Friday, April 30, 2010

Heart 2 Heart Challenge - Got Ribbon?

This is a card I made for the new Heart 2 Heart challenge. If you love Close to my Heart products, you must check out the Heart 2 Heart challenge blog!

This week’s challenge was to use at least two different ribbons on a project. If you are anything like me, you must have TONS of ribbon scraps lying around. I keep mine in jars separated by color. It looks really pretty on my shelf, but I don’t use them very often. Well, this challenge was a great incentive for me to pull those jars off my shelf and use some of my ribbon scraps. In fact, I used 11 different ribbons on this card. Can you find them all?

I also used some cute patterned paper from the new Splendor paper packet that will be available on May 1st. Aren’t those clouds darling? I thought they would make a perfect background for my ribbon flowers.

To make the flowers, I ran a piece of white daisy cardstock through my Xyron machine to coat it with adhesive. Then I stuck my ribbon scraps on top. I stamped the flower from the A Posy stamp set on the back of the cardstock and cut it out. I cut the middle flower a little smaller. Then I added a button to the center of each flower. I used some Sweet Leaf ribbon for stems, stamped the sentiment from the Say it in Style set and I was done.

Hope you enjoyed my ribbon scrap card. Check back tomorrow to see the new 2010 Summer Idea Book! (You’re going to love it! I guarantee!)

All supplies are from CTMH.
Paper Packet
Splendor
Stamps
A Posy, Say it in Style

Ink Pads
Cocoa

Ribbon Rounds
Sweet Leaf, Blush, Hollyhock, Créme Brulee, Heavenly Blue
Other
Créme Brulee Cardstock, White Bulk Card, Buttons, Waxy Flax, Glue Dots, 3-D Foam Tape, Micro-Tip Scissors

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Summer 2010 CTMH New Product Blog Hop!

Welcome to our Close to my Heart New Product Blog Hop! Over 40 fabulous Close to my Heart Consultants are celebrating the upcoming release of the Summer 2010 Idea Book by giving you a Sneak Peak at some of the great products available in the new Idea Book starting May 1st!

If you have come here from Terrie’s blog, you are on the right path! You can also find a complete list of Blog Hop participants at the bottom of this post.

This is simple do to— just click on the link at the end of the post on each blog to move to the next one! Here we go...

One of my favorite new Paper Packets is called Cherry-O! (Isn’t it sweet?) I have a whole bunch of projects to share with you tonight using the new Cherry-O papers along with some other fun new products!
(You can click on the photos to see them larger.)

This 6x6 card uses a couple of buttons from the new Tulip Mini-Medley embellishment pack.
I was inspired by a card that I saw on Taylor Van Bruggen’s blog a while back.

This is the inside of the card.
I love tea and thought it would be fun to make a card that holds two Black Cherry flavored tea bags.
This was also inspired by Taylor.

I couldn’t find any cherry tea bags that were individually wrapped so I ended up making little pockets to hold the tea bags out of the back side of the cherry patterned paper.
This is a fun 3-D card that can be flattened down to fit into an envelope.
This card uses two of my favorite new products—Clear Cards and Cherry-O Opaques!
These are so much fun. I know you will love them both!And last but not least is a layout that I made for my darling daughter. (Sorry the photos are a little washed out.)
Another fun new product coming out are the Irresistibles which are chipboard die-cuts with various resist patterns on them that magically appear when you ink them. There is also a sample of Irresistibles in the Miracle Promotion Kit!
Here is another example of the Cherry-O Opaques. I cut them before I adhered them to the layout so that it would look like one of the stems is behind the letter “C.”
See Supply List at end of post.

Now "Hop" on over to Jody's Blog to see her work! Be sure to visit all the Consultants at their Blogs to get some great crafting ideas and see the great new Paper Packs and My Acrylix Stamp Sets!

Remember, the Summer 2010 Idea Book goes LIVE on May 1st!

