Support Children’s Miracle Network member hospitals

Please help me raise $500 towards the Stollery Children's Hospital in Edmonton. This amazing facility gave our family 15 precious days with our angel, Naomi, that we would otherwise not had. Become the miracle and donate the cost of a single paper pack ($10) towards this vital Northern Alberta facility.

Support Children’s Miracle Network member hospitals

"Free To Be Me" National Scrap Booking Month Promotion

Arrows and feathers and UV coated card stock OH MY!!

In celebration of National Scrapbooking Month, Close To My Heart is offering the ‘Free To Be Me’ paper pack for just $5 with a qualifying order of $50. Plus, with your $50 qualifying purchase, you will also qualify for the May Stamp of the Month for an additional $5 (retail value $17.95)!

The paper pack consists of 6 double-sided sheets of Cardstock, one side of each cardstock is UV coated, 6 double-sided sheets of B&T Duos™ paper and 2 sheets of vellum. With a retail value of $11.95, is a fantastic deal for products you can’t get anywhere else.

This pack is not available for sale separately and is only available throughout the month May. This is a fantastic promotion and you can combine this promotion with our Stamp of the Month.

This means May is the perfect month to double up on promotions, getting the paper collection for $5 and the May Stamp of the Month for $5—that is a savings of nearly $20! So make sure to get your Free to Be Me paper collection in May for just $5 and let your creativity take flight!

Hearts of the West Blog Hop

Welcome to the 1st Hearts of the West Blog Hop!
Our fearless leader Nancy Klein choose our first color challenge from the following inspiration picture - Buttercup, Sorbet, New England Ivy, Gypsy and Lagoon as well as the basic color pallet. 
 
This is a circular blog hop, so matter where you start..If you keep going to will end back where you started and you can find a full list at the end of this post, just in case
If you came from Chantal Pearson - http://itsahootpapercrafts.blogspot.ca/2014/05/may-1st-hearts-of-west-blog-hop.html then your in the right order.

My card was inspired by the card on page 8 of the CTMH 2014 Spring/Summer Idea Book. This is one of hostess reward stamp sets - B1447 A Mother's Love. Host a qualifying gathering and you can get your hands on this for only $6!

I started with a 6" x 6" base of New England Ivy card stock. I used our Scallop Border Punch (Z1851) and sanded the edges to show off the cute little scallop border.
Next I layered on a 3" x 6" piece of Sorbet card stock and topped it with a 2.5" x 4" piece of Daisy White card stock to make the flower pop.
For the upper right corner piece, I started with a 5" x 5" piece of Buttercup card stock and then cut off a rounded bottom edge. Next, I embossed it with our new Quatrefoil embossing folder (Z1926). These are a nice 5"x7" size and make a well defined image. I sanded the raised parts to expose the white core of our card stock.

Now the fun part - stamping! This set has base and outline stamps that are so fun to play with. I experimented with a few of the colors and finally decided I liked the bold combination of Lagoon and Gypsy. First I stamped the base with Lagoon then the outline image with Gypsy right over top. I decided on 3 flowers and popped up the middle one to give some dimension. The leaves were done with New England Ivy. For the tone-on-tone leaves I stamped the base with second generation then over stamped the outline in first generation.

Sorry for the blurry image - a crack photographer I am not! If you're wondering what this "generation" stamping is ponder no more. When you ink up your stamp and stamp your image immediately, this is called "first generation". This  gives you the dark color. "Second generation" is achieved by first stamping your inked stamp onto a scrap piece of paper, then stamping your image where you want it. This produces a lighter version of the original color. The bottom leaf is a first generation stamp. The next left up is one using the second generation of the base stamp and a first generation stamp of the outline stamp giving the leaf a light full color and a darker outline. I cut fine strips of Saddle card stock for the stems.

See the Sorbet butterflies? This stamp set doesn't contain an actual butterfly image. The stamp has 3 of these tiny flowers together. I cut them out individually and made them into butterflies! There are so many ways to use each one of our stamp sets! The versatility amazes me each time I dig out a set to play.

The final touch was to place the sentiment inside the card. I lined the card with Buttercup card stock and stamped the sentiment in New England Ivy.

Thanks for stopping buy and please feel free to comment..We just love reading them!
Your next stop is Freya Hall Dunbar - http://freyassimplecreations.blogspot.ca/2014/05/hearts-of-west-blog-hop.html
See you next month for our next Hearts of the West Team Challenge.
Remember your welcome to join our amazing team, just contact ones of these consultants to get you started! if you need help just message any of us and we will direct you to the closest consultant to you!

