Studio J is HERE!

Last July Close To My Heart unveiled plans to launch Studio J, Online Design Scrapbooking software - you may be more familiar with the term digital scrapbooking. But of course, this is digi scrappin' the Close To My Heart way. After countless hours of nerdy technical software programming (Horns and Trumpets please) Studio J is now available on my website ready for you to experience it. You can create designer scrapbook pages in minutes ready to be custom printed for your cherished album.

It is absolutely free to play, so take a peek today on my website.

These layouts were all created with Studio J. There's no photos to print and crop, no adhesive necessary! All you need is a computer, internet access and digital photos.

With Studio J, I was able to add text right over my photos.

I didn't have to crop out the beautiful scenery in these photos in order to fit them to the page.

There were people on the beach who ended up in our photos, but they're cropped out now.

I even have access to My Stickease coordinating embellishments (title & flowers) in Studio J. The ribbon, the brads, the vellum... all part of the Studio J experience.


This Halloween themed paper kit is exclusive to Studio J.


And I didn't have to cut out all of these circles, or crop tiny photos.

Irresistible

I love these "irresistible" chipboard accents included in the Miracle Kit. See how they start out all white with a shiny pattern on them? I used a sponge to apply ink from my stamp pad to the chipboard. The shiny pattern resists the ink and shows up as white against the color of my choice. It's a miracle. These chipboard designs are only found in the Miracle Kit available through May 31st, while supplies last. The list price is $19.95, but there are ways to get your kit for $10, $5, even free. See the post on April 16th below for more details.

Launch Party!

No, there isn't anything wrong with your eyes. I purposely distorted this photo of my new Summer products from Close To My Heart. You can see them clearly at my Launch Party on Thursday, April 29th. Send me a message with your email addy and I'll send you an invitation with all the details.

Miracle Cards - As Promised

I told you this Miracle Kit was not to be shunned by cardmakers. Aren't these gorgeous! I'd like to give a big shout out to Rebecca Lehman who created the original cards using patterns from our How-To books, which I totally lifted with her permission. [Another perk of being a Close To My Heart consultant is sharing in all this creativity. So many are extremely generous with their talent.] Read the previous post to find out how to get your very own Miracle Kit, available through May 31st while supplies last.

Wait a minute...did you notice that unusual card on the left? It's a sneak peek of what's to come on May 1st. See below:

A Miracle Awaits You!

You'll love this charming Miracle kit designed exclusively for National Scrapbook Month in May. This beautiful 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 two-page layouts. [And if you're not a scrapbooker (you could be with kits this easy), check back soon to see some pretty miraculous cards made with this kit.]
The featured colors are Bamboo, Colonial White, Crystal Blue, Olive and Sweet Leaf. But you custom color the embossed chipboard elements to coordinate with YOUR photos.

Here's what is included:

5 sheets 12"x 12" Colonial White Cardstock
1 sheet 12"x 12" Bamboo Cardstock
1 12"x 12" Floral B&T Duos printed paper
1 12"x 12" Stripe B&T Duos printed paper
1 Crystal Blue B&T Duos Die Cut
1 Sweet Leaf B&T Duos Die Cut
1 - 6" x 12" My Stickease adhesive assortment
1 6" x 9" Irresistibles Chipboards Die-Cuts
1 package of Mini- Medley Accents Colonial White Collection
12" Colonial White Waxy Flax
3 - 4" x 6" Memory Protectors Flip Flaps
2 sponge wedges
1 Color brochure with instructions

Click here to see more images.

There are several ways to get 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.

*Tax and shipping apply. Offer available through May 31, 2010, while supplies last.

Contact me or visit my website to order your kit today.

Motorcycle Mama

Yep, that's me on the back of a Honda 750 with my husband, Clark. We planned to go to lunch, and a matinee today and I suggested we take the bike. Once I got on and we rounded the corner I questioned my sanity. I wasn't that fond of my husband driving a motorcycle, and now I was riding on the back of the same one he was driving.

I started thinking crazy thoughts like what if he can't turn with my added weight on the back, what if he can't stop fast enough. Who will take care of the children we left at home. However, after a short time, Clark proved himself to be very capable of handing the bike with an extra passenger. But then my paranoid brain began to conjure up images of other cars crashing into us, or suddenly stopping in front of us. I had to shoo those thoughts away quickly before freaking out and needing serious medical treatment.

We headed down the long on-ramp of the US60 and I felt my grip tighten around Clark's waist (I'm surprised he could still breath) and my legs squeezed tight, as if that would save me. I think they call that the death grip. I was really scared. It was like getting on a rollercoaster - exciting and exhilirating but frightening all at the same time. As time went by I began to relax a bit more and enjoy the ride.

I'm sorry I doubted you honey. Stay safe!

More Veranda Artwork

I've been playing around with scraps of paper from my Veranda Level 2 paper kit. You may recognize this layout from the CTMH 2010 Spring Idea Book (see page 12). I was able to use the same pattern from our Reflections how-to book and give it a new look with various embellishments and two photos rather than one. I just love the Posterboard Alphabet stamp set, which I used to make the title "Makenna." This alphabet is unique because it's an outline rather than a solid, so patterned paper shows through. All products used are Close To My Heart.

Not only did I use up scraps of paper, but also leftover My Stickease (stickers). The humming bird and tulip are stickers designed especially for the Veranda collection. [I get a kick out of kids with missing teeth.]

The rest of the artwork is various cards I made using scraps of papers, stickers and stamp sets. All of the patterns come from Wishes and Originals how-to card books.

Get It While You Can

Close To My Heart offers a new Idea Book and new products three times a year. I feel like it's Christmas every January, May and September 1st! Four new paper packs are launched in each Idea Book, and four stunning Workshop kits that include a Level 2 paper pack (22 sheets of coordinating paper), a matching embellishment like brads, buttons, ribbons, etc., and an exclusive My Acrylix clear stamp set designed especially for the paper pack...all this plus an illustrated, step-by-step instruction guide for just $29.95. You can easily make 4 - 6 two-page scrapbook layouts, and/or many cards from each workshop kit.

These kits are only available for the four months that each Idea Book is "live." That means as of May 1st, the Spring workshop kits shown below with their instructions and exclusive stamp sets will no longer be available for purchase at this special price. [Paper and embellishments are available throughout the year.] So if you see anything you like below, contact me and I'll make sure you get yours before they're no longer available.

**Get your kit free when you and at least five paying friends participate in an instruction-lead workshop by me. This is a fun girls' night out. Contact me for availability. Orders must be placed by April 30, 2010.**

Click on the titles to see more scrapbook layouts and cards.

Veranda:

Topstitch:

Caboodle:

You Rock:

I decided to make this cute little 'match book' card using the April stamp of the month, Flower Pot.
This is called a match book because the upper 3/4 of the card (stripes) tucks under the lower 1/4 of the card (green) like a book of matches. The flower pot is secured to the striped part of the card with 3D foam squares and holds the card shut. Pretty clever, huh? You can see more artwork featuring the Flower Pot stamp set on my website.

Grateful Hearts

I spend far too much time viewing blogs. I have favorites that inspire me creatively and spiritually. I often check in with Close To My Heart founder, Jeanette Lynton. Today she shared a touching email she received from Operation Smile in response to the outpouring of support through the CTMH Hearts for Haiti campaign (you remember, the textured cardstock). It's nice to see the results. Thank you the part you played in changing someone's life. Visit Jeanette's blog to read more: http://www.jeanettelynton.com/2010/03/day-of-joy.html