Studio J: Digital Scrapbooking Close To My Heart Style!

  Real life. Real scrapbooks. Real time. 

That is what Studio J is all about! 

Q: So what is Studio J exactly?  Studio J™ is free online scrapbooking design software brought to you by Close To My Heart. 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!

Q: How much is it? There is NO COST to use the program. You have no software or hardware to purchase or download. Unless you make a layout (defined as a two page 12 x 12 layout) and decide to purchase it, there is absolutely no cost. Once you decide to purchase, each 2 page layout is introductory priced at $12.95. That is WAY below the industry average! And, if you purchase 5-9 two-page layouts at a time, CTMH will throw in 5 free page protectors. 10 or more and you get FREE SHIPPING, as well as a package of 5 page protectors for every 5 layouts in the order.  Once ordered, Close To My Heart prints your layouts on high quality photo paper and sends them to you. Mine arrived within days of when I ordered them.

Q: In a nutshell, how does this "Studio J" thing work?  In a nutshell, these are the steps to creating an amazing 2 page layout:

• upload some of your favorite photos
• choose from one of the 54 awesome kits (including most of your faves from our Idea Books plus some that are exclusive to Studio J).
• choose a layout pattern. There are MANY to choose from. They are like the patterns you'll find in our wonderful "how to" books like Cherish, Imagine, Reflections. The possibilities are endless because all the patterns you can choose from can be rotated 3 ways and flip flopped.
• now personalize! You get to drop your photos in, add text, choose cardstock and background and texture papers from the kit, add accessories (just about every accessory item you can imagine!), distressing, titling, MyStickease, and so much more.
• save and/or buy your layout(s).

 Q: What if I make a layout and want to save it and purchase it with a group of layouts at a later date?  No Problem!! CTMH will save your projects for 90 days. And, every time you make a purchase your 90 days start over. So, say you make several layouts and then purchase them on day 80. Your 90 day clock starts over. They are saved again.  On top of all of that, CTMH even emails you periodically to remind you where your project clock is.

Q: Ok, I want to try this out. How do I get started? Well that is easy too. Just go to my website: https://iotamaker.myctmh.com click on "Studio J Online Scrapbooking link on the left hand side of the menu bar, create an account if you don't have one (it is the same account you would have used to order from my site before) and you are ready to get started!

Q: What if I need help or have a question? That is what I am here for. I am your personal Studio J customer service consultant! Just give me a call, email me or drop by and I would be happy to help you out.

I am very excited about Studio J! I had the chance to play with the program and create and print my own layouts. This is what I liked:

1. It was fast and very user friendly!
2. I had a lot of control over almost all aspects of my layout. I can't begin to even list all of the options you will just have to experience it for your self.
3. The layouts arrive at my door ready to slip into my album right along side my traditional scrapbook pages.
4. I have an album for each of my kids and it was easy to duplicate, personalize and print layouts. How fast and convenient for trips or multiple layout events.
5. There is no membership required. Get on play around! You only pay for the layouts you print.

I hope you will take some time to experience Studio J. You won't regret it!!!

Celebrate National Scrapbooking Month!

 Close To My Heart has done it again! This beautiful kit celebrates the "Miracle" of spring with exciting new products and fun interactive flip flaps.  The Irresistibles Chipboard Die-Cuts are magical and one of my new favorite products.  They are so easy to use!  Just sponge them with your sponge dauber and the ink color of your choice the details in the flower resist the ink to create a beautiful accent. Pick the color of ink that matches your photos and make this layout perfect for any pictures. 

Miracle Kit Contents (CTMH Colors featured: Sweet Leaf, Olive, Crystal Blue, Bamboo). See the photo of the supplies at the top of this post and the cover of the tri-fold brochure with step-by-step instructions here.

• 5 - Colonial White Cardstock
• 1 - Bamboo Cardstock
• 1 - Floral B&T Duos Paper
• 1 - Stripe B&T Duos Paper
• 1 - Crystal Blue B&T Duos Die-Cut
• 1 - Sweet Leaf B&T Duos Die-Cut
• 1 - 6" x 12" My Stickease Assortment
• 1 - 6" x 9" Irresistibles Chipboard Die-Cuts
• 1 - Mini-Medley Accents Colonial White Collection
• 12" Colonial White Waxy Flax
• 3 - 4" x 6" Memory Protectors Flip Flaps
• 2 - Sponge Wedges
• 1 - Brochure

There are several ways to snatch this fashionable Miracle kit at a great discount or even FREE!

1. purchase the kit outright for $19.95 (order #CC1009) between April 15 and May 31
2. spend $40 (before shipping and tax) and receive this kit for $10 (order #CC1009A) between April 15 and May 31
3. spend $60 (before shipping and tax) and receive this kit for $5 (order #CC1009B) between April 15 and May 31
4. Host a home gathering between April 15 and May 31 with minimum sales of $300 and receive a kit FREE!
5. Sign up as a new Consultant between May 1 and May 31 and receive a kit FREE

Call or Email me today to order your kit or shop anytime online!

April Workshop - You ROCK!!

These are the hip new layouts we will be creating at this months class.  We will be using the totally "radical" (now if that isn't a flashback word then what is!) "You Rock" paper packet and some fun new accessories including our mini-medley Outdoor Denim accents collection and our new Rockin' top coats.  I attached the top coats with a little liquid glass. Another must have product!  I also added bitty bling to the layout with Bitty Sparkles.   Call or email me for a full shopping list and dates and times of the class.

