My Favorite Digital Scrapbook Pages

I just love our Studio J digital scrapbooking studio. I can scrapbook while watching TV -- and no mess to clean up!! In order to stay (or try to get?) caught up, I recommend doing your most memorable events using traditional scrapbooking, but then Studio J for all your photos that you want to keep in your album, but don't necessary warrant 2-4 hours of planning, cutting, inking & stamping.


Give it a try absolutely FREE! It never costs anything to create your Studio J layouts. You can up load your photos and create to your hearts content. Nothing to download onto your computer and you don't pay a cent until you want to order your layouts. 


Click here to learn more!


Check out some of my favorites:

Little Stamps That Make A BIG Impression

I really love our 'A' size stamp sets for making cards, but they are also beautiful when used as titles or embellishments on a scrapbook page. Check out this new video from CTMH for some inspirational ideas for using these terrific, affordable sets. (Be sure to check the June newsletter to find out how you can get this stamp for FREE!) :))

Gorgeous Stella Bookmark Album

I just love this adorable mini album. It's made with Stella papers and stickers and our new My Creations Bookmark Album (Z1740 - $8.95). This is a design by the very talented Lisa Stenz. Her creations are always amazing!

Wouldn't your family photos, cruise pictures or children's school shots look terrific in this album? It can be made with any of our paper packs and embellishments and it's SO EASY. Just contact me if you'd like help.

Adorable Bunny Bag

Check out this cute little bunny bag created with our Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge. Isn't it great!?!

This was created by the talented Tracy Sanders. So creative! Christine Adams was kind enough to share the instructions for making this cottontail cutie -- click here to see for yourself.

Please come back and comment if you make one for yourself! Have a "Hoppy" Easter! :))

CTMH Spotlights Customer Creations!

How fun! Jeanette Lynton (CTMH founder) has decided to include customer art in her 'Spotlight On Art' blog feature. Each week Jeanette will feature a piece of artwork - - either from the CTMH design team, a consultant or CTMH customer. This gives YOU a chance to be a scrapbooking Rock Star.

Click here to visit Jeanette's blog for more details. Jeanette has also included some great tips on photographing your artwork. Be sure to check it out!

If your artwork is selected, you'll also receive a free exclusive gift. Awesome! Even if you're not interested in submitting your art (but I hope you will!), it will be fun and inspiring to see how other people are using the CTMH materials and techniques to create their own original projects.

I know I'm going to enjoy this new feature and I'm sure you will, too!

Simple Holiday Tags - Cricut Art Philosophy

Making beautiful holiday tags couldn't be easier when using the CTMH Circut cartridge - Art Philosophy. Here's a new YouTube video from CTMH showing tags made with the Cricut and the MyAcrylix stamp set 'December 25th' (C1469 - $13.95). They're so adorable and really, really simple.

Here's a cute little tag I made with the Cricut cartridge and the 'A Holiday' stamp set (A1115 - $6.95). This stamp set is so versatile! I used it to create one of my holiday cards, I use it on Christmas envelopes, and I love making little gift cards with it, too.

Handmade gifts and cards are such a wonderful way to say "You're Special!" to the ones you love. If you've made your own gifts &/or cards this holiday season, please share them! E-mail me a photo and I'll create a slideshow so that everyone can enjoy, share, and learn from each other.

Have fun!

Photo Surprise Workshop

Here's the last workshop for my weekend at Purity Spring. It's a fun hidden photo slide layout from CTMH's most recent 'How To' layout book - "Magic". This layout uses a 4x6 photo, but the book includes templates for 6 different sizes. It's a great way to add "Wow" factor to your layouts -- and lots of fun, too!

Workshop will be Saturday morning at 10:30am and fee is just $5. Send me an e-mail if you'd like to pre-register (see profile info on right for e-mail address).

Purity Spring Workshops

Less than 10 days until I'm packing up for Purity. I can't wait! I really love the Purity Spring scrapping event and am putting the finishing touches on the workshops I'll be holding.

I'll be doing a couple of classes that I hope will introduce my friends at Purity to a few new techniques and give them a little sample of what can be done with the new CTMH Cricut cartridge - Art Philosophy. I will be doing a couple of wintery themed workshops (photos below) and also teaching a class to demonstrate an interactive technique from our 'Magic' layout book (photos coming soon!).

I have a limited number of spots available for these workshops, so if you're coming to Purity and see something you like, please e-mail me to pre-register.

Here are some photos of the two 'Holiday Jump Start' classes:

Festive Holiday Cards Workshop 12 cards & envelopes (4 each of 3 designs)

Saturday, 4:15pm - Cost: $20.00

Wintery Fold Out Box Album

Friday, 4:00pm - Cost: $15.00

Getting Ready for Purity!

It's September and that means I'll soon be heading up to Purity Spring Resort for their awesome scrapbooking weekend the 14th-18th. Great people, terrific food and round-the-clock scrapbooking in our pjs -- what could be better?!