In case you lose your way here is the list:

1. Nancy Klein - http://nancyklein.blogspot.ca/2014/05/hearts-of-west-blog-hop.html

2. Chelsey Vorosmarty - http://www.personaltouchscrapbooking.com/2014/05/hearts-of-west-may-blog-hop.html

3. Linda Pekrul - http://blueskyscrapping.blogspot.ca/2014/05/hearts-of-west-blog-hop.html

4. Diane Fischer - http://papercrafterssorority.blogspot.ca/2014/05/May-1st-hearts-of-the-west-blog-hop.html

5. Chantal Pearson - http://itsahootpapercrafts.blogspot.ca/2014/05/may-1st-hearts-of-west-blog-hop.html

6. Christine Marshall - http://perfectfinishesalways.blogspot.ca/2014/05/welcome-to-1st-hearts-of-west-blog-hop.html

7. Freya Hall Dunbar - http://freyassimplecreations.blogspot.ca/2014/05/hearts-of-west-blog-hop.htm

8. Michelle Marciniw Olson - http://mystudiowithaview.blogspot.ca/2014/05/welcome-to-1st-hearts-of-west-blog-hop.html

9. Corinna Murphy - http://corinnacraftfun.blogspot.ca/2014/05/may-1st-hearts-of-west-blog-hop.html

10. Janet McCormick - http://worksofheart2011.blogspot.ca/2014/05/hearts-of-west-may-blog-hop.html

11. Donna Digby - http://datsmystyledj.blogspot.ca/2014/05/ctmh-hearts-of-west-blog-hop.html

Join Now - Free Cricut Collection!!!

Be A Consultant

Ready to become a Consultant? Let’s get started.

Do you crave creativity, relish warm relationships, or savor industry? We embrace all types, whether you’re creative-, community-, or business-minded. By becoming a Close To My Heart Consultant, you join an elite team that supports and honors what makes you exceptional.
It’s easy to join. Start by clicking on the “Let’s Get Started” link at the bottom of this page and completing the form. As part of your enrollment you will purchase the New Consultant Kit for only $99. The kit includes the basic business and creative supplies you need to start your journey off right, and the retail value of the supplies in the kit is approximately $309—a fantastic deal!

Contents of the New Consultant Kit Include:

• Read Me First Letter
• Spring/Summer 2014 Idea Books (qty. 10)
• Hostess Order Forms (qty. 25)
• Customer Order Forms (qty. 25)
• Close To My Heart Color Swatches (W471)
• Spring/Summer 2014 B&T Duos™ Sampler (W1127)
• Petite Perks™ Delicate Wings Incentive Stamp Set (qty. 5) (W2028)
• Reflections™ Scrapbook Program (9037)
• Originals Card Confidence Program™ (9036)
• Workshops on the Go™ Skylark Scrapbooking Kit (G1072)
• Skylark Complements Dimensional Elements (X7177C)
• Skylark B&T Duos™ Bulk Paper (BULK322)
• Skylark Bulk Resin Flowers (BULK340)
• Durables Triangle Studs (Z1928)
• Teal Shimmer Trim (Z1918)
• Lagoon Exclusive Inks™ Pad (Z2195)
• Desert Sand Exclusive Inks™ Pad (Z2118)
• Slate Exclusive Inks™ Pad (Z2173)
• My Acrylix™ Hopscotch Alphabet Stamp Set (E1028)
• My Acrylix™ True to Life Stamp Set (C1575)
• My Acrylix™ Believe in Yourself Stamp Set (C1574)
• 3" × 3" My Acrylix™ Block (Y1006)
• 4" × 5" My Acrylix™ Block (Y1012)
• 2" × 6½" My Acrylix™ Block (Y1010)
• Non-Stick Micro-Tip Scissors (Z1836)
• My Acrylix™ Stamp Scrubber (Z1782)
• My Acrylix™ Spritz Cleaner (1778)
• Bonding Memories™ Glue (1512)
• Sponge (Z697)
• Liquid Glass (Z679)
• and Cello Bags (qty. 25) (W1152)

(Some items may not be shown. Contents are subject to change without notice.)

Receive a FREE Close To My Heart Cricut® collection!

During the month of April, when you sign up as a Consultant, you qualify for a FREE Close To My Heart Cricut® collection of your choice.

• 

  Cricut® Artbooking Collection

   
• 

  Cricut® Artiste Collection

   
• 

  Cricut® Art Philosophy Collection

Ready to become a Consultant? 

LET'S GET STARTED!!!

