Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

I haven't posted for a while. December has been a very busy month. Just thought I'd share some of my projects. I have not finished these, but I thought I would share anyway.

First, thanks to Betsy, I decided to try making the tissue box cover she showed me at our last No Frills crop. So, here is my version. The complete instructions are on the SCS website.

I used the Crystal Blue cardstock and one of the Cuttlebug folders.

I did this one with White Daisy:

Here are some ornaments I made using the Dimensions and embossing powder. When I get the kids pictures, I will place these on the tree.



Finally, here is a card I completely CASed from Vicki W.



I want to wish everyone a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season.

Something very entertaining....

I thought I would share this as I thought it was so cute....Now when she is 16, I think she will really hate me for this, but when she is 30 with children of her own...well she might still hate me for this.

Anyway, her Pre-K teacher had asked me the other day if she mentioned a boy named Jake to me. She had said her friends in Pre-K had "yelled" at her not to be friends with this other friend. I thought it was a girl thing. Well, I guess "Jake" must have a special something for my little Lizzie. When I asked her about it, she told me about a game they had played in school and that in this game they were boyfriend and girlfriend. She also told me Jake had asked her out on a date. Well...I had to see if I could get her to tell it again because I wanted Bill to hear about it.

So here is my youngest, Lizzie, telling me about her friend, "Jake"

Please excuse the kitchen...

A Little Thanks

Thanks to inspiration from Jen B. I made this clear card for a very special friend using November's Stamp of the Month, A Little Thanks (D1444).  I hope she likes it.

Supplies:

Magnifique L2

Pearl Opaques

Scalloped Clear Card

A-door-ables

Chocolate, Pacifica, Vineberry Inks

Colonial White, Chocolate, Pacifica cardstock

A Little Thanks



Christmas Card Workshop

Here are the last 2 cards for the workshop. I think I forgot to post these. They are inspired by Lourae Minor.

Close To My Heart November Special

I hope everyone had a great Halloween.

Just wanted everyone to know about the November Special from Close To My Heart. It is Fantastic!!!
First, the new Stamp of the Month is A Little Thanks D1444

The November Stamp Of the Month (D1444-A Little Thanks) is available to you to purchase or earn FREE during the month of November only. It's GREAT for thank you cards and layouts about gratitude. Read below to find out how to get it!



* earn it FREE when you spend $100 or more (before shipping and tax)

* earn it for 75% off ($5.74) when you spend $75 or more (before shipping and tax)

* earn it for 50% off ($11.74) when you spend $50 or more (before shipping and tax)

* earn it for 25% off ($17.21) when you spend $25 or more (before shipping and tax)

* purchase it for full retail price ($22.95)



The November Close To My Heart Special - "A Little More Thanks":

During the month of November, Close to My Heart, is expressing "A Little More Thanks" to you with a FREE My Acrylix stamp set of your choosing. When you place a minimum order of $100 (before shipping and tax), not only will you receive the November Stamp of the Month ("A Little Thanks"...$22.95 value) FREE, but you will also receive one free stamp set of your choice from the Autumn/Winter 2010 Idea Book FREE (free stamp sets include set sizes A, B, C and D. Stamp sets that are not available as the free set include Workshops on the Go stamp sets, E-size stamp sets, and customizable K stamps. Tax and shipping apply). That means if you spend $100 (before shipping and tax) you could get $45.90 in stamp sets absolutely FREE!


This November special is just Close To My Heart's way of expressing "A Little More Thanks" to YOU, our valuable customers!

To take advantage of this AWESOME special, just click here to enter my website, then click on "shop online". You will be prompted to add the FREE Stamp Of The Month (A Little Thanks) and your FREE set at the end of the order.

So take advantage of this fantastic offer from now until November 30.

My first workshop flyer

I am not the most computer savvy of people, but I am so very proud of myself for getting this flyer together so it can be used to advertise my upcoming workshop.

Let me know what you think.

