Sneak Peak at "Dotty For You"

When you place an order of $35 or more in products from the Spring/Summer 2012 Idea Book between April 17 and May 31, you may add the Dotty for You paper packet, valued at $19.95, for just $5. Dotty for You includes 24 specially designed, coordinating B&T Duos^® sheets (2 each of 12 patterns) and an artwork idea insert to get your creative juices flowing. All the cards below are made with the Dotty For You paper, unless noted.

I used the gray flannel dotted background paper with lagoon, sweet leaf and gray flannel striped paper. The stamp set is Just For You (B1398 - $9.95). The sweet leaf button is tied with lagoon baker's twine (Paradise Assortment - Z1701 - $4.95).

Card is made with the kraft paper (Z1395 - $9.50 for 24 sheets), lagoon dotted paper, and butterfly paper on top of a piece of chocolate cardstock. The word "hi" is from the Keepsake Felt Alphabet (Z1696 - $5.95). The X's are done with the chocolate embroidery thread in the neutral pack (Z1096 - $2.95.)

Creme Brulee, smoothie and lagoon dotted paper. The stamp set is "My Peeps" (B1402 - $9.95) and smoothie ribbon from the Smoothie Mini Medley (Z1697 - $4.95).

The card base is colonial white, stamped in Desert Sand ink with the dotted circle stamp in the "Love Life" stamp set (D1482 - $17.95). The rest of the paper is from the "Dotty For You" paper.

I'll be making more from this paper pack - it's really nice! And only $5!

I Love Florentine and perfect layouts!

I know, I know - this is not a good picture, but I had to share this layout with you. It was done by my friend, Jackie Griswold, using CTMH's Florentine paper pack. The theme is her daughter's birthday. The stamp set used is an older one, but still one of my favorites.

The true star of this layout is the beautifully symetric and layered paper strips at the top. It's really pleasing to the eye, and does not take away from the content or purpose of the pages. The photos are tight together, but it works because the horizontally placed pictures pop out. Right away you see the   simplicity of the layout, even though there are 10 photos! It is everything that a layout "should" be - it tells a story, it has a title, it has journaling, it has delicate and unassuming details, and it is polished. This is a great example of getting10 pictures on a page without making it look like a hot mess!

Sometimes I design my own layouts, like Jackie did here. But this one gets a Blue Ribbon! I am so jealous, I'm going to lift this one ASAP!

Back to Work - with Victory

Followers know I was sick last week. Sure takes longer to get better as you age! I am up and about, and now it's time to get back to work! No more lolligagging!

As I told my upline Shannon Smoldt, I did not like the Victory paper pack when I saw it in the catalog - nor did I plan to buy it. That is, until I saw what LaJeania Hicks and Shannon had made with it. How often do we look at a stamp set or paper pack in the catalog, and poo poo even the thought of using it until you see it in person, and see someone else's creativity in using it?? Happens to me all the time!

Here's how I placed my photos on this layout. As with any pre-made layout, you do not have to put a horizontal 4x6 photo in a horizontal 4x6 spot. I like to do overlays and adjust if need be.

The following 3 layouts were done by Shannon and LaJeania  (sorry, I don't know who did what), but they hardly look like it's from the Victory paper pack:

Keep an open mind in choosing your paper and embellishments, search all the blogs and facebook scrapbook pages you can and check in on Pinterest. Look, and you will start thinking "out of the box"! Isn't this called scrap lifting?

Shopping List:
Victory Workshop On the Go = G1035 - $29.95 (contains the Victory Paper Pack, Workshop acrylic stamp set, durable square studs, natural hemp and instructional brochure)
Victory My Stickease - X7150C - $4.95
Varsity Alphabet scrylic stamp set - E1023 - $29.95 (8 1/2 x 11)
Tough Tags - Z1692 - $5.95

"Nana Night" with Matthew

My grandson Matthew, who is almost 9 years old, still enjoys spending time with his Nana - ME! I'd gotten tickets to see the Spokane Symphony for Russian Drama Night over a month ago, but I'd been so sick all week, I still wasn't up to going out. But it was, after all, Nana Night. And...... the concert was music by Sergei Rachmaninoff! And...... I would spend quality time with my little guy, who just happens to love classical music So off we went! We had cocktails (sprite and root beer), mingled, talked about all the instruments he recognized - and most importantly, we had a wonderful time together!

Matthew's first chore is to find the bassoons - he's heard all the good, bad and ugly stories of his Nana playing the bassoon in High School!

Bassoonists are always rebels at heart!

PS - The concert was AWESOME!

Coffee Treat Box

This week has been a long one! I'd been self-treating what I thought was a cold - to no avail. Kara nagged me to go see my Dr., and sure enough I have a severe case of bronchitis! It's been bed rest and albuterol treatments, plus this lovely box Kara made for me:

Just take the ribbon and the top off and you have the treat:

As the sides of the box fall when the top is taken off, it reveals four pieces of the treat - a $10 coffee card to Dutch Brothers, a little bag of pure butter shortbread (love it), 2 small chocolate candies and a chocolate cookie.

