Say Goodbye to Studio J

This is a sad, sad month for me. Close To My Heart has announced that they will be discontinuing their Studio J® online scrapbooking program, which has been the only way I have scrapbooked for the last several years. I know that without it, I will not get nearly the amount of scrapbooking done that I have in the past - if any at all. They are ending the program for good on April 30th, or when their photo paper runs out...so it could be sooner!

Knowing this, I scrambled to get some layouts done last month. Our family traveled to Niagra Falls last summer, and late in the summer, I had a catastrophic hard-drive failure, causing me to lose months of photos that had not been backed up. I was, and still am, devastated, being that our Niagra trip was one of the sets of photos that I lost...or so I thought. Come to find out, months later, I discovered that all of the Niagra photos were still on my husband's camera! Alleluia! So, after backing them up in 3 different places, I wanted to make sure I got them scrapbooked as well. Studio J to the rescue! I thought I would share just a few of my favorite layouts:

I love the fact that I can now add photo wells and/or rotate existing photo wells to suit the orientations of my photos - you could never do that before!

I love everything about Studio J - I have had so much fun with it over the years, and am so sad to see it go. Hopefully I will get a chance to squeeze just a few more layouts into this month before their paper runs out!

Thank you, Studio J and CTMH, for giving me the tools to record my memories - I never would have done it without you!

What's New for March

Each new month brings fun and exciting new things from Close To My Heart. Today I’m here to tell you about what the month of March has to offer. First and foremost, is the new Stamp of the Month, “Happy Place”:

This set of seven stamps has a mix of images and sentiments, making it a versatile set for scrapbooking, card-making, or any of your paper-crafting projects. You can purchase this set for $17.95 – which is a great price – OR...you can get it for JUST $5 with a $50 CTMH purchase! Now that’s a deal!

Next up – “Rediscover Home” this month with a special FREE download from Rediscover CTMH:

If you go to my website, under the “Promotions” tab, you will see “Rediscover CTMH”. Click on that, and it will bring you to the latest download, “Rediscover Home” – a set of spice labels that you can print onto label stock and punch or cut out to add a fun and unique look to your spice rack! How fun!

And last, but most certainly not least, is this month’s special: Studio Savings! 

During the month of March, order your Studio J™ layouts—including ones using the new Photo Express Collection—for only $5 each! Quickly create gorgeous, personalized studio layouts using an incredible selection of papers, collections, patterns, and embellishments. And don’t forget to check out the templates in the new Photo Express Collection, which allow you to design layouts comprised entirely of photos. Now you can use Studio J for your photo processing as well! Print photos in a variety of sizes – 4” x 6”, 3” x 4”, 3” x 3”, 2” x 2”, and more. And what better time to try it out then when it’s just $5 a layout – that’s only $2.50 per 12” x 12” page! “You’ve taken the photos. Now keep the memories.™” If you’ve been following me at all, you know that I LOVE Studio J, and that it is the only thing I use for my 12” x 12” scrapbooking. I encourage you to log on and play! If you choose to purchase any layouts, this month is the time to do it at just $5 each! Have FUN!

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!

Tips & Tricks From Studio J!

I just watched a really cool new video on CTMH TV. It gives some really fun and innovative ideas for customizing your Studio J layouts - and it's even Halloween-themed! And don't forget - there's still time to take advantage of this month's Studio J Special - purchase 9 layouts, and get the 10th FREE! Check out the video right here:

BIG Changes to Studio J!

OK, last time I posted (admittedly, quite some time ago), I mentioned my Studio J homework for Convention. Well, I attended Convention in Dallas earlier this month and received my printed layouts - they are gorgeous!! I love Studio J so much. And now, you can, too! Close To My Heart has announced that they are doing away with Studio J memberships, so now EVERYONE can enjoy ALL of the kits and patterns available (no more "members only" tags!), AND get member PRICING on all printed layouts! That's right! You can use Studio J at NO COST at all, but if you choose to have your layouts printed, they're only $6.95 each - that's only $3.48 per page! Fantastic!

Here are some other fantastic changes:

- The price of a Studio J 5-Pack (includes 5 two-page layouts plus shipping & handling) has been reduced from $55 to $39.95! That's a huge reduction!

- You can now choose to purchase your layouts as JPEG files (instead of the printed layouts) for just $2.95 each.

- Express Collections! As if Studio J wasn't already fast & easy enough, Express Collections include 10 unique 2-page layouts - plus a front and back page - all designed with embellishments, My Stickease clusters, and custom color combinations. Just drop your photos in, add your journaling, and you've completed a custom album in minutes. There are six different themed collections: "All About Me", "Little Man", "Little Miss", "School Days", "Travels", and "Year in Review". Head over to Studio J and check them out! Here's one of the layouts from the "Little Miss" Collection:

- You can now add your Studio J order to any open gathering listed on your Consultant's website! Your order will count toward that gathering's sales and help the Hostess with her Hostess Rewards! In addition, Studio J layouts can now be a part of your Hostess Rewards!

- If you are ordering printed layouts from Studio J, there is a minimum order of 4 layouts required - BUT the maximum number of layouts that you can order for the low, low shipping price of just $5.95 has increased from 20 to 50 layouts! Unbelievable!

As you can see, there have been a lot of great changes and improvements to Studio J. I encourage you to create a FREE account and start playing. Once you do, you'll find that even if you are a "traditional" paper scrapbooker, you'll find a place for Studio J - you might even get a little caught up! Have fun!

Studio J Homework?!

In two short weeks, I will be on my way to Dallas, Texas for Close To My Heart's annual Convention. I can't wait!! I'm going to have SO many things to show & tell - it's always such a blast! This year, however, Convention-goers received an email with a Studio J 5-pack code in it, in order to complete five layouts before heading to Dallas. I must admit - this was the most fun I've ever had doing homework! The instructions for each layout included tips & techniques that wouldn't be found in Studio J's regular "help" menu. Things like dragging a new text box onto your layout, then filling it with a color or patterned paper in order to cover up a pattern or paper that is already there...I never would have thought of that! I learned so many cool tricks while doing this assignment - thank you, Close To My Heart! Here are the layouts I completed for my homework:

 (You would not believe how those "cupcakes" above were created! How fun!)

I was so excited to get these photos scrapbooked - and all in one afternoon! Fantastic! I can't wait to get my hands on the final printed copies - we have to wait until Convention to get those.

You can try Studio J out for free any time you'd like! Just go to StudioJ from my website and start playing (you will have to create a free account first)! I have fallen in love with this program, and I'm sure you will, too! Give it a try & learn something new!