Happy New Year!

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Studio J Layouts

This is my very first Studio J layout!
Have you heard about Studio J yet? It is free online design software that allows you to create custom-printed two-page layouts you put in your albums. There is no software to purchase and install. You just need to simply log in to Studio J and start designing your layouts! You can create and immediately purchase your layouts, or you can save them for later completion and purchase. Oh my word, it is so much fun and so easy to use.

My 2nd downline Pam (Hi Pam!) sent me her top 10 reasons why everyone should try Studio J. I thought I would share them with you...

1. It doesn't cost anything so what do you have to lose?
2. It is extremely user-friendly. You don't need to be great with computers to figure it out.
3. Almost anything you can do on a classic scrapbook page you can do on Studio J ... edge distressing, layering objects, matting photos, adding ribbon and metal embellishments, etc.
4. There are things you can do in Studio J that you CAN'T do with your classic supplies. You can re-size Stickease, change out the paper at the last minute, zoom in or out on a photo while you're working on the project, and change the color of embellishments to coordinate with your page.
5. Studio J is a great tool for planning pages even if you ultimately just decide to make a classic layout.
6. When you're done with a Studio J layout, you don't have a mess all over your scrapbook room.
7. You can scrapbook anywhere that you have Internet access ... restaurants, hotels, work, vacation, the in-laws house, even the pool.
8. When working with Studio J, you never find yourself just "one brad short" or "needing an extra letter-L Stickease". You've got as many embellishments and as many Stickease as you need!
9. Studio J is the only place you can see the new exclusive paper packs!
   
10. You can earn free shipping and free page protectors by grouping your layouts together and having them all printed at the same time.
    

When can you access Studio J? Studio J will go live in March, however, Consultants will have access earlier, so if you sign up to become a Consultant, you will get to play with it before it goes live! (I was one of the lucky ones who has been able to play with the Beta version and I LOVE it and know you will too!)

Here are a couple more of my first Studio J layouts.
Click here to visit the Studio J website and to sign up for Studio J email updates. You will also be entered to win a FREE album! Stay tuned for more Studio J fun...

January's Club Project - Family Layout

January’s Creative Club project will be a 12x12 layout that can be used either as a scrapbook page or as a home decor piece, for my club members who are not scrapbookers. Although by the time you are finished with the project, you may want to become scrapbookers. LOL!We will be using the beautiful new Veranda paper packet from the 2010 Spring catalog along with the stamp set that comes in the Felicity Kit only available until the end of January or while supplies last. Click here for more information on the Felicity Kit. The little birds are the top are from Follow your Heart, the the exclusive stamp set that will be available only in the Veranda Workshops on the Go Kit starting January 1st. The LOVE definition is from the State of Mind set that I talked about in my last post. (I love this set!)
My Creative Club meets the 2nd Wednesday of the month at 7pm at my house, however, you do not need to be local to be part of the club. My long distance members get their kits mailed to them and any orders they place, get drop shipped to them directly from the Close to my Heart office. (Sometimes they even get their orders before the local gals!) Next month’s club is on Wednesday, January 13th. If you would like to attend or order a kit, please contact me no later than January 1st so that I have enough time to order the supplies and prepare your kit(s).

Click here for more details on this super fun club! Contact me at lisa@myctmh.com for more information, to sign up for next month’s class, or to order your own club kit(s).

All supplies are from CTMH unless otherwise noted.
Paper Packet
Veranda (available January 1st)
Stamps
Felicity (available through January 31st), Friendship Large Alphabet, State of Mind (available January 1st), Follow your Heart (available only in the Veranda WOTG Kit starting January 1st)
Inks
Cocoa, Créme Brulee
Other
Big Pinks Just Blooms Flowers, White Daisy Just Blooms Flowers, Pewter Designer Brads, Cocoa Grosgrain Ribbon, Microtip Scissors

Kindness Card - New Product Sneak Peek

Here's a little sneak peek of a couple of new products from the upcoming CTMH 2010 Spring Idea Book. I made this simple card using a new paper packet called Caboodle. You will be seeing more projects using this paper in the next couple of days. (It was the one I was assigned in my new Idea Book swap.) I love the new stamp set I used called State of Mind. Wait until you see the whole set. It has lots of great words and their definitions that are perfect for backgrounds. I also used some of the new Spring Just Blooms flowers. The inside of the card says, “Thank you for your kindness.”