This idea was brought to Kara's attention when Gerriann (who else, uh?) gave Kara one for a gift. It is really cute and sweet - and we all know how much I LOVE my coffee!

Mini Photo Album using Lucy

This is an awfully sweet mini photo album that Gerriann Armstrong made. It is made with chipboard, so it's nice and sturdy and measures 4" x 8". The closing flap has a generous amount of room, so when the book has photos added, it closes with velcro dots very easily. Picures just don't do this justice - it is adorable:

Materials: Lucy Level 2 Paper Pack - X7149B - $9.95

Lucy Complements Glittery Rub-ons - X7149C - $4.95

Bitty Buds Assortment - Z1690- $4.95

Flutter Paper Shapes - Z1463 - $5.95

Clear Sparkles - Z1104 - $2.95

Lucy Paper Pack Part 2

The great thing about spending the weekend at Gerriann's this past Friday and Saturday, was that I got to go through all the cool things she had made. Here's a nice little idea using the Memory Collage Cubes with CTMH's Lucy paper and a paper towel holder:

Items used: Lucy Paper Pack - Item #7149B -$9.95

Lucy Complements Glittery Rub-Ons - Item# 7149C - $4.95

Just Blooms Paper Shapes - Item#Z1709 - $5.95

Flutter Paper Shapes - Item# Z1463 - $5.95

Bitty Buds - Item#Z1690 - $4.95

Clear Sparkles - Item#Z1263 - $2.95

My Creations Collage Cubes - Item#Z1737 - $14.95

Enjoy! It's quite sweet!

Focus on CTMH's Lucy paper pack - Part One

                                           

This perpetual calendar is so cute! It's made with the Lucy level 2 paper pack in the new Spring/Summer catalog. This particular calendar was made by Gerriann Armstrong and is made7using the Lucy Level 2 paper pack - item #X7149B - $9.95 - and the "My Creations Collage Cube kit - item#Z1737 - $14.95.  It measures 8" high, 5" wide and 5" deep.

                                   

Accessories used are: folded flowers from the Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge - item# Z1686 - $99, Flutter Paper Shapes - item#Z1463 - $5.95, Bitty Buds Assortment - item# Z1690 - $4.95, Sparkle Flourishes - item#Z1708  $4.95, Bitty Pearls - item#Z1707 - $2.95 and Cream Pearls - item#Z1336 - $2.95. The Lucy Complements Rub-ons - item#X7149C - $4.95 were also used to accessorize.

Just turn the cubes with months and dates to the current date and you're set!

No matter how you look at it, it is darling. What a nice Easter present for Grandma or a hostess gift for the Easter dinner cook!

If you would like to have the directions to make this on your own, please email me, call me or leave a comment below, and I'll see that you get it!

Cat-atude

Those of you who know me, know that I have 2 cats. My beautiful Himalayan, Gorgeous George (Georgie) and Girlfriend (the wild one). Georgie is pretty mellow, and thinks more about his next meal or nap than anything else. And then there is Girlfriend..........my little trouble maker. Girlfriend is aptly named because she is in-your-face like a BFF! She is the one who will sit atop my shoulders when I scrapbook or write and "make biscuits" on the top of my back - just like a back rub.  She likes any kind of hiding place or window - the higher up the better, and she loves to sit on your head and play with your hair ( am not kidding!) She has been known to take a swing at you when you walk by her! She'll take on big dogs and big people, and she will let you know when - and if she likes you.

They are my 2 best buds, and I bottle fed both of them. Ironically, they are just about the same age, but Girlfriend was orphaned on day one - Georgie was found in a barn on the ranch when he was about 3 weeks old.

The paper I used on these pages is from "Lucky" level 2 paper pack from Close To My Heart and so is the denim ribbon. My friend Gerriann gave me 2 pages of "cat" stickers from Cosmo Cricket (which was really nice, considering she DOESN'T have a cat!)

This post is for you Aunt Jackie!!!

Creat Your Own Memo Board

Kara and I got this idea from our friend, Gerriann Armstrong. Thanks, Gerriann! (Check out her Monday night classes on ustream - http:/www.ustream.tv/channel/gerriann-s-scrapbooing-show). All it is is a new or old 9x13 jellyroll pan, a crop-a-dile or other metal puncher, paper and accessories. We used 2 layers of corkboard on ours so that we could use push pins to stick stuff with. It's really easy and quick, and can be made to match anything you'd like.

 First, punch two holes at the top. We made ours vertically, so punched holes in the 9" top, but you could punch the holes in the 13" side to hang it horizontally:

Insert 2 large eyelets in the holes you just punched (again, we used the crop-a-dile to flatten the eyelet back):

Thread ribbon through the eyelets in order to hang your board, then decorate as desired. Kara's kitchen has light sage green walls, white cupboards and dark red accents, so she made hers to match:

Use magnets to stick coupons, lists, photos, etc:

Cute! Makes a great customized gift, too!

