Studio J Online Scrapbooking

Last week I talked about an easy way to get your scrapbooking done by using our Photo Storage pages to at least get your pictures in a scrapbook and keep them from getting worn & torn.  (See May 22nd post).

This week I want to talk to you about our Studio J online scrapbooking!  This is AMAZING!  It is totally online.  You don't need to buy software or a special program and you don't even need to purchase your pictures!  Simply download them to Studio J and you are off and running.  Watch this video to give you a little bit of information on Studio J.



Go to my website..gottastamp.ctmh.com and click on the Studio J link.  It will get you on your way to getting caught up on your scrapbooking!

You will need to sign up for an account (no fee and no spamming).
It is just 5 steps...upload your photos, pick the kit you want to use (these kits are all of our kits both past and present), pick your layout, create your layout by dropping and dragging your pictures and then purchase your layouts!

Layouts are $13 for a 2 page layout BUT, if you have a membership (3 month membership is just $30 and a 12 month membership is $99 and that includes free shipping on 4 - 20 layouts, free page protectors and free jpeg files) once a month they are only $6.50 per 2 page layout!  This is a GREAT DEAL!

Want to learn more about it?  I have having a class on Wednesday, June 20th here at my house at 7:00. Bring your laptops and I will help you get started!  NO FEE for this class!  Please RSVP by June 15th!

So if you are behind in your scrapbooking or if you simply don't have time, check out Studio J!  And if you want to create CLASSIC scrapbooking...you know getting your fingers filled with ink and adhesive, then check out my monthly groups!  I now have openings in several groups!  Call me at 402-334-5615 to see what dates will work for you!

Card Workshop

If you are a card maker (or want to be) I have a GREAT card workshop for you!  You will make these adorable cards (10 cards, 5 different designs 2 of each plus envelopes) using our Life is Tweet June Stamp of the Month!  PLUS,  you will make this box that holds all 10 cards and envelopes!

I am having this workshop twice!  The first one is Monday, June 18th or Tuesday July 17th.  Since this is the June stamp of the month, you can ONLY get this stamp set in JUNE...so make sure you plan accordingly.

There are two options for this workshop.

Option 1 - Florentine Level 2 paper pack, Olive mini Medley, additional cardstock, 10 cards & envelopes, 1 yard Color Ready Ribbon & Life is Tweet stamp set for $38.45 (plus shipping & tax) or
Option 2 - OR, you can purchase the June Stamp of the Month for $5 (when you order $50 in products) but this is ONLY good during June.  So you can get additional products in addition to those in Option 1 to get this stamp set for just $5.  You MUST have the June stamp of the month for this workshop.

Please call or email me at gottastamp@cox.net to reserve your spot today! 

Quick & Easy Scrapbooking!

Are you behind on your scrapbooking?  Close to my Heart offers several GREAT ways to get your scrapbooking DONE!

Today I wanted to talk to you about our Photo Storage Pages.  They come in 2 different packs.  They are vertical or horizontal and they fit six 4 x 6 pictures on each side.  We sell them in packs of 10 for just $8.95. That means they will hold 120 pictures!  This is a GREAT way to get your pictures from those envelopes (right after you get them printed) to an album!  DONE!  You can either leave them that way or you can (when you have time) pull them out and scrapbook them.  I have a mixture of these in my albums.

The pictures above are using our horizontal pages and are of my son Cody when he was a baby.  I just mounted them on blue cardstock and now I am done!  I put them on cardstock because this was when pictures use to come in 3 1/2 x 5.

These pictures are in our vertical photo storage pages and are from one of our cruises.  I added the pictures and a journaling spot.  These make scrapbooking FAST AND EASY!  

For more information on these go to our Spring/Summer Catalog on page 122.

Footloose Pillow Box

I have to say I just LOVE LOVE LOVE our Footloose paper pack.  I am using it to scrapbook my Hawaii pictures.  It is so fun!  But my friend Julie (see post on April 9th) took my challenge to use this paper in a different way and she came up with other uses for this paper.  I Stamplifted one of her idea and made this pillow box with the paper.  

As you can see the "pebble" paper now turns to dinosaur egg paper!  LOL  How fun is that!  I also took our Color Ready Seam Binding (ribbon across the box) and colored it.  Here's how I did it.  I took one of our Spray Pens (Z1380 3 for $3.95) I put about 10 drops of our re-inker then filled the rest with rubbing alcohol.  Shake well.   I got an old towel and laid the ribbon on the towel and sprayed the ribbon.  I hung it to dry...only takes a little bit and then I stamped the dinosaur bone border in Cocoa ink on the ribbon.  TADA!  Now I have custom made ribbon just for my project and it matched PERFECT!

I then stamped the dinosaur (from our ROAR! stamp set D1505 $17.95) and stamped the dinosaur and cut him out and popped him up, then embellished him with our licorice opaques (Z1335 $2.95).  And the pillow box...it is cut out using the CTMH Cricut cartridge.  I cut the box at 5 inches.  Fun and easy treat box!

This is such a fun paper pack.  Get some now before they are gone.  It will only be available until July 31st so don't delay!