Using CTMH's "Studio J" to Express Print Your Digital Photographs!

Using CTMH's "Studio J" to Express Print Your Digital Photographs!

As many realize, digital scrapbooking is the next-great thing down the pike in preserving your memories. And Close To My Heart has been an industry leader in the field, with it's STUDIO J service.  

However, many of my friends and followers are still diehard traditional scrapbookers, who only want the ability to print their digital photographs to size for use in their albums and hand-embellished layouts.  There are many services that provide standard-sized photographs (4x6", 5x7", 8x10"), but what if you want to print your photos in unusual sizes to fit your Picture My Life, Project Life, or brag albums?

Consider using Studio J's new Express Print service, where you do a layout of abutting photographs, then print/cut those pictures that you have pre-sized to fit YOUR need!

To do this, all you need is your digital pictures, a computer and internet access to use the Studio J software -- and this tutorial where I'll walk you through how to get the most out of your Express Print project.  

It's EASY and FUN ... and best yet, in March, all Studio J layouts (including Express Print) are discounted to just $5.00 (plus tax/shipping/handling) for two 12x12" pages, with as many pictures as you can fit on those 288 square inches!! (The regular price is $6.95 plus t/s/h.)  

Step 1:  Let the Fun Begin with Studio J!
Go to: http://perfectfinishesalways.studioj.com.  This is your opening screen, shown below:
 

Step 2:  Create an Account – It’s free and easy!
Here is what the screen looks like, and what you’ll need to complete:

Step 3:  Welcome to Studio J!  Here you’ll find ways to create or open your existing projects (top right click), start a new project (middle right click), or how to buy/print your projects (bottom right click):

Here is what the screen looks like:
 

Step 4:  Today, I want to show you how you can use your Studio J “layouts” as a printing service for your digital photographs by using what is called “Express Print”.  You can arrange the photographs in any size configuration that fits on two 12” x 12” digital pages and, during the month of March, have those photographs printed for just $5.00 for each two-page spread (Regular retail: $6.95).  

 

To start, click the middle link: “Create a new project”

You’ll see that the sample project is named: “Pictures for PML” – that’s Picture My Life™, Close To My Heart’s newest product for scrapbooking-on-the-go.  

With the Picture My Life™ specially-designed layouts produced with sectioned page protectors, your photos can be full sheet (12” x 12”), or 4”x6” (horizontal  or vertical) and/or 3”x4” (horizontal or vertical).  

Here are the designs of the sectioned page protectors currently available in Picture My Life™:

Design 1 – 12 x 12” page protector: Full sheet.  Available as top loading or side loading to fit in your
D-ring or post-bound albums, in packs of 10 or 25;
also available to fit your strap-system album,
in side loading value packs of 25. 

Design 2 – 12x12” divided into 6 sections,
each 4”h x 6”w (horizontal photos).
Holds 12 photos (using both sides)

Design 3 – 12x12” divided into 4 sections
that are 6”h x 4”w (vertical photos),
plus 4 sections that are 3”h x 4”w (horizontal photos).  Holds 16 photos, using both sides.

Design 4 – 12x12” divided into 4 sections
that are 4”h x 6” wide (horizontal photos),
plus 4 sections that are 4”h x 3”w (vertical photos).
Holds 16 photos, using both sides.

Design 5 – 12x12” divided into 3 sections
that are 6”h x 4”w (vertical photos),
plus 6 sections that are 3”h x 4”w (horizontal photos).
Holds 18 photos, using both sides.

In addition, you can expand the possibilities of how your pages look and how many photos each page can accommodate, by using Close To My Heart’s unique Flip Flaps™. 

Flip Flaps™ are individual protectors with an adhesive strip, made in convenient sizes to attach over your page protectors to add more photos or journaling to conventional layouts.  You can also use them with your Picture My Life™ albums in the same way! 

So be sure to design your Studio J™ Express Print pages to include some photos in the Flip Flap™ sizes you want to use in your albums. Those sizes are:

2 x 2”, 3 x 3”, 3 x 4”, 4 x 4”, 4 x 6”, 4 x 12”, 6 x 6”, 6 x12”, and 8 x 12”

Step 5:  Upload your pictures. 

 

Step 6:  The sample shows uploaded pictures.

See the tab in the bottom right that says “CONTINUE”?  Click that!

Step 7:  To use the Express Print feature of Studio J™, you’re going to want to design your own Custom Layout. So click the bottom link, “Create Your Own Custom Layout” when the Select A Layout Type screen appears. 

