Scrapbooking pages

Now that the holiday rush is over, I have put away the last of the Christmas decorations and thrown away the last of the toy packaging. Now, it is time for me to scrapbook. I love the doldrums of January and February because, to me, it means I get to spend a lot of time in my craft room! It also means hunting will soon be over and when that happens, not only do I get my husband back, but I get to go to crops! I did a day crop this past weekend and finished up my son's first year album (it only took me 3 1/2 years to do) but I have a few more scheduled for the next few weeks.

If you are a customer of mine, check your January newsletter - I made some changes to my Crop in February. Payments are due to me to hold your spot and it is filling up quickly!

Now on to some of my scrapbook pages.

Here are two layouts I did this weekend to finish up my son's album. One of the ways I can get a lot done at these crops is that I use up my stash of layouts I make for workshops, classes and swaps I participate in so you'll see some old and new paper packs. I'll share some more layouts with you over the next few days. Enjoy!

Farm Show scrapbook page

Our town puts on the last farm show of the season in our county - and it is a really big deal for us. I married into this town and I have had a blast getting involved in the community since I've lived here. Celebrating my son's first farm show was a big deal and considering we live right down the road we were there every day, all day! This is one of my favorite photos of all time with my husband and son - when I close my eyes this is what I see when I think of them - and I had to preserve it in a beautiful layout. My sister consultant, Vicki Melhuish, is a very talented designer (she can do things with embellishments that just astound you) and this is her layout I was fortunate enough to get during a team swap.

Scrapbooking catch up

Having a second child on the way has increased the pressure to finish my firstborn's baby book. Currently, I am on the second album of his first year but only up to six months of age.... I think I have a problem brewing on my hands! I have started something I will have to continue for the next one, I can only hope that this one will be as cooperative in front of the camera as my son.

I am learning some things as I go along, one being that CTMH still has the photo storage pages that hold 12 photos in a 12" x 12" size page. They are available in either horizontal or vertical pockets. They are a great way to add a bunch of photos to your layout without Flip Flaps (that's another story for another time). This layout is from the Baby Parade I entered my son when he was 6 months old. My husband is a truck driver so I decorated the stroller to look like Daddy's truck, complete with the swan hood ornament! He won first place in his division and was invited to participate in the main parade a few days later but considering I would be the one to walk the whole thing while he slept (the parade would have been at his bedtime) I declined the offer but it was still an honor!

Studio J layouts

I have been working digitally most of this month preparing for the Studio J classes I offered to help customers with learning to scrapbook in this new format. I have so much fun working digitally - it won't replace traditional scrapbooking for me but the way my life is currently, digital scrapbooking fits me so well! I love that I can do it while my three year old is sitting on my lap - no worries about microtip scissors or paper piercers! I even get journaling ideas from him - as I upload the photos, he tells me what is going on in them and from there I will usually get a great quote to use. Plus it helps him to identify more with the layouts because they are in his words.

I placed my order for the month of June and since I'm a member I saved so much money! I don't usually see any savings in traditional scrapbooking and so I got to do a little bragging to my hubby - "Look! I'm saving money!" If you haven't tried Studio J and you missed the June promotion - don't worry! Studio J is still free to set up an account and play for three months - I bet you won't need all three months to decide it's great! If you want hands-on help, please contact me so I can show you how easy it truely is!

I am currently working on getting ready for Convention in Anaheim CA in a few short days! I cannot believe I am actually going - and that my business paid for it! I am truely humbled by how successful my Close to My Heart business has become in such a short time (I've only been with the company since October) and my hobby has not come out of our personal budget at all! I will have so much more to post towards the end of July so I will be on hiatus until then but here are some Studio J layouts I've done. I'll be posting a few each day this week.

Magnifique - Studio J layout

Sophia - Studio J layout

My Crop Room

In my effort to make my house (and life) more efficient, I have moved my crop room (again!). I have used it a few times now since I've put it into it's current configuration and I think I like it. There is always something more to do, but it works for me for right now. Here are some pictures. I had a free crop today for my customers, a Workshop on the Go class on Thursday and my hubby took a photo of me after I set the room up (I just had to test it out!). The space is such that I can work while my son plays or watches a movie or I can have up to 6 people in the room with kids or if all the kids will be outside or upstairs, I can have A LOT more guests. Check it out and if you are interested in coming to a crop, check out my Events tab for upcoming dates - hope to see you soon!

