Studio J®: Step-by-Step Basics

Have you heard about Close To My Heart's digital scrapbooking program called Studio J? Not sure how it works? Click on the tutorial below for step by step instructions.



Want to check out Studio J? Visit my MyCTMH website to start playing!

Simply Scallops

Don't you just love scallops? I'm not talking seafood here. LOL!! Have you seen the new Scallop punch contained in the Spring/Summer 2011 CTMH Idea Book?
Enjoy the video and have fun creating your own cute scallop projects.



Want to order this 2" scallop punch? Visit my MyCTMH website and order yours using the item number below.

#Z1392 Scallop Punch – $7.95

Simply Sophisticated

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication,” said Leonardo da Vinci, and who could argue with that great artist? The seeming simplicity of the My Acrylix® Fill In the Blanks stamp set (D1465) is what makes it such a perfect—and perfectly versatile—addition to any stamper’s toolbox!

The words and outline images that make up this set really lend themselves to a variety of looks and techniques. Let’s take a peek at some artwork!

The butterflies on this card are stamped tone-on-tone using the small butterfly image from the Fill In the Blank set, and then we took word stamps and stamped them in first and second generation to create our own patterned paper.

I've also used the small butterfly stamp on this layout, but can you guess what other stamp I used from the set? If you guessed “flower,” you’re right! Since our My Acrylix stamps are flexible, I’ve scrunched up the flower stamp in different ways to get these cute cloud images. I stamped them on B&T Duos® paper to give them a subtle pattern.

For this card, I cut out the large butterfly stamp image a few times and then layered it to make it dimensional. Here are the steps so you can make it yourself:

1. Stamp butterfly with Desert Sand ink on Colonial White cardstock. Using a craft knife, cut along wings, leaving body intact. Mount cardstock piece on Cocoa cardstock and Bamboo B&T paper. Pop up wings using 3-D foam tape.



2. Stamp butterfly again on Crystal Blue B&T paper. Cut out entire image, omitting body. Mount on Colonial White butterfly using 3-D foam tape.



3. Stamp butterfly a third time on Sweet Leaf B&T paper. Cut out entire image, including body, and mount on Crystal Blue butterfly with 3-D foam tape.



4. Accent body with Opaques Mocha adhesive gems.
   
   

This card, featured in the Spring/Summer 2011 Idea Book on page 96, also shows the stamping on B&T paper technique. This time I used the bird stamp, and the background pattern is much stronger. To give visual variety, I stamped the bird’s wing on a complementary piece of Grey Wool cardstock. Then, I stamped three different sentiments with Grey Wool ink, then highlighted one of them by stamping over it in Goldrush ink. This brings in a third color and makes the “friends always” sentiment stand out as the main message of the card.

Does this card look familiar, too? It’s also from the Spring/Summer 2011 Idea Book on page 96. Check out the Hollyhock cardstock on the sides. I stamped the flower on it in a repeating pattern to make an abstract, subtle patterned paper. Notice how the petals overlap in various spots? This gives the flower image a whole new look!

And here’s a final technique for you: using the stamp set as a cutting guide for negative space then filling it with a patterned paper to give visual interest. To create the stars you see in this layout, follow these steps:

1. Stamp three stars on top of your layout, overlapping paper pieces and photos.



2. Use a craft knife to cut out the center, leaving a 1/8" border, and distress the edges with a stipple brush dipped in Desert Sand re-inker.



3. Stamp three 2 1/2" × 2 1/2" pieces of Colonial White cardstock with words or phrases, using Cocoa ink and first, second, and third generation.



4. Attach the cardstock pieces to the back of your layout so the sentiments show through.



5. Accent each star with a pair of Opaques Mocha adhesive gems to give them even more zing!

Perfect Pinwheels

Don't you just love pinwheels? Every time I see them I think of summer fun when I was a kid. They're all the rage again. So, check out the video and see how easy they are to make.



These were created using the Miracle Workshop on the Go kit. If you'd like to order one, you may find it on my MyCTMH website.

G1023 Miracle Workshop Kit $29.95

National Scrapbooking Month Special

You’ll be exclaiming “Ooh!” and “Ahhh!” as you watch the National Scrapbooking Month video, which features the classy You & Me kit. See how the elements of the kit work together to create two beautiful layouts. This kit can be purchased for $34.95 or receive it for only $15 with a $50 purchase! That's more than half off the retail price!

You will also receive this kit for FREE when you become a Close To My Heart consultant in the month of May.