The funny thing is that this morning I was checking out some of my favorite blogs and came across this card from Kathi. I had to laugh because although the card is fairly different, we both had the same idea to use Sweet Leaf and Crystal Blue cardstock to make a scallop circle card. (Great minds think alike, right Kathi?) LOL!

The leaves were made by folding a piece of Sweet Leaf cardstock in half and running it through my crimper at an angle. I cut out half of a leaf shape and then unfolded it. I added a little Sweet Leaf ink to the edges too. I have had my crimper for years and hardly ever use it. I am glad I never got rid of it because it comes in handy when I want to make these kind of leaves.

Happy Sunday!

All supplies are from CTMH unless otherwise noted.
Patterned Paper
Caboodle Paper Packet
Cardstock
Sweet Leaf, Crystal Blue, Sorbet
Stamps
State of Mind (to be released 1/1/10)
Inks
Crystal Blue, Chocolate, Sweet Leaf
Other
Spring Just Blooms, Sorbet Ribbon Rounds, Spring Blossom Brads

Merry Christmas

I know I promised to post some more artwork before Christmas, but I spent the day with my family today instead of taking photos of my creations. So, you will have to wait a little longer for my projects. (My family thanks you!)

In the meantime, I wanted to stop in and wish you all a VERY merry Christmas and a blessed New Year! I hope you enjoy spending time with your families during the next few days and focusing on what this beautiful holiday is really about—the birth of our amazing Savior, Jesus Christ! I know it is somewhat of a cliché, but He really is the reason for the season!

I will leave you to enjoy this beautiful card that my sweet friend Barbara sent to me. (Love ya Barb!)
Check out the gold embossing and the sparkly red berries. Barb sure is talented!
Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!
XOXO

Yummy Christmas Gifts

Hi All! Did you think I dropped off of the face of the Earth? I have been so preoccupied with Christmas preparations that I have neglected my poor blog and all of you my friends! I am so sorry.

I wanted to share the gifts that I gave to my neighbors this year. As most of you know, I am really not good in the kitchen and homemade (edible) goodies are not my forte. I actually tried it last year and attempted to make some peppermint brownies and what I thought was an easy Chex mix type thing. Indeed they were both easy to make, but they didn't turn out too well. As I delivered them to my poor neighbors, I felt I had to apologize for their gift. So sad. LOL!Anyhoo, this year I opted to share one of my FAVORITE treats with my neighbors. They are Dark Chocolate Pomegranate Candies I found at Costco. Oh, they are just so good I really need to get the rest of them out of the house before I eat them all!

As I was creating the project for my September Creative Club, I had the idea that I could fill up the tins with candy and give them as gifts. That is exactly what I did. The CD tins came from Specialty Bottle and, as I mentioned, the candy came from Costco. I decorated the outside of the tins with cards from the Around the Holidays Card Kit. The best thing was that my gift doubled as a card.

Just look at that heavenly row of yummy chocolate.

Here is a picture of the chocolate bags so you know what to look for on your next Costco run. (wink)

I was able to write a little message to each family inside the attached card.

I hope to post a couple more things before Christmas so be sure to check back soon. *Ü*

Celebrate National Papercrafting Month

January is National Papercrafting Month, but Close To My Heart is starting the celebration NOW! This year's kit is beautiful! Not only do you get a stamp set that includes a complete alphabet, flourishes, birds, argyle patterns, flowers, leaves, but also twelve 12" x 12" B&T papers in 3 different color schemes along with six coordinating 12" x 12" die cuts perfect for scrapbook layouts or cards, boxes, journals and other papercrafting projects! In addition, you will receive a two-sided, full color brochure giving you project ideas along the recipes for each!