Hooligans Workshop Layout

Just a quick update...I have been asked to vendor at the October 30 crop at the Trinity Lutheran Church. I am really excited. Here is the layout we will be making:

I wanted a title that can be universal. I will be using the layout for the kids' Halloween pictures, but it can be used for other pictures that capture our kids' mischieveous side.

I used the Hooligans Paper Pack, Party Animal and Troublemaker stamp sets, Homestead and The Works alphabets. I used most of our new Summer color palette: Pear, Lagoon, Gypsy, Sunset and Smoothie. The little monsters are colored with our blending pen. The eyes are our Licorice Opaques except one little monster has googly eyes. I think I need to find some larger googly eyes for the title.

I hope you can join me in making this cute layout.

Olivia 6 x 6 Accordian Album

I finally finished the Door Prize item for the Hiss Church crop this weekend. I hope the ladies like it.  I used the Olivia Level 2 papers, the exclusive WOTG stamp set Timeless, and Many Thanks. Enjoy.

It's been a while....

It has been a while since I posted...It seems like time is going by so fast. My daughter Katie walked this weekend in the Race for the Cure. She was able to raise $130 for Breast Cancer Awareness and Education. She was walking with her Girl Scout troop. I am so very proud of her.

I finally have been able to play a little with Studio J. It is so great to get ALOT of pages done. I am waiting for my order to arrive. Here are a few of the layouts I was able to make:

You can go to my website: susanacheson.myctmh.com and play with Studio J for free. Just upload your pictures, select the kit you want to use, the number of photos you have and Studio J will generate 6 layouts for you to chose. Click and drag your pictures into the frames and embellish as you'd like. If you don't like the papers for the layouts, you can also change them up by clicking and dragging the choices on the left hand side to the layout to change them. It is so fast and easy.

Thanks for looking. Happy creating!

Christmas Card Workshop

I have been working on some cards for an upcoming Christmas card workshop using the October Stamp of the Month D1443 Share the Magic and Mistletoe.

The pattern is from Wishes-Circle Collection. I used Liquid Applique on his beard and the fir on his suit to give it some texture. It is hard to see in the photos. This card was inspired by a fellow consultant Vicki W. I modified it so the card would measure 4 1/4 x 5 1/2.



The next card uses the cute Snowman included in the set and Wishes-Down the Middle. Again, I used Liquid Applique for the snow. I used a Martha Stewart's border punch for a decorative edge. I think it turned out quite cute. This card was inspired by Chris G.

I wanted to do something different for the workshop, so the next card is an easel card. I used Shelia's pinwheel; the Cuttlebug to emboss the New England Ivy cardstock and distressed it with the sanding block to make the ornaments pop.

For the next card, I wanted something simple yet elegant. I hope the ladies will agree.

The last card was inspired by Gina B. It uses Wishes-Down the Middle again.

I used gold embossing powder and our Stardust Glitz to give the ornament that extra sparkle.

I plan to run this workshop at our November crop. So let me know what you think and if anyone would like to host a Christmas card workshop or any information on the products used for these cards, please feel free to contact me.

Thanks for looking,

STUDIO J MEMBERSHIPS ARE NOW AVAILABLE

Studio J, just got better! We are now offering STUDIO J MEMBERSHIPS! Here are the highlights of the New Studio J Membership plan:


» 50% off retail price on custom-printed layouts – that’s just $6.50 for 2 pages ($3.25 per page- and it includes your photos- no photo printing cost)!

» FREE shipping and handling on your monthly order!

» FREE Page Protectors for your layouts!

» FREE .jpg to use to mail to others, post on Facebook AND/or to print locally, too!

» Exclusive kits and patterns available to Studio J Members ONLY!

» Exclusive campaigns and deals throughout your membership.



There are three options to buying a membership:

» $99 Annual Membership – 12 months of continues usage (up to ten l/o’s per month at the $6.50 price) – BEST DEAL!

» $30 3-Month Trial provides you with all of the same, but just for 3 months

» $55 Studio J Gift Certificates can be purchased by you as a GIFT for others! This allows your gift recipient to make five (5) 2-page layouts for free, and you pay only $11 per layout as your gift to them.