This year will be a little different since I'll actually be attending as a vendor for the first time. I'm really excited (and a little nervous) and I know it will be here before I know it! Luckily, my good friend, Susanna, and her mom, Elijean, came to visit this weekend and were willing and MORE THAN able helpers! They provided wonderful artistic inspiration and pumped out lots of piece work on the Cricut (I think I even heard someone mention 'union'! :) And beautiful Eliana kept us entertained!

(I think Abbie's saying "I didn't put her in there! I swear!!")

10 Things I Love About Paris

Tomorrow I am off to Paris to cat sit. That's right! My wonderful friends have invited me to stay in their home while they are away and watch their adorable kitten, Graffiti (isn't she adorable?).

With Paris on my mind, I just had to adapt the layout we made at CTMH Convention from "10 Things I Love About You" to "10 Things I Love About Paris".

Of course, there are so many more than 10, but here are the ones I picked:

1. Waiting for the Eiffel Tower lights to twinkle

2. My morning Cafe Créme and Croissant du Chocolate

3. Pont Alexandre III at sunset

4. Sail boats in Jardin Luxembourg

5. Street performers at Trocadero

6. People watching on Champs Elysees

7. Seeing Sacre Coeur on my way to the metro every morning

8. The Musée d'Orsay gallery

9. Book sellers along the Seine

10. The Prud'hommes!

This layout features 'Roxy' - it will be my featured Kit of the Month for August. The bling & envelope with tags are new products, as well as the '10 Things' stamp set. I always encourage my customers to "think outside the 'event' box" - meaning, scrap things that are important to you in your everyday life -- not just the big events. This stam

p set is a perfect prompt for that an a bargain at just $13.95!

What are YOUR '10 Things'?

All materials are Close To My Heart. Click here to order!

Stamps: 10 Things (C1474-$13.95)

Paper: Roxy (X7140B-$9.95)

Ink: Tulip, Black & Desert Sand

Accessories: 10 Things Pocket (Z1412-$3.95) & Bling Assortment (Z1466-$4.95)

Cricut Art Philosophy

The most exciting announcement at convention was the exclusive CTMH Cricut Cartridge. I can't wait to get my hands on this little baby and start playing! It has over 700 images including shapes, 3D items, a font, and close to 100 images that coordinate with CTMH stamp sets! Hooray!! Now you can use your Cricut tocut your image out, then just stamp right onto the perfectly cut design!

The cartridge is bundled with 3 exclusive stamp sets to coordinate, as well as 3 Dimension

al Elements sets that also match perfectly with Cricut images. Perfect! (CTMH even thought to print the correct image cutting size right on your stamp cling sheet so you don't have to figure

it out!!)

The price for the whole collection is just $99. (Have a qualifying home or on-line gathering and get it for 50% off!!!) Click here to view the flyer.

Two of the Creative Classes at convention were on ideas for using the Cricut, so I thought I'd share a couple with you.

Wow! Great Stamps at Great Prices!!

Oh my goodness... Just wait until you see all the exciting new stamp designs offered in the new Idea Book. They are truly unbelievable! And with the new LOWER PRICES (yes, you heard it!!) you can have all the ones you love!!

A size - 6.95

B size - $$9.95

C size - $13.95

D size - $17.95 ($5 lower!!)

E size - $29.95

I just loved this card when I happened to flip the catalog open to this page, but love the stamp set even more! You can change your wreath design to match the season. So cool!!

(Please excuse the quality! I'm rushing!! :)

Trend Watcher - Bicycles!

In case you haven't noticed, bicycles are everywhere lately - and not just on the road. I've seen them on drinking glasses, stationery, tote bags, bookmarks and - last but not least - scrapbook pages and cards.

Bicycles just make you think of carefree, leisurely days filled with wholesome fun. Who couldn't use a little more of that? So add these trendy trikes freely to your birthday, vacation, picnic (or even biking!) cards and layouts and share a little of that wholesome fun!!

Here are some CTMH products to "get your wheels spinning".

Enjoy Life stamp set - $18.95

Lucky Papers & MyStickease - 4.95 to 12.95

Lucky chipboard embellishments - $4.95

Retiring Paper Lines

It's always so exciting to see the new products rolled out with the release of the new Idea Book, but it's always a little sad to see some of the old ones we know and love phased out to make room for the new.

The Fall/Winter Idea Book will feature 8 new and exciting designs! In addition, the following lines from the Spring/Summer book will still be available: Sophia, Mayberry, Lucky & Fanfare.

Wings, Sweetheart, Bliss & Miracle paper lines will no longer be available after the Fall/Winter book is released on August 1st. I know many of you love these papers and have projects planned using them, so please be sure to place your

orders for these retiring lines by July 31st. (There may be a grace period granted, but if there is it will definitely be 'while supplies last').

E-mail me to place your order or submit it on-line.

July Campaign - Bang For Your Buck!

The Close To My Heart special for July is called Bang For Your Buck - - and you really DO get one!! Just purchase a minimum of $50 and you will get to select one of five sets for only $1. And don't forget - that will also qualify you for the Stamp of the Month set for only $11.48. That's 50% off!