There are FIVE ways to get the Felicity Collection*:

1. Purchase it at full retail price for $34.95.
2. Place an order of $60 or more in full-retail priced stamp sets and receive one collection FREE!
3. Place an order of $125 or more in full-retail priced Close To My Heart products and receive one collection FREE!
4. Host a home gathering or workshop with a minimum sales of $400 and receive one collection FREE!
5. Join Close to my Heart between January 1-31 and you will receive the collection FREE in your New Consultant Kit.
   

*This promotion is while supplies last from December 15, 2009-January 31, 2010.

Click here to place a Close to my Heart order.

Huge Online Clearance Sale - Holiday Heyday!

Boy oh boy, do I have a treat for you! Close to my Heart is having an amazing online clearance sale staring at 8:00 am (Pacific Time) December 2nd!

Sit back and relax. It's OK to start your holiday shopping a little late this year, because the best deals start in December! You can buy everyone on your list a gift and stock up on much-needed supplies for yourself, leaving you time to enjoy the festivities! Beginning December 2*, you’ll want to get in on the amazing deals like My Acrylix® stamp sets from only $2 and My Reflections® paper packets from only $5. But that’s not all—there are “grab bags” for $30, each filled with over $100 in retail products! Plus, great shipping deals too. How about $5 flat rate on orders over $100? What a deal! These products are only available while supplies last, so mark your calendar and be the first to fill your shopping cart!

My sweet friend Melissa compiled the following list of just a few of the great deals. (Thanks Melissa!)

15+ Level One Kits: (favorites like Vintage Travel, Laid Back, Free Spirit & more) $5.00 (regularly $9.95)
10+ Level Two Paper Packs (Caprice, School Zone, Expedition) $6.50 (regularly $12.95)
10+ Stickease $4.00 (regularly $8.95)
35+ Stamp Sets from $2.00 to $8.00 (Let Us Adore Him, Lets Play Ball, Precious Alphabet, Card Sentiments, and other greats)
Embellishments like brads ($3), ribbon rounds ($4), chipboard ($3)
plus lots more!

Click here to start shopping!

*Sale continues through December 17 or while supplies last. Shipping/handling: US orders of $100+ have a flat rate shipping of $5. Tax is charged based on discounted amount. Sale has quantities restricted to FIVE per item to provide a smooth shopping experience for all customers.

Christmas Boutique

You are invited to a

Christmas Boutique

If you are in the Southern California (San Diego, Riverside) area,
please join us for our third annual Christmas Boutique!

If you want to find the perfect gifts, while still enjoying what the season is all about, you won’t want to miss this fun day. Come hand pick, design, or even create your gifts without crowds or stress!

You will enjoy great food, free creative make and take projects,
a free 5 minute massage, door prizes, and more!

Saturday, December 5th • 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
(Contact me for directions)

Featuring Gifts Galore from:
Close to my Heart Stamping & Scrapbooking
(Get some great discounts on my cash and carry products)
Homemade Gourmet
Pampered Chef
Dani’sHandcrafted Jewelry
Unique Children’s Accessories
Hand Painted Portraits
Arbonne International
Simply Fun Family Games
Lori’s Massage
and more!

Come make this fun card during the make and take session.
I am giving away these cute little bags which include a mini card and a mini stamp.
We would love to see you on Saturday! Contact me for more details.

We have a winner...

The winner of my November Creative Club contest is Marlene Spencer who created Project #3! Congratulations Marlene! You win a $10 gift certificate. I will give it to you at our next club meeting. Thanks for playing ladies! (And thanks to those who voted.) *Ü*