You can get it for 50% off by hosting a gathering or becoming a Close To My Heart Consultant. Read Details Below:

If you host a Close to My Heart Gathering locally or online and your order total is $250 or more, you will get $40 in Hostess Rewards AND you will qualify to choose Hostess Rewards Plus Collection Four – a 12 month Studio J Membership AND a Faux Leather Album – a $123.95 retail value for only $61.98!

Or…. 

for only $129 (that’s only $30 more than the cost of a membership) you can choose to become a Close to My Heart Consultant, and add the choose me 2 option to your New Consultant Kit along with 2 other bundles of products. AND as a Consultant, you will get an additional 22% off all your future purchases, bringing your per layout price down to just $5!!!

I encourage you to give it a try. There is no Software to buy or download, just log into Studio J and start creating. It is FREE to try it! Here’s how:

Log on to Studio J, and play around with it. (It’s free to play) Check out all of the cool features, upload some pictures and see how fast & easy it is to beautiful CTMH quality Layouts. Make at least 5 layouts and then purchase one of our Studio J 5-Packs. You’ll get a discount on the layouts, free shipping and free memory protectors for only $55.

When you get the layouts, if you LOVE them, but still aren’t sure, you can choose to purchase a 3-Month Membership for just $30. If you do this in October or November, you’d be able to create some fast & easy scrapbooks for friends and relatives to give as gifts at Christmas. Just think, create one layout and print it out three times! Can it get any easier than that?

But if you are convinced that this is a fantastic deal and the best way for you to share the memories you have captured in the 100’s, 1000’s or 10000’s pictures you have stored on your computer, then purchase a 12-month Studio J Membership. It’s just that simple.

Not ready for a membership? Then Studio J™ Is still a Great Value!

Buy now to take advantage of our limited-time introductory offer! The price per printed two-page 12″ x 12″ layout is $12.95 US / $14.95 CAN. We also offer some fantastic rewards for larger orders. For purchases of:

» 5–9 layouts in a single order: You’ll receive a pack of 5 Memory Protectors® free!

» 10+ layouts in a single order: You’ll receive free shipping/handling plus a free pack of 5 Memory Protectors for every 5 layouts in your single order.

Whether you create one layout or 20, you’ll find that scrapbooking in Studio J saves you time and money!

US / Canadian Pricing:

When you spend: You pay only: You save:

$25.00 / $31.25 $17.21 / $21.38 25% off

$50.00 / $62.50 $11.48 / $14.25 50% off

$75.00 / $93.75 $5.74 / $7.13 75% off

$100.00 / $110.00 FREE! 100% off

Start creating with Studio J now!

Frequently Asked Questions about Studio J™

1.What is Studio J™ design software?

Studio J™ is free online scrapbooking design software brought to you by Close To My Heart. Studio J helps you easily create two-page layouts using our foundational scrapbook patterns, exclusive color palette, and themed designs all delivered in 12″ × 12″ custom prints ready for your albums. It’s a snap!

2.What makes scrapbooking with Studio J unique?

Studio scrapbooking is a whole new experience not offered by anyone else, because it follows the Close To My Heart philosophy: Faster. Simpler. Easier.® Studio J uses the same great papers, patterns, colors, and embellishments as classic Close To My Heart scrapbooking, making studio scrapbooking extremely intuitive and super fun! Timeless patterns and artistically placed default accents allow you to finish a page in minutes, while customization options give you the flexibility to make your layouts unique. All the layout patterns are created by Jeanette Lynton, founder and CEO of Close To My Heart—you may recognize some of them from her classic how-to books. These patterns make scrapbooking faster, simpler, and easier than ever before. You’ll be amazed how effortlessly and beautifully you preserve your memories with Studio J!

3.Do I need to download any software to my computer to use Studio J?

Not at all! You only need a web browser that supports Adobe Flash and an Internet connection, and then you simply log in to this MyCTMH® website to get started. Feel free to design to your heart’s content—you are not required to buy anything or provide any personal information to get started!

4.Can I save what I am working on and come back to it later?