**Link not working? Missed a Blog? Here is a list of all the participants in the New Product Sneak Peak Blog Hop:

Erin Herring http://www.tazzygirl2000.blogspot.com
Carla Ironside http://carlacreates.blogspot.com
Dawn Ross http://iamahappystamper.blogspot.com
Amy Edwards http://paisleysplayhouse.blogspot.com
Tresa Black http://www.fabulouslyartsy.blogspot.com
Dawn Heuft http://www.stamptildawn.blogspot.com
Kimberly Smith http://verykimberry.blogspot.com
Jessica Moore http://www.jessicaspaperpetals.blogspot.com
Leisa Hubley http://bigredscraps.blogspot.com
Helen Onulak http://www.hookedonstamping.com
Brae Montgomery http://thebrae-er.blogspot.com
Wendy Kessler http://www.myscrapbookingblog.com
Adeline Brill http://adeline-brill.blogspot.com
Sherrie Thornton http://www.impressionableart.blogspot.com
Sheila Bennett http://sheila-bennett.blogspot.com
Terrie Dodd http://my-life-in-real-time.blogspot.com
Lisa Stenz http://lisascreativecorner.blogspot.com (You are here!)
Jody Gustafson http://www.cre8nmemories.blogspot.com
Kathleen Rensel http://scrapbookaddictkath.blogspot.com/
Lori Scott http://scrapinglori.blogspot.com
Beth Naumann http://bethscreativeblock.blogspot.com
Teri Baxter http://www.themidnightartist.blogspot.com
Wendy Fording http://papercreationsbywendy.blogspot.com
Laurie Newton http://scrapsfromthebeach.blogspot.com
Meredith Burgess http://meredithburgess.blogspot.com
Clerissa Lewis http://www.thestampdr.com
Jennifer Kojder http://aglitterymess.blogspot.com
Georgia Hauglid http://inkygeorgia.blogspot.com
Antoinette Herrin http://www.godblessyourART.blogspot.com
Haley Dyer http://inkyscrapper.blogspot.com
Tanya Mae http://scramperscorner.blogspot.com
Priscilla http://priscillagotham.blogspot.com
Cassandra http://abitofitallforscrappin.blogspot.com
Jean McNulty http://stampinmaui.blogspot.com
Carrie Haines http://www.bizzymom.us
Janelle Janish http://stampandthecity.blogspot.com
Maranda Dickerson http://marandasmemories.blogspot.com
Cheryl Even http://www.evenmorescrapping.blogspot.com
Karen Johnson http://www.myheartscraps.blogspot.com
Cindy Leek http://www.paperspadsandpictures.blogspot.com
Nancy Walters http://njwHelpingUcelebrate.blogspot.com
LaJeania Hicks http://www.scraptilyoudrop.blogspot.com
Traci http://www.creativetraci.blogspot.com
Emma Hubert http://paperaddictsanonymous.blogspot.com
Kristine Fowler http://www.scrampingaddict.typepad.com
Amanda DesJardins http://creatively-amused.blogspot.com/
Tamra Meservey http://www.croppinoncloud9.blogspot.com
Melinda http://www.ifyoublingittheywillcome.blogspot.com


All supplies are from CTMH unless otherwise noted.
Paper Packet
Cherry-O
Stamps
Thank You,Your Sweet, Tasty Treats, For Every Occasion, Intrinsic Backgrounds

Ink Pads
Cocoa, Tulip, Sweet Leaf, Chocolate, Blush

Other
Tulip Mini Medley Accents, Embroidery Floss, Clear Cards, Cherry-O Opaques, Cherry Chipboard from Michaels, Cricut Sweet Treats Cartridge, Crimper, Irresistibles, Blush Ribbon Rounds, Scallop Scissors, Scallop Circle Punch, Circle Punch

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Studio J is here!

It's here! It's here!
Studio J is now live and ready for you to play with.

Remember there is nothing purchase, download, or pay for until you are ready to order your layouts. You can create until your hearts content for FREE!

Click here to start creating your beautiful layouts now.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Happy creating...

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Studio J Release! - Real Life. Real Scrapbooks. Real Time.

You’ve taken the photos—now keep the memories. With Studio J™ online design software, you can create designer scrapbook layouts in minutes, ready to be custom printed for your cherished album. Are you ready? The fun begins Tuesday, April 27th!