Step 8:  Now the next thing that will happen is that Studio J will load its kits.  For the purposes of “Express Prints,” you’re not going to be using a kit. However, just allow Studio J to load the new kits. Your screen will look like this:

Step 9:  Pick any paper that suits you – it doesn’t matter, because for this, we’re not using the paper. Pick one and you’ll be taken to layout PATTERNS, and your screen will look like this:

You’ll notice that all of the print patterns are shown alphabetically. I want you to scroll down to the pattern that is titled: “NO LIMITS”.  Click on it:

Step 10:  It’s kind of silly here, but it’s asking you to pick whichever “mix” on blank pages – and you’ll see no mix, like this:

That’s okay.  Double click on any one of them – I usually pick door #1 (far left).  Here’s what your screen will look like next:

Step 11:  Next you’re going to want to create your “photo wells”. Click on the first tab underneath all of your photos on the left – the one that says Text & Photo Areas:

See that bottom box on the left column that’s marked Photo Area?   While your cursor is over that box, left click and hold to drag a box onto your upper left side of your page one (left) as I did here:

You’ll see that there is an operations box that opened up next to the space for the photograph that you’ve placed.  Here, this is a horizontal 4x6” photo.  You can change the size by simply changing the dimensions in that box (typing the numbers), or by grabbing the arrow to the lower right of the photo, and dragging it to whatever size you want. 

Your photos don’t need a mat if you plan to trim them for a layout or matting on paper, but if you want to add a mat to ensure your size, choose the drop down menu in the Operations Box and pick how wide you want your mat.

Here is how it looks if you chose a 1/16” mat.  Note that a color box pops up, so you can change the color of the mat to whatever you pick, including white if you just want a trim space.

Continue filling your layout with photographs of your desired shapes/sizes, simply by grabbing another photo box from that left column and dragging it into position on your layout. Resize them manually by grabbing the drag arrows, or be sure your sizes are a perfect fit for your Picture My Life™ spaces or your Flip Flap™ pockets by typing in your desired dimensions.  

Remember, Picture My Life™ only uses 4 x 6” or 3 x 4” sizes (either horizontal or vertical), while there are wider varieties of sizes available in Flip Flaps. 

Another hint:  When you’re dragging your photos into place on your layout and you want to snug up the pictures next to each other, remember that your arrow keys on your keyboard can be used to move the photographs too, one little space at a time.  This makes it easy to ensure you’re using all of the printable surface, and maximizing your dollars when printing these pages. 

If you’d rather save some of the space for titles or Journaling boxes that will print along with your photographs, grab those boxes instead.  These are handy to print out to use on your traditional layouts, or made to size with your Picture My Life or Flip Flaps. 

OK, the layouts are done and now it’s time to drop the photographs in place.

Here are the sample photographs that are being used to complete layouts, along with a title:

Step 12:  Drop in your photographs.

Go back to the upper left-hand column and click on where it says Photos.  This will bring in all of the photographs you have downloaded for this project.  (You CAN add more at any time!)  

Move your computer’s cursor over to the photo you want, and left click and drag the photo into the space you want.  

You’ll see on the Operations Box that opens with the photograph that you can increase the scale of your photograph.  When you increase the scale, the center focus of your photograph may now be out of the print area.  Do you see that in the middle of the photograph there is a handprint?  Move your cursor atop of that handprint and left click/hold to drag the portion of the photograph into the print space. 

For example, here is the sample picture placed at regular scale:

Here it is scaled to 250% before I’ve grabbed the hand to move it:

Here it is after I’ve moved it into my print position:

There are also all sorts of special effects you can apply to your photograph. For example, here is one of the sample picture that has had a Sepia filter applied, and the photograph has been rotated 60 degrees:

Here it’s flipped horizontally, and converted to Black and White:

….and if that isn’t sweet enough, you can also edit any of your images, just by clicking the Edit Photo box (third from the right, top, in the Operations Box) to take the photo you’re working on directly to the editing function:

For example, if I wanted to make this little Munchkin into a Leprechaun, I could toy with the saturation and hue:

Not to worry, there are UNDO and REDO buttons in the upper left of the Image Edit screen!  

There you have it, I’m done, in twelve easy steps!

When you’re ready to purchase your layouts, click “PURCHASE” in the upper right hand corner, and your project menu will appear.  To the right of the project menu, you’ll find “Add to cart”. Each two-page layout is currently $6.95 but is on sale throughout March for just $5.00.  And best yet – whether you buy four layouts (the minimum order) or fifty -- they ship for a flat $13.95!