An Album in an Afternoon

Are you a scrapbooker who feels that they are never going to be "caught up"? Are you someone who's always wanted to scrapbook, but don't know where to start or don't have the time? Are you a "love-my-paper-and-glue" scrapbooker, but wish there was a quick and easy way to record those everyday moments? Well, whether you said "yes" to one or all of the above, Close To My Heart's Studio J is for you. Personally, I really wanted to be a scrapbooker, but constantly struggled with getting my photos onto a page. It would take me hours and hours to put one page together...needless to say, I didn't get a lot done. Then I discovered Studio J...and now it is the only way I scrapbook.

I LOVE how easy it is to get my digital photos onto a two-page spread, match colors and patterns to my liking, and receive a high-quality, full-color 12" x 12" print from CTMH at a very reasonable price. This month I completed 14 two-page layouts - my son's 12th birthday party, our trip over the summer to Myrtle Beach, Christmas 2013, and a spread that I used for two single-page layouts of a rainbow and my daughter's new gerbil, Speedy. I complete them, order them, and within a week, have them in an album. I couldn't be happier.

What's even better is that CTMH has several How-To Videos online for Studio J, as well as a series called "Love Your Layout", which spotlights different tips, tricks, and hints in Studio J. To access these videos, simply go to my website, click "CTMH TV", then select "Studio J How-To Videos" or "Studio J: Love Your Layout".

Here are just a few of the layouts from my latest purchase:

Aren't they fantastic?! I can guarantee you that I would NEVER have come close to any of these layouts had I attempted them myself with paper, glue & embellishments. Had I even tried to come close, it would have cost me a LOT more money, and most definitely a LOT more time!

I urge you to give Studio J a try - you can log in as a guest without having to create an account (though creating an account is fast and FREE) and just play. There's no software to install, and nothing to purchase. Take a look at the videos. I know you're going to love it as much as I do!

I’m On Cloud Nine!

For those of you that might have missed my January 1^st blog post, or for those of you who just want a closer look at the cards from the “Cloud Nine Cardmaking Kit”, read on! I held my super-exclusive Cloud Nine Cardmaking Workshop this past Sunday, and I’m just dying to show you the results! These cards were so fast and easy to put together – we were done with all five in less than an hour and a half! I absolutely loved that all of the shapes were already die-cut for you – just punch them out of the two sheets that are included. What’s even better – all five of the images in the exclusive D-sized stamp set that comes with the kit can be cut with the Cricut “Artiste” cartridge! So you can go back and use these stamps over and over again – no scissors required! For another look at the included stamp set, check out January 1’s blog post (http://cookingwithcrafts.blogspot.com ).

Here are the five cards from the kit:

What’s even better is that the kit comes with a full roll of Gold Polka-Dot Washi Tape and Teal Shimmer Trim – which you have a LOT of left over when you’re done! I am LOVING the washi tape – I can’t wait to use it on more projects. Maybe that will be next week’s blog post....

For those of you who need a review, the “Cloud Nine Cardmaking Kit” is available for just $15 with a $35 purchase from the Autumn-Winter 2013 Idea Book, through January ONLY!! With this all-inclusive kit, you will be able to make 10 adorable cards (2 each of the 5 designs shown above). What's more - when you acquire this exclusive kit, you automatically qualify for the January Stamp of the Month for just $5! That's $63.95 worth of product for only $20 - a savings of $43.95! In addition, sign up as a new CTMH Consultant in January and submit a total in sales of $300 or more before June (easy!), and receive the "Cloud Nine" kit for FREE. Fun, fun, fun!

I Can Do That!

I am excited because I got a bunch of new (well, new to me) "special issues" of Paper Crafts Magazine for Christmas. I LOVE looking at cards and getting new ideas. I especially love it when I come across a card, and right away think to myself, "I can do that!" It doesn't happen as often as you think! So today I am going to walk you through how I recreated a card I saw on page 103 of the Paper Crafts special issue, "Handmade Cards", designed by Heather Campbell. Here is the original card:

The chevron patterned paper that Heather used on the right-side of her card screamed "washi tape" to me. Since I just happen to have some gorgeous, 1"-wide, Juniper washi tape from Close To My Heart, I knew I had to use it to make this card. So I gathered my supplies:

I didn't have a hexagon background or the yellow "dots", so I used a background stamp from my "All The Details" stamp set and Durables Artisan Studs instead. As you can see, I have already trimmed my Whisper cardstock to 1/4" smaller than my card base (for a 1/8" border all the way around), and rounded the top left corner. Next, I wrapped a strip of Juniper washi tape around the right edge of the Whisper cardstock:

I just love how this looks! Admittedly, I should have stamped the background before putting the washi tape on (my bad), but this was easily remedied by using a sticky-note to cover the tape that I would have stamped behind. I stamped my background in second-generation Juniper ink (I felt that first-generation would have been too overpowering). Stamping an image in second-generation simply means that before stamping your image onto your project, you first stamp once onto a piece of scrap paper, then onto your project. This gives you a lighter, more subtle impression:

Next, I cut my sentiment on the Cricut using CTMH's "Artbooking" cartridge. I found a cute "Hello" on page 59 of the booklet. Since the "hello" in the original card is wood, I decided to cut my sentiment multiple times so that I could glue them all on top of one another to create depth. I cut it five times:

Once I glued them all together, it had a little bit of substance:

Now it was just a matter of putting everything together:

I used a thin, black pen to run along the outline of "Hello" to make it "pop" a bit more. I also trimmed off the period that was at the end.


I hope this inspires you to recreate something you see - in a magazine, online, on Pinterest, or anywhere! Just remember - you can do that!

Happy National Papercrafting Month - and New Year!

As if starting off a brand new year wasn't enough cause for celebration - it's also National Papercrafting Month! So when you're a company that specializes in papercrafting, you know they're going to do something great to celebrate! This year, Close To My Heart is offering a fantastic, exclusive card kit that I know you are going to want to get your hands on. Introducing the "Cloud Nine Cardmaking Kit". With this all-inclusive kit, you will be able to make 10 adorable cards (2 each of 5 designs) using three sneak-peek accessories from the upcoming Idea Book (yea!), a new D-size stamp set, and exclusive papers. What's more - when you acquire this exclusive kit for just $15 with a $35 purchase from the Autumn-Winter 2013 Idea Book, you automatically qualify for the January Stamp of the Month for just $5! That's $63.95 worth of product for only $20 - a savings of $43.95! What's not to love?! But wait, there's more! Sign up as a new CTMH Consultant in January and submit a total in sales of $300 or more before June (easy!), and receive the "Cloud Nine" kit for FREE. Check out these sneak peeks:

A peek at the five card designs you will create from the kit (see more on my website at funforyou.ctmh.com).

The D-size stamp set that comes with the kit. How fun!!

The January Stamp of the Month, "Cross-Stitch Wishes", images (set of 13).

I can't wait to put my card kit together! In that spirit, I am holding an exclusive Card-Making Workshop for just THREE PEOPLE, during which we will be making the FIVE cards from the "Cloud Nine" Kit.

The Date:  Sunday, January 12 from 1-4pm.
The Place: my house
The Cost:  $10
PLUS, one lucky winner will be taking home the fun stamp set that comes with the kit - simply place an order that day and be entered to win!
The first three people to respond WITH payment will have their place secured! I look forward to seeing you there!

Happy New Year!