I know you have heard me talk about Studio J for the past few months and I am sure you can tell that I am really excited about it. Starting Tuesday morning, you will get a chance to check it out for yourself. I am sure you have a lot of questions, so I thought I would help to answer some of them. If you have questions that I haven't answered here, feel free to email me or post your questions and I will do my best to answer them for you. Here are a few FAQs along with some more of my Studio J layouts...
  1. What is Studio J™ Design Software? Studio J™ is free online scrapbooking design software brought to you by Close To My Heart. (Did I mention FREE?) Studio J helps you easily create custom-printed two-page layouts using our foundational scrapbook patterns, exclusive color palette, and themed designs all delivered in 12" × 12" custom prints ready for your albums. It’s a snap!
  2. Is Studio J easy to use? Studio J software is extremely intuitive and easy to use. The program walks you through five steps that include:
    1. uploading your photos
    2. choosing your desired themed kit
    3. selecting an exclusive layout pattern
    4. adding photos, embellishments, titles, and journaling
    5. purchasing custom-printed layouts ready for a cherished album
    It’s super simple and extremely fun to use!
  3. I love Close To My Heart products. Will Studio J use the same great papers, patterns, colors, and embellishments? Of course! If you love Close To My Heart’s scrapbooking philosophy, then you will love Studio J.
  4. Do I need to download any software to my computer to use Studio J? Not at all! You only need an Internet connection, and then you simply log in to my MyCTMH website and click on the Studio J link to get started. Feel free to design to your heart’s content—you are not required to buy anything or provide any personal information to get started!
  5. Can I save what I am working on and come back to it later? You bet! You can create a customer profile that allows you to save and return to a project in progress at a later time. Your active projects will be saved for up to 90 days, giving you plenty of time to work on them. You extend that timeline for your active projects by 90 days each time you make a purchase, and your purchased projects will remain archived for one full year after purchase.
  6. Do I need a printer that can print 12" × 12" pages to use Studio J? No. Your Studio J layouts are not available for you to print from a home computer. In fact, we take care of the printing for you. When you purchase your designed layouts, we print and ship them quickly and directly to you using only top quality printing technology and archival-quality papers.
  7. What is the price? You are not charged a thing until you order your custom prints. The price per printed two-page layout is $12.95. We also offer some fantastic rewards for larger orders. You can receive FREE Memory Protectors® to protect your layouts in your albums, and FREE shipping/handling based on the number of layout prints you purchase in a single order as follows:
    • For 5–9 layout purchases: You’ll receive a pack of 5 Memory Protectors FREE!
    • For 10–20 layout purchases: You’ll receive FREE shipping/handling PLUS a FREE pack of 5 Memory Protectors for every 5 layouts in your single order.
  8. When can I begin creating with Studio J? You will be able to start creating layouts with Studio J TOMORROW, Tuesday, April 27th!
Here are a few layouts that I created using Studio J and just a few of the fun things you can do with this software.

This is a layout that I created using the Studio J exclusive Halloween Kit. Yes, there are exclusive kits that you can only get by using Studio J! I created the layout for my son and then made a copy of it, changed a photo and the journaling and had a page for my daughter's album in minutes! I love that I can create a layout for both of my kids and make minor changes so quickly!
This layouts has 15 photos on it! I created one for my son's album and one for my daughter's as well. I was also able to add little captions to each of the photos! You can add journaling blocks anywhere on the layout. How great is that?
This is a layout that I created in minutes for my daughter. I didn't add much to it that wasn't already on the template other than some “Stickease.” Look at the buttons. Can you believe they are not real 3-D buttons? Guess what? With one click you can change the color of the buttons AND you can even change the color of the thread inside the buttons! AWESOME!

There are so many layout and kit choices that I was able to find a kit that worked perfectly with the colors in these photos. Just look at the ribbon and the ribbon slide. Don’t they look real? You can click on the ribbon and the slide and change the color with one click. I love it! The Stickease that I added even looks real. The built-in drop shadows are amazing. You can even add your own journaling to the Stickease!
Can you believe that you can even add the look of vellum like I did on my journaling block below? Wow! How about adding a little distressing to your cardstock? See the Honey colored cardstock below? I was able to use the sanding feature to distress it. LOVE IT!
I love this layout because of the shape of the photo wells. If I were to create this layout in Classic style, I would have to crop the photos by hand and it would take forever! With Studio J, I just had to drag and drop my photos into the photo wells and wa-la, they were cropped for me.
I was even able to add a line of journaling at an angle. (See the bible verse below.)
You can mat your photos and journaling blocks with your choice of colored cardstock. You can even adjust the width of your mat! Don’t the mats look great with the shadowing? No 3-D Foam Tape needed here! LOL!
The best thing about Studio J is that everything is in true CTMH style and looks so real that my Studio J layouts blend beautifully in my albums with my Classic layouts! You have to physically touch them to see which ones are Studio layouts and which ones are Classic layouts! LOL!

Are you excited to try it out? You only have to wait one more day...
Visit my website on Tuesday, April 27th to check out Studio J first hand.
Click here for more information on Studio J.

Supply list for all layouts:
Studio J Scrapbooking Software

Friday, April 23, 2010

Another Flower Pot Card

I had a few requests to post this flower pot card when my club gals saw it last month. (Here ya go ladies.)

I used the same template as the one we made last month for our club. The only difference is that instead of stamping the flowers, I used a scallop circle punch on this one. I love daisies so I like how this card turned out. Don't daisies just make you happy? *Ü*
(I just realized that one of my leaves fell off. Oh well, you get the idea...)
All supplies are from CTMH unless otherwise noted.
Paper Packet
Veranda
Stamps
A Posy, So Sweet

Ink Pads
Cocoa, Topiary

Other
Créme Brulee Ribbon Rounds, Foam Tape, Fiskars Treading Water Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Circle Punch

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Butterfly card, New Consultant Kit, and Studio J

Sorry my posts have been sporadic lately. We have had a lot of things keeping us busy here at the Stenz house. My daughter fell at church last week and hit her tiny little head on the concrete so we spent most of last Sunday in the ER. The Lord was watching over her because she is thankfully ok. The CAT Scan showed that she had no major injury. She is one tough cookie! And my hubby has been interviewing for a transfer out to South Carolina. Yes, you heard right. This Southern California girl may end up moving all the way across the country to live in the South in couple of months. We aren't sure if he will get offered the position or, if he does, if he will even take it, but we are trying to get our ducks in a row just in case. So needless to say, I have been a little preoccupied and haven't posted as much as I should.