You bet! You can create a customer account that allows you to save and return to a project in progress at a later time. Your active projects will be saved for up to 90 days, giving you plenty of time to work on them. You extend that timeline for your active projects by 90 days each time you make a purchase, and your purchased projects will remain archived for one full year after purchase. We’ll email you when your active projects are set to expire so you can be sure to purchase them before they are deleted.

5.If I already have a profile with my Consultant’s MyCTMH site, can I use the same account?

Yes. Your account works for both MyCTMH and Studio J shopping. To enter Studio J, log in to your MyCTMH page and click on the Studio J Online Scrapbooking link on the left.

6.Do I need a printer that can print 12″ × 12″ pages to use Studio J?

No. Your Studio J layouts are not available for you to print from a home computer. In fact, we take care of the printing for you. When you purchase your designed layouts, we print and ship them quickly and directly to you using only top-quality silver-halide processing and archival-quality papers.

7.What are the shipping policies for Studio J?

Basic Shipping

Close To My Heart products are shipped to the continental United States by United Parcel Service (UPS), to the non-continental US by United States Postal Service Priority Mail, and to Canada by Landmark. Note that UPS does not deliver orders to post office boxes. Studio J layouts ship in a protected box that can hold from 1 to 20 two-page layouts. Standard shipping/handling per box is priced as follows:

Destination Shipping Method Price

Continental US UPS Ground $7.95 US

Non-continental US USPS Priority Mail $9.95 US

APO/FPO USPS Priority Mail $11.95 US

Canada Landmark $13.95 CAN


1.Special Shipping Options

Studio J customers have two special shipping options through UPS for faster delivery time in the continental United States. These options are not available for destinations outside the continental United States. Selecting a special UPS shipping option will not affect the in-house turnaround time of your order (typically 2 to 4 business days).UPS or Landmark will notify you by email when an order is shipped to the continental United States or Canada so that you may track the delivery of the order. Studio J orders shipped by USPS do not have tracking numbers.

Please keep in mind that our special shipping options are guaranteed by the carrier, and Close To My Heart is not responsible for shipping delays after the order has left the warehouse. The special shipping options are:

   UPS Next-Day Air Saver: This option guarantees delivery the next business day after your order leaves the corporate office. The shipping and handling fee for next-day air is $21.95.

» UPS Second-Day Air: This option guarantees delivery 2 business days after your order leaves the corporate office. The shipping and handling fee for second-day air is $12.95.

Note: UPS has fees for any changes of address that are made to a package after they have already picked up the package. Customers requesting this change will be charged $10.

2.What kind of receipt do I receive when I place my order?

When you place your order, your web browser will direct you to a printable receipt page. You will not receive an email receipt at this time; however, if you are shipping to the continental United States or Canada, you will receive an email notification sent from UPS or Landmark when the order is shipped.

3.Can I combine classic and Studio J orders?

Studio J orders cannot be combined with any other type of order. Studio J layouts are processed and shipped separately from all other Close To My Heart products, with the exception of Memory Protectors® included with certain qualifying orders.

4.What if I don’t like my layouts when I receive them?

All Studio J products are backed by the Close To My Heart guarantee, but user error is not covered by this guarantee. When you are ready to purchase your layouts, you will be asked to look at them again and give final approval. Projects that print as shown on the approval screen will not be eligible for returns. When there is a manufacturer’s defect, however, we will be happy to replace your layout. See the MyCTMH and Studio J terms and conditions for more information on our return policy.

Give Studio J a try.

Card Workshop

The kids went back to school yesterday. I can't believe my son is in the 5th grade. What happened? It seems like yesterday he was starting Kindergarden. It was a sad day for me, thinking this will be his last year in elementary school. Tonight was Back to School night. We got to meet William's 5th Grade teacher Mrs. Caves. She seems really nice, and I think it will be another challenging year for him. But, that will be good so it will prepare him for Middle School next year.

Katie has been following in William's footsteps with the same teachers. We did go to see her teacher, Ms. Rasmussen and we were the only parents there in the 2nd group. We knew from last year what to expect so it was an early night. Bill and I thought the Back to School nights seem to go quicker each year. There was less of the welcoming address and more time spent with the teachers going over the year's expectations and learning objectives. Gotta love that!

