have been working hard on lots of artwork for a class that I am teaching at the Close to my Heart Convention next month. I can’t wait to share everything with you! But you will have to wait until after Convention...


In the meantime, I would love to share this adorable card that my sweet friend
Christine David sent me for my birthday last week. Look at the incredible dragonfly she made. Isn’t it amazing? She also sent me a copy of a Studio J layout that she created with photos from last year’s Directors Dinner at Convention. You can see the layout here. (I love that with Studio J, you can create one layout and order as many copies of it as you like! In fact, Christine created this layout last year and just ordered me a copy this year. How cool is that?) Thanks my friend! I can’t wait to see you at Convention next month! I also can’t wait to create a layout with photos from this year’s Directors Dinner! I promise to send you a copy too.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Studio J Contest

Click on the photo to enlarge.

Have you fallen in love with Studio J yet? I am loving it more and more every time I use it! This is a layout that CTMH designed but I loved it so much that I recreated it to use with these photos of my daughter when she was younger. The stitching took a while, but I think it looks pretty cool.

Visit my website and play around with Studio J yourself. Then once you create a layout, you can order a FREE JPEG file of it anytime during the month of June. Then hop on over to the CTMH Facebook contest page and post your free JPEG.
Be sure to tell all of your friends about it because the person who uploads the layout with the most votes by the end of June will receive all of the following:
  • Credit for 10 two-page, custom-printed scrapbook layouts.
  • 10 Memory Protectors® to slip their layouts into.
  • Free shipping and handling, so their custom-designed layouts will come straight to their door, ready for their cherished album!
Plus, there are even prizes for those who come in 2nd and 3rd place! Visit the CTMH Facebook page here for more details.

Want to learn more about Studio J? Come to my free Studio J Training Workshop on June 11th. Click here for details on the workshop.


Happy Creating!

June Creative Club Project - Journal

June’s Creative Club will be held on Wednesday, June 15th and Thursday, June 16th at 7pm. This month’s project will be this cute journal. You can use it as a prayer journal, a sketch book, a notepad by your phone, or you can even make it as a gift.

The cost for the June kit will be $10 or $5 with a $25 order. (If you are not local, please add $5 for shipping.)



Contact me for more information, to sign up for this month's class, or to order your own kit(s). Please contact me no later than June 5th if you would like to join us or order a kit(s).

To find out more about my monthly no-commitment Creative Club, click here. You do not need to be local to participate!

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Studio J Training Workshop and FREE JPEG file!


Have you been wondering what Studio J is all about? Have you thought about checking it out, but never got around to it? Have you ever said to yourself, “I would love to scrapbook, but I just don’t have the time?” What would you say if I told you that you could attend a class, learn all of the basics of how Studio J works, create a layout as I walk you through the process step-by-step, and walk away with a JPEG file of your finished layout...all for FREE???

Well, do I have some good news for you! I am hosting a FREE Studio J Training workshop where you will get all of the above, for FREE! Just bring your laptop to this hands-on class and learn all about Close to my Heart's fabulous online digital scrapbooking program—Studio J! If you happen to fall in love with Studio J like I have, you may want to take advantage of a 3-month or 1-year Studio J Membership. Plus if you sign up for a membership while you are here, I will give you a FREE 12"x12" album once you complete and order your first 10 layouts!* But there is no obligation to purchase anything. You are welcome to come just to learn how the program works and to create your layout. Here are the details:

  • Who: You and your friends
  • Where: My house in Temecula, CA (contact me for directions)
  • When: Saturday, June 11th from 1pm - 4pm
  • Why: To learn how to use Studio J!
  • What to bring: Your laptop computer with WiFi capabilities and some digital photos that you'd like to use on your layout. (I will email those who sign up ahead of time with more details on the type of photos to bring.)
  • Cost: FREE!
Be sure to contact me as soon as possible to reserve your spot as I have very limited space. (This class is open to everyone including my Consultants!)

Not able to make it? No problem. You can still get your FREE Studio J JPEG anytime during the month of June! Simply click here and create an account, if you don’t already have one. Then create a layout and order your FREE JPEG!


*Purchase a 3-month membership at the class and I will give you a FREE Quick Pic album of your choice. Purchase a 1-year membership at the class and I will give you a FREE Faux Leather Album of your choice!