Visit my website to order your kit. Email me if you have any questions or if you'd like more information on becoming a Close To My Heart consultant.

Jason McElwain

I can watch this video a million times and still tear up with each viewing. As the mom of a son with autism, it just warms my heart!



Break out the tissues!

Springin' up Flowers

Add blooming dimension to your cards and layouts with these 3-D flowers created using our My Acrylix® Spring Up stamp set…



If you'd like to use the stamp set used in this tutorial, please visit my MyCTMH website to place your order.

B1365 Spring Up – $13.95

My Acrylix On this Day Inspiration and Tutorial

Here's a great tutorial! You'll love the paper piecing technique that makes the stamped images stand out!




Please visit my MyCTMH website order form to order the supplies used in the tutorial.
#D1468 On This Day stamp set – $22.95
#Z1375 Kraft CS – $9.50
#1301 Bamboo CS – $9.50
#X5666 Twilight CS – $9.50
#Z2111 Chocolate Ink Pad – $5.25
#Z534 Micro-Tip Scissors – $9.95
#Z553 Bonding Memories Glue Pen – $4.50

March Club Projects

This month's Stamp a Stack Club used C1455 Aspire along with papers from the My Reflections Bliss paper packet.



For our Imagine Club, we're using X7132B Bliss My Reflections Kit. This paper packet is a great set of papers to use for weddings or anniversary layouts. The brown B&T has a gray backside, which would be perfect for 25th Anniversary layouts.

Sparkle with Studio J

It’s time to make your Studio J® layouts sparkle! Create your own embellished studio layouts in a snap with clear Sparkles and Opaques Pearl adhesive gems. Just buy 10 or more layouts in one order and you’ll get two packages of these popular accessories (one of each kind) free! This members-only special lasts throughout April 2011.

Would you like to become a Studio J member?

A Studio J® membership opens the door to many exclusive benefits. Members get our best pricing and exclusive content, plus free high-resolution JPG files and low-resolution web-ready files of all custom-printed projects, as well as additional benefits unavailable to other users. Customers can choose a 12-month membership ($99) or a 3-month membership ($30), with the 12-month membership offering the greatest value. Visit HERE and scroll down for more information about a Studio J membership.

April CTMH Special - Lovin Level 1

During April, when you place an order of $100 or more, you have your choice of a My Reflections® Level 1 kit for FREE. You may choose from the following:

Passages Level 1 Kit (X7126A)

Perfect Day Level 1 Kit (X7100A)

Splendor Level 1 Kit (X7124A)

Sweet Home Level 1 Kit (X7116A)

Topstitch Level 1 Kit (X7120A)

Veranda Level 1 Kit (X7119A)

Zippidee Level 1 Kit (X7125A)

You'll also be getting the April Stamp of the Month for FREE! That's a $32.90 value!

Visit my MyCTMH website if you'd like to place an order.

Hope for Japan

Our hearts go out to the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, and like so many of you, we’re eager to help. From now until April 30, when you purchase the exclusive, non-commissionable “Hope for Japan” A-size stamp set (A1118) for the special price of only $5. Close To My Heart will donate 100% of the profits to the American Red Cross’ efforts in Japan. This stamp set has a retail value of $7.95 US but is available to you at a great discount, with the profits going toward helping this urgent, important cause. If you'd like to order this stamp set, visit my MyCTMH website If you won't be putting in an order this month, I will be placing an order at the end of the month and will ship to you. Email me for the details.

New Studio J Layouts

These are some of the Studio J layouts that I've done recently. With the Studio J membership comes some "members only" layout options. I hadn't had a chance to play with it until the other day, and decided to do more of our Mediterranean Cruise photos. I think I have to face the fact that I'll never get the 1000 or more pictures scrapped traditionally. The Studio J layouts look so much like regular, traditional scrap pages. One needs to remove the layouts from the page protectors to know they aren't done with paper!

If you have any questions about Studio J, or would like more information, just shoot me an email.

FREE Close To My Heart Blocks!

Things have been crazy here! Just getting a chance to post the March CTMH special.

AT CLOSE TO MY HEART, WE KNOW WE HAVE THE BEST CLEAR stamps and blocks—and we’ll prove it! Throughout March, when you buy your favorite My Acrylix® stamps, we’ll give you a free My Acrylix block. Not only will you have the best stamps on the block, you’ll have the best block, too! Just purchase $25 in stamps and you can choose from two of our most versatile block sizes: 3″ × 3″ (Y1006) or 2″ × 6½” (Y1010). Contact me for an Idea Book so you can start shopping now!