So...there's a lot of info packed into this one little post... LOL!
I saw a really pretty, simple card the other day on someone's blog that used butterflies. I knew I would want to copy it using my CTMH supplies so I saved the photo but didn't bookmark the blog. When I went back to the photo to give the artist credit, I realized that the photo wasn't watermarked! Ugg! So, all that being said, if this card looks like one that you designed, please let me know so that I can give you credit!

I used CTMH’s fun Embrace Life stamp set for the butterflies and the So Sweet set for the sentiment. It is really hard to see in the photo, but I used a new CTMH product called Glitz Liquid Glitter on the butterfly’s body and parts of the wings. It is a great way to add a little glitter without all the mess. It will be available on May 1st when the new catalog is released!

Speaking of the new Idea Book...Boy Oh Boy, are you all in for a treat. The new Summer catalog has sooooo many cute things in it! In fact, if you are interested in signing up to become a Consultant or a Hobbyist, you will get all new products from the Summer 2010 Idea Book/Catalog in your new kit. You get over $300 worth of goodies for only $99! Check it out...
Plus you have the option of choosing one or both of the Add-On Bonus Kits for over 65% off! Now that, my friends, is a deal! The Scrapbooking Bonus Kit has over $180 in products and is only $60 with your New Consultant Kit!

The Cardmaking Bonus Kit has over $150 in products in it and is only $50 with your New Consultant Kit!
Want even more reasons to sign up to become a Consultant? Studio J is being released to the public on April 27th! Imagine designing all of your layouts online in Studio J AND getting your Consultant discount on all of your layouts! (For a limited time, Consultants even get an EXTRA discount on their first 10 layouts!) Now is the best time to take the plunge and join my team. There are so many benefits for everyone from the business builder to those who just want to get a great discount on CTMH products for themselves!

Click here to sign up today!
Click here to contact me with any questions.

Butterfly Card Ingredients:
Stamps
So Sweet, Embrace Life

Ink Pads
Créme Brulee, Blush, Sweet Leaf, Cocoa

Other
CTMH Bulk Cards/Envelopes, Stardust Glitz Glitter

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Celebrate National Scrapbooking Month Early!

This charming scrapbooking kit featuring spring-inspired colors and floral patterns is miraculously easy to assemble with no stamping required. The brochure will guide you through easily creating two beautiful 2-page layouts.

Here's what you get in this great kit:
5 – Colonial White Cardstock
1 – Bamboo Cardstock
1 – Floral B&T Duos® Paper
1 – Stripe B&T Duos® Paper
1 – Crystal Blue Circle B&T Duos® Die-Cut
1 – Sweet Leaf Bracket B&T Duos® Die-Cut
1 – 6" × 12" My Stickease® Assortment
1 – 6" × 9" Irresistibles™ Chipboard Die-Cuts
1 – Mini-Medley Accents Colonial White Collection
12" Colonial White Waxy Flax
3 – 4" × 6" Memory Protectors® Flip Flaps™
2 – Sponges
1 –Brochure
Colors: Sweet Leaf, Olive, Crystal Blue, Bamboo

There are several ways to snatch this fashionable Miracle kit at a great discount or even FREE*:
• Purchase the kit outright for $19.95*.
• Place a minimum order of $40 and purchase the kit for only $10*.
• Place a minimum order of $60 and purchase the kit for only $5*.
• Sign up as a new Consultant between May 1–31 and receive a kit FREE!
• Host a Home Gathering between April 15–May 31 with minimum sales of $300 and receive a kit FREE!

Amaze yourself and your friends during National Scrapbooking Month in May with gorgeous layouts you create using our Miracle kit. You can even create cards and other fun projects with the kit. Check out what my dear friend Christine made with her kit here. Click here to order your kit today!

* Tax and shipping/handling apply. Offer valid April 15—May 31, 2010. Limit of one discounted-price kit per order. Available for a limited time while supplies last. Qualifying minimum purchases do not include Studio J™ orders.

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Easter Blessings

Happy Easter! Today is such a wonderful day! I LOVE rejoicing in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus! He has risen indeed!

I thought I would share what my sweet friend and downline Barbara sent to me. Is this card not one of the most beautiful cards you have ever seen? Check out the Glimmer Mist she used. The whole card just sparkles! Thanks Barb!!! Love ya my friend!
I hope you all have a blessed Easter!