Operation Smile Afghan Update!

Through the magic of television...LOL,  I have a quick update on my afghan for our Operation Smile Auction for our CTMH convention.  This picture was taken May 2.  As you can see I have been keeping my fingers very busy.  Right now it is about 2 1/2 feet long.  I still have a lot of work to do and I need to get it done FAST!  Now that the warm weather is coming...it makes it harder to do this.  Not to mention my own personal summers!  LOL  Guess I will need to turn the air conditioner WAY down!  But I am determined to get it done in time for convention.  

Actually my goal is to get it done in the next couple weeks.  The closer it gets to convention, the crazier life gets, so to have less to do is a good thing!  LOL  

So wish me luck...I need it!  

And if you would like to make a difference in a child's life and donate to our Operation Smile fund, please let me know!

Dottie For You Special

Have you taken advantage of our Dottie for You Special?  If not, you still have time!  This paper pack is so cool!  You get 24 sheets of our patterned paper (12 patterns 2 of each) for just $5 when you purchase $35 from our Spring/Summer Catalog!

Below you will see all the paper designs.  I can't believe you can get all this paper for just $5!  But...you knew there was going to be a but...it is only available until May 31st or while supplies last.  So get your pack today!  

Simply call, email me or go to my website to place your order!  Remember you must spend $35 in the Spring/Summer Catalog to get this paper pack for just $5!   Then get ready for it to arrive and get LOTS of scrapbooking and card making done!

Operation Smile

You may have heard me talk about Operation Smile.  It is an organization that fixes cleft lip and palettes on underprivileged kids.  It is the organization that Close to my Heart has chosen to help out.

It costs $240 to fix one smile.  The rest of the costs are donated whether it be in supplies or time.  So for just $240 we can make a difference in a child's life.

Before we sponsored this organization I thought cleft lip and palettes were just cosmetic.  But I quickly learned that wasn't the case.  These kids can't suck, drink or eat without a lot of help and difficulty.  So this operation is a MUST to have a normal life both for eating and drinking but also to fit in.  You know how mean kids can be.  So I am SO THRILLED that CTMH has chosen this organization to help.  

If you would like more information about Operation Smile you can go to my website...gottastamp.ctmh.com>opportunities>operation smile  

Right now there is an adorable picture of a boy named MING who is 6 years old.  It shows him before and after the surgery.  AMAZING difference it makes!  So check it out!    This is Ming...read his story on my website!  What a difference this operation makes!

We give money in a variety of ways.  Both myself and my customers donate money by rounding up on their order or adding a dollar amount.  But I also have crocheted an afghan and donated it to our Operation Smile Auction at our LeaderShare event here in Omaha.  It raised $95 for Operation Smile.

So I am at it again.  Here is my new one I just started.  It is a beautiful garden green color and will be donated to our convention auction.  Now my hopes are (since there will be a lot more people) that we can raise at LEAST $240.  Enough to fix one smile.  

So I am getting my fingers working and every time I sit down I will have this in my hands in order to get it done by our convention in July.  Wish me luck!  LOL   

You can't see it very good right now, but the bumps there are the beginnings of a heart.  Since we are Close to my HEART I figured fellow consultants would love to have a heart blanket in their house.    This picture was taken April 24th. I will keep you updated on my progress.

And if you would like to donate to Operation Smile, please contact me, I will be happy to get your donation to those kids in need!

May Group Layouts

Do you have a Superhero in your family?  Here are my May Group Layouts using our Superhero kit.  The first pages I used pictures of my son Cody's birthday party.  He was soooo into Batman, so I made him a batman cake and themed the party after that caped crusader.  It was very cool and this paper worked PERFECT with these pictures.

   I used our Magic How to Book Hocus Pocus layouts.  This how to book is still available (for a bit yet) so if you don't have it, you might want to get it FAST!

The pages below I used for my husbands Cubs themed birthday party.  Again...see the versatility of this paper!  I used our Imagine How to Book layout Memoirs Complete.  This book is also still available, but I wouldn't wait long if you are interested in getting them!  Act fast!

I also think this kit would work well for fathers day (superhero dad!) &  baseball pictures just to name a few.

If you would like to make these layouts, check out my "upcoming events" tab to see what date works best for you and contact me to get you scheduled!

May Stamp of the Month - Friendship Bouquet

I am excited to show you my May Stamp of the Month samples!  At first I thought this was more of a fall stamp set...I still do actually, but you can only get it in MAY!  So I ran with it.  I used it with our Florentine paper pack.  I just love how it turned out.

Below you will see the journaling square zoomed!  See it on the above layout, bottom right.  I popped up the flower part.  LOVE IT.

I also created these cards.  They were so fun to make.  I also added a little tiny bee and lady bug.  See the bottom right card?  On the sunflower I popped up the lady bug!!  CUTE!  So make sure you check out your stamp sets for those bugs that will enhance your cards!

I also used our durable studs!  I don't know if I like them more for the ability to stick it without having to use adhesive (they are self adhesive) or the name itself!  lol

If you like this stamp set, you need to get it in the month of May only!  So make sure you get them!