Candle Holders

I don't know what it is about Easter, but I love to decorate for it. I have very fond recollections of Easters' past - like when I was 4 or 5 years old. I loved glitter even then, and would dress up to the hilt. I always got a new outfit for Easter and I remember my Dad and I would walk down to the orchard so he could take pictures of me before we left for church!  I also remember my mother's Easter table. It was always decorated accordingly and usually everything was handmade. She would always make a cake in the 2-part "lamb cake pan", put white 7-minute frosting on it and then smother it in coconut.

Even when my children were small I liked getting ready for Easter. I couldn't wait to finish dying and decorating eggs with them so that I could tuck them in bed and then get their baskets out, filling them with goodies. These days, I make eggs with Matthew and his friends. I love cooking Easter dinner, and I really love getting the buffet table ready! Candles and little details on the table are a must, so I've been just playing around for a day or so.

This container is full of green and white beads and a flameless candle. I put in my favorite green glitter butterfly with some silk flowers:

I filled this container with grass, glittered eggs and some glass beads and put in a flameless candle:

I glued silk ivy leaves to this glass container and then sprayed it with glitter spray - a real candle is inside this one!
                                             

Kara has some mason jars somewhere, so I'm going to go search her storage shelves. I know I can do something with them! Stay tuned!

Showcasing Studio J

Really? Can you tell that all the pages above are all done digitally? Go ahead - double click to view them up close and personal and see the quality of the page. All done, all in JPG files, all mailed directly to you. It's called Studio J from Close To My Heart.

Studio J is Close To My Heart's patented online design software. It's a perfect solution to getting your digital photos off your camera card or computer and onto gorgeous scrapbook pages! Five easy steps and you're done.

There are over 90 kits to choose from, including ones long retired and unavailable to purchase in paper packs:

Animal Cookies

Aspen

Back Country

Believe

Bella

Bliss

Blue Ribbon Boo!

Boomdiada

Caboodle

Cherry-O

Class Act (member only)

Cruisin

Daydream

Discovery

Dreamin

Elegant Bouquet

Elemental

Emporium

Enchanted

Evensong

Everlasting

Expedition

Fanfare

Floral Tapestry

Florentine

Footloose

Free Spirit

Game On

Hippity Hop (member only)

Hooligans

Independence Day

Giggles and Grins

Good Times

Grace

It's a Guy Thing

Jingle

Let's Get Together

Life's Delights

Love Bird (member only)

Lucky

Lucy

Magic Moments

Magnifique

Majestic Blue

Manmade (member only)

Mayberry

Miracle

Mischief

Mistletoe

Moon Doggie

More To Adore

Notebook

Olivia

Paper Garden

Passages

Pemberly

Perfect Day

Rough n Tumble

Route 66

Roxie

Sarsparilla

Silhouette

Simple Pleasures

Sonoma

Sophia

Splash

Splendor

Star Dust

Stella

Superhero

Sweet Home

Sweet Pea

Sweetheart

Take the Cake (member only)

That's Amore

Tinkerin

Topstitch

Twitterpated

Typeset

Unforgettable

Veranda

Victory

Vintage Travel

Whoops-a-daisy

Wings

Wonderland

You Rock

Zippidee

But, is Studio J for you? I bought a 3-month membership last year, and I must say I had fun with it. I like the fact that you can enlarge a photograph with the click of a button. It will automatically tell you if a picture is blurry, and you can choose to have your photos printed in different shapes. I also like the fact that with ANY paper kit you use in Studio J, you can change the color easily. If you like Wings, but would prefer it in Sorbet or Juniper, just click a button! It's that easy.

I know a busy mother of four who only uses Studio J. All her children are in extra curricular activities, and she works outside the home part-time. She likes it because she can take pictures of her son's soccer game or her daughter's ballet class and have her layouts done before she leaves the activity! For her, it works flawlessly and she is totally happy. If it wasn't for Studio J, she says she just wouldn't have the time to scrapbook.

Is it for you?? Check it out!

You’ve taken the photos—now keep the memories. In five easy steps, create beautiful 12" × 12" two-page layouts showcasing your stories. When the custom prints arrive at your door, slip them into your cherished albums. No one will guess it only took a few minutes to design them!

Purchase Option	Price
Per two-page, custom-printed layout	$13.00
Shipping per box of up to 20 layouts	$5.95 US / $13.95 CAN

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Membership

Save an amazing 50% off retail price by becoming a Studio J^® member. Only members receive free JPG files of their layouts with each purchased custom-printed layout and also have the option to purchase JPG files separately. JPG files come in both high resolution and thumbnail sizes to print, share, or archive. Membership comes with other perks like exclusive patterns, kits, and free Memory Protectors^®. On top of all that, members also get free shipping on one order per month that has a total of 4 to 20 layouts in the continental US or 7 to 20 layouts in Canada and non-continental US shipping zones.

Membership Option	Price
12-Month membership	$99.00
3-Month membership	$30.00
Per two-page, custom-printed layout	$6.50
Per two-page JPG file	$3.00
Minimum layouts per order for free shipping	4 (continental US) 7 (non-continental US and Canada)

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5-Pack

A 5-pack includes 5 two-page, custom-printed layouts, 5 Memory Protectors, and free shipping. Ideal for gift giving, or as an affordable way to try Studio J for the first time.

Purchase Option	Price
5-Pack	$55.00