 

Crop Room is set up for 4 guests plus myself to teach.

More pictures after the jump...

Studio J: Day 3

Since the company is giving away a free electronic file of a layout you create in Studio J, I am spending some time focusing on Studio J. I have been using the online scrapbooking software for awhile now and I love how easy it is to create beautiful scrapbook layouts! I have a preschool- aged child at home with me and he is very interested in whatever I am doing when I sit down at the computer. Studio J is a great way for him to get involved in my scrapbooking without worrying about scissors and glue. He helps me pick out photos and even gives me journaling ideas. He helps me pick out colors and some of the Stickease. He loves looking at the layouts once they arrive and because they are just as archival safe as traditional scrapbooking layouts they will last through his lifetime and his kids' too. And if something does happen to the pages (crayons?) I still have the .jpg file from when I created the layout to print them out again! Here is another video describing additional techniques in using Studio J. And check your calendar to get to one of my Studio J classes this month - you'll get to use Studio J and leave with a free .jpg  of your creation!

Studio J: Free for All

June's special from Close to my Heart is so awesome! If you haven't tried Studio J yet (or even if you have) you get a .JPG for free!

Here is a video to entice you to try it out for free and get a free .jpg of your project to email to family and friends or to print out yourself.

New Workshops and Upcoming Events

I updated my Upcoming Events page through August. I have a Workshop class and Free Crop every month through the summer. I have some open dates for you to host your own Workshop with your friends and earn some free product. Check out the photos below.

Also, be sure to check back soon because Close to My Heart has some AMAZING specials for you in May since it is National Scrapbooking Month! Check out my website to see all those specials deals!

Miracle Scrapbooking Workshop

Miracle Card Workshop

Studio J Layouts

I can say I am caught up in my scrapbooking for the year! Yea! CTMH had a special in February (it's not too late!!!) of "Buy 9, Get 1 Free". I took advantage - I had not tried Studio J yet! How am I supposed to be teaching you how to do it if I don't know how? In about two afternoons, I designed 10 layouts - I use the term "design" loosely has the Studio J software is so magical that all I *had* to do was upload my photos and place them into pre-designed layouts. I could add additional embellishments (some are already loaded into the layouts) or not. It was up to me! I kept some of the layouts simple to show you what comes pre-designed but other layouts I really added embellishments and manipulated papers and textures.

There are a few different ways to pay - but being a member is worth the investment! Regular price is $12.95 for a 2 page layout + shipping and handling. When you are a member (3 month membership is $30 or a 12 month membership is $99) you receive free page protectors, free shipping and handling once a month for up to 20 layouts, plus free .jpg files of your layouts to post to your blog, FaceBook, email to Grandma or to re-print at a local store. You earn back your membership costs fast with all the savings you get by being a member. The best part - if you're not sure you want to commit to membership right away, you can play for free for 3 months. You will not be charged anything until you try to buy your layouts. You will then be asked if you want the membership to reduce your costs - but that's up to you!

Check out the layouts I made and judge for yourself. If you would like more information or to see the layouts in person (to judge the quality) please contact me - I'd love to hear from you!

Since the post is long I will continue to post more tomorrow. Have a great day!

Quartet photo page

This is a layout I used from "Reflections", a layout design book from Close to my Heart. The paper kit and Stickease are from "Cutie Pie" (discontinued).

I ink distressed all the edges before assembling with "Brown Bag" ink pad.

Memorabilia Pocket

Memorabilia Pocket

This is a Close to My Heart design, "Cutie Pie" (discontinued), the page is from the Level 1 packet and the tab (on the bottom photo) is a Stickease that came with the packet. This was an easy design to feature both the invitations and programs as well as some photos from the day. This page took me about 10 minutes to assemble, which included the time to pick the photos.

Baby Baptism (12 x 12 Scrapbook page)

This is a Level 1 paper kit from Close to My Heart "Cutie Pie" (discontinued). This page took about 10 minutes to design and assemble, mostly due to finding the photos and deciding which embellishments to use.

The stamp in the upper right is CTMH but the ink is from Stampin' Up. The ribbon is from the craft store.