For more details, please click on 'July Special' tab above or click here to place your order!

"It's America" Layout Challenge

I LOVE 4th of July celebrations! I love the picnics and fireworks and parades and the feeling that always comes over me at some point during the day of how truly blessed we are to live in this amazing country.
When I was in NY this weekend with my daughter, I heard a song that inspired a layout idea I can't wait to try. It's a Rodney Atkins song called "It's America" - here's the chorus:

It's a high school prom
It's a Springstein song
It's a welcome home parade
It's a man on the moon
And fireflies in June
Kids sellin lemonade
It's cities and farms
And open arms
One nation under God
It's America

So here's the challenge... Create a layout with photos from your family that represent life in America. What are some other things you can think of? Parades? Eating ice cream? Laying in a hammock? A family picnic? Take your camera with you this weekend and be mindful of the wonderful things all around us. When you see something great - click it! Leave a comment here with your ideas and when your layout is complete - go to my Facebook Page and post it!

I plan to use the Fanfare papers to create my layout. They have such great, patriotic colors and are very "America"! :) Click here to see the Fanfare products & order yours!

Trees & Things

Hi everyone!

It's been a whirlwind here lately - my daughter, Chelsea, graduated from college and my son, Jake, graduated from high school ON THE SAME DAY (you can only imagine!). We left two days later for a 2 week vacation - - but not before finding an apartment for Chelsea in NYC. Yes indeedy! My head is spinning! But it's all great and has been a lot of fun!

I just love the parks in NY and plan to spend a lot of time in them when visiting Chelsea - Shakespeare in the Park, farmers markets, picnics by the lake, people watching.... The CTMH stamp set - Trees & Things - will be perfect for embellishing these photo layouts, as well as our old fishing trips, camping and hikes. And CTMH has just come out with a new YouTube video that gave me lots of extra inspiration for using this great set. I hope it helps get your creative juices flowing, too! I'm ordering mine tomorrow. Click here to order yours, too!

H2H Challenge - May 2nd

Happy May!! It's so nice to finally have the threat of snow behind us and start enjoying the breeze from open windows, the smell of fresh mulch and the happy faces of pansies and daffodils. Hurray!!

The wonderful team at the Heart 2 Heart Challenge blog is encouraging us to design something lovely for the Moms in our lives. This was great motivation for me to use the CTMH Mix & Mingle album to create a wall hanging -- what Mom wouldn't want a constant reminder that she's loved hanging in her favorite room? I know I would!! Just pop in a couple favorite pics and have a perfect gift made from the heart.

I wish all the moms out there a very happy and love-filled Mothers' Day. You do so much for everyone in your life -- enjoy this special day designed just for YOU! xo

All materials are Close To My Heart. Click here to order!

Stamps: Miracle Workshops On The Go stamp set, Chocolate Alphabet-Small, Salutation Seals

Paper: Miracle papers and CS

Ink: Twilight, Sweet Leaf, Bamboo, Chocolate

Accessories: Mix & Mingle Album, Miracle Irresistibles, Pearl Opagues, Creme Brulee grosgrain ribbon, White Organdy ribbon.

H2H Challenge - Apr 18th

Happy Spring!! The wonderful team at H2H Challenge blog has decided to do their first blog hop. They're calling it a Bunny Hop and it will feature projects with Easter or Spring themes. Well, I decided that a Bunny Hop project would just have to include - what else?? - a bunny! What says Easter or Spring better than cute little bunny rabbits?

I'm so excited to see how the H2H Bunny Hop works and am very happy to be participating. I can't wait to see what all the talented people out there create. Be sure to visit them all!

All materials are Close To My Heart. Click here to order!

Stamps: March SOTM - Sensational Season

Paper: Sophia papers and CS

Ink: Chocolate, Pear, Tulip

Accessories: Pink Button Collection, White Waxy Flax

H2H Challenge - Mar 7th

This week's challenge at Heart 2 Heart Challenge Blog is to create a scene using 3 different stamps. Wow! This really was a challenge, but it was SO much fun! I had started out wanting to do somethingwith my rainbow stamps and create a card for St. Patrick's Day, but just couldn't quite get what I was looking for. Maybe the lack of creative juices stemmed from the fact that I couldn't really get excited about a St. Patty's card...? I'm not sure, but it wasn't happening!
Anyway, I knew I wanted to use the cloud toput my sentiment on and was using the masking technique to try to make the rainbow come thru the cloud and have the sun behind it when inspiration struck! Ah-Ha!! Perfect time for a clear card!! So the moral of the story is, whenever you're making a card and think 'masking technique', try thinking 'clear card' instead. Let me know if it works for you!

All materials are Close To My Heart. Click here to order!

Stamps: Over the Rainbow, Month of March, Month of April, Doodle Alphabet, Card Chatter-Birthday

Paper: Cherry-0, Sweet Leaf CS, White Daisy CS

Ink: Vineyard Berry, Pacifica, Sweet Leaf, Sunflower, Gypsy

Accessories: Clear Cards, Splendor Designer Brads