I finally got the chance to play with my new CTMH papers and stamps.  I am trying to see if I can get a Card Workshop together by Saturday.

Here's a card using the fall themed Olivia papers X7128B and D1436 The Present. I love this stamp set. The sentiment is beautiful and can be used for any occassion. I used our new Sunset and Pear inks with Chocolate.

Don't forget the Fall/Winter Idea Book goes live tomorrow. Check it out at my website: susanacheson.myctmh.com

If you have any questions, please do not hesistate to contact me. If you would like a hard copy of the Idea Book, let me know, and I can drop one off to you at your convenience.

 

Thriller

We just got back from a few days away at the beach. Poor planning on my part...I realized summer vacation was coming to an end for the kids and it dawned on me, we didn't go away for any vacation. The kids go back to school August 30. Prior to going away, I needed to get all their supplies ready and register the little one for preschool. So, the day we left, we went to the dentist for the kids' checkup and registered my daughter for Preschool.

When we got to the beach, the weather was great that first night, but then it got really cold. And, of course when it was time to go home, the weather became sunny and warm. Oh well, there's always the pool at home.

Anyway, here is a card using the September Stamp of the Month, D1442-Thriller. I was not too "thrilled" with this set until I went to Team Meeting and our leader had us make this card for our sample. Unfortunately, I do not have the same exact stamp sets.

Here is Kelly's version:

She used the X7129B Hooligans Level 2 papers and B1359 Fright Night with D1442 Thriller. She showed us Chalk popping to get that cool image of the spooky fence.

And here is mine:

I didn't have the Fright Night set so I used C1423 Captured Moments with the same Chalk popping effect.

Captured Moments has this cool Halloween scene, a Fall leaves blowing in the wind, and a Winter Wonderland scene included. I can't wait to show you this set. This will be one of my Make and Take cards at the next crop. Z1335 The new Licorice Opaques were used for the eye and the O.

Enjoy,

Fall Layout with Olivia

I have finally finished this layout. It is a layout that is featured in our new Fall/ Winter Idea Book with the Olivia Reflections Paper pack. The Olivia papers are more Fall themed featuring the new colors: Pear, Sunset, and Smoothie with Barn Red. They layout is Hocus Pocus from the new How To book, Magic. There are instructions in Magic for making the filmstrip on the first page of the layout. It is sooo cool and pretty easy to follow.

That wasn't the part that kept me from finishing the layout. The second page looked like it was missing something on the lower right hand corner and I was having a hard time trying to decide what to put there. Also, when I made the layout, I realized I forgot to leave a place for journaling.

Well, I finally decided to carry the pumpkins over to the second page and make a tag for journaling and hide it under one of the pictures. When I place this page in my album, I will slit the page protector on the side, so the tab with the filmstrip can be pulled and also make a slit so the journaling tag can be revealed.

Thanks for looking,

Sneak Peek-Hooligans

Here is a sneak peek at the new Halloween themed paper pack, Hooligans. I love the combination of the new colors: Gypsy, Lagoon, Pear, and Sunset.

And the cute 3D adhesive-backed monsters coordinate so well with these papers.

I made an interactive layout from our new How To book, Magic. I can't wait to share it with you. It has all new layouts with instructions for interactive layouts. How cool is that?

The new Idea Book goes live September 1. If you would like a copy, let me know. If anyone is interested in hosting a Gathering, call or email me. The new Hostess rewards are fantastic and the qualifying Gathering amount for free product has changed.  You still receive $25 in FREE product with a $150 party, but you now qualify for the 50% off any item in the Idea Book at the $250 level plus $40 in FREE product vs. the $350 level in previous books. FREE products include Level 1 and 2 paper packs, Stickease, Cardstock(individual and combo packs), Inks, Markers, My Acrylix Stamps, and Stamp Blocks including the Starter Set.

Thanks for looking. Since I have just started blogging, any suggestions or feedback would be greatly appreciated.