It is never to late to join in the fun so email me today!

March Workshop- Caboodle

 (cutting guide found in the workshop guide)

(cutting guide found in "Cherish" page 70-71)

(layout cutting guide found in "Reflections" page 15 and 33)

At my March workshop class we created these 3 fun spring layouts!  I had so much fun working with this paper packet and also some other fun new products found in our Spring Idea Book.  Here is a list of products used and they can all be purchase anytime online on my website.

Caboodle Basic Kit (G1004) it includes: Caboodle Level 2 Reflections Paper Packet, "This Way" stamp set, exclusive to the kit, Dimensional Elements "Booksmart," and the workshop guide; tiny tabs; designer ribbon rounds sweet leaf collection; Irresistibles Lots of Dots; "Cocktail Alphabet" stamp set; white embossing powder.

SOLD!

    Yesterday I watched out the window as my Jeep Liberty drove away with its new 19 year old owner behind the wheel. Some of you may be laughing at me, others may be rolling your eyes but I have to admit I was really sad as I watched the last thread holding me to my youth drive away.  It is true that I am leaving my twenties behind me this year and yes I understand I usually am driving a mini van and that I do have 4 kids but when I was leaving the house without the kids and would jump in my jeep and be care free and fancy free I would feel young and rejuvenated.  I would even go as far to say that I felt "cool."  Cheesy I know!  Oh well life marches on and speaking of which Allie is crying and probably needs a diaper change. So farewell to my youth I will just have to make this whole middle age Mom thing look AWESOME!!

Help!

Jason gave me one of these:

Now I need to learn how to use it. A very talented photographer in Cache Valley is giving away a free mentor session. I need your votes to win. Please go to the following link and vote for me (Nicole Norris the list is alphabetical) before Sunday at midnight. Brooke Snow Photography

My kids will thank you!

February Book Table Layout

I really have been neglecting my blog but it was Workshop week last week and so I was playing all week with my workshop friends! If you would like to join in the fun email me or leave a comment with your contact information and I will send you all the details.

Tonight I am going to post the layout I made with the product from the Book Table club. I did add 2 sheets of white cardstock and some dark brown cardstock.  I also cut out the hearts and the "I heart You" using my friend's "Slice" by Making Memories. The layout is a design from Close To My Heart's Imagine book. I can't live without this book!

I have to chuckle at myself as I post this layout because I don't have pictures on it yet. That is ironic because my last post was all about getting pictures on all my layouts that were assembled but missing pictures. For the record I have picked out pictures for this layout I just need to get them cropped and printed. Enjoy!

Major Accomplishment!

As you might have noticed I have been neglecting both my scrapbooking blog and my family blog. It isn't because I have been catching up on my favorite shows.  I have actually been working on something else far more productive.  I am sure many of you have "THE STACK" of beautiful layouts that are all assembled and are just missing one major component: the pictures!!! Well I kind of got a bee in my bonnet and was cleaning out and reorganizing my scrapbook room and I came across the above mentioned "stack" of layouts. I had layouts from swaps, workshop classes and album retreats that were beautiful pieces of art that just need pictures, titles and journaling.  So I sat down and went to work, picking out pictures, cropping, ordering and attaching to those layout. I put pictures on over 30 layouts! That is practically an album!!!  Now I need to add the journaling and titles to these beautiful layouts and get them in my albums.

Here are a few pictures of some of the layouts in my stack.

February Workshop Group "Topstitch"

Oh I am so excited about this month's workshop layouts.  I just couldn't wait to use the new "Topstitch" paper packet and the fun coordinating stamp set and accessories. 

 

(This layout is obviously missing the title. I was going to cut it out on my Wishblade but I am experiencing technical difficulties)

I used the following products on these layouts:  Topstitch Basic Kit (which includes the My Acrylix stamps et "Love is in the Air, My Reflections Topstitch Level 2 paper packet, Mini-medley Accents Colonial White Collection and the workshop guide which includes cutting directions for the first layout title "Welcome Home").  I also added CTMH's new Dimensional Elements Hearts, Clear Sparkles, Soft Suede Pinwheels, a Pretty Pin and some chocolate Embroidery Floss from the Neutral Assortment. All of these items may be purchased on my MyCTMH website.  If you would like to attend my class please call or email me TODAY!!

February Campaign: Give and Get Back

Many people have been affected by the devastating earthquake in Haiti.  So this month's campaign is not only giving you an amazing deal but with each offer purchased, Close To My Heart will donate $2 to Operation Smile's Haiti relief efforts.  You can learn more about Operation Smile's efforts by visiting their website.

So what is the amazing offer? It is Buy one of our 12x12 textured cardstock combo packs and you get one FREE!!!! Yippee!!! That makes the textured cardstock less expensive then our standard cardstock.  Why go textured? Well let me just tell you.

1- First of all our textured cardstock still has our signature white core which means you can sand it and the white core shows through giving an additional element of fun to your layout.

2- Also each sheet of cardstock features a rich Close To My Heart color on one side and a lighter shade on the opposite side.  This makes it even more versatile.

Now that you know why you need textured cardstock, let me show you why you can't live without it!

In this layout I used white textured cardstock and sponged it with black ink. It gives the paper a linen fabric feel. Does anyone recognize this layout? It was from one of my workshops in the days when we only did single page layout. I finally got pictures on it.

Is Brock so handsome! I used textured cardstock for the scalloped twilight circles. I sanded the circles to help draw attention to the textured paper. (Layout designed by Karen Pedersen)