Studio J Saturday - Lucy Layout - Shopping for the Dress

This is another layout that I was able to make using the free 5-pack I received as part of my Convention registration. I was so happy to document shopping for my daughter's wedding dress! You can make the same layout by following the directions listed below. Studio J layouts no longer require a membership to get the great pricing ($6.95 per layout) and free JPGs! There is a minimum of 4 layouts per each order, so create away! You can access Studio J here.  

Kit: Lucy
Pattern: Stars Above
Photos: 1 vertical, 1 horizontal, 4 square
Colors: Sweet Leaf, Blush, Grey Wool, Creme Brulee, Colonial White
Techniques: 

• Deleting unneeded photo wells
• Using text boxes to cover up portions of the pattern
• Cropping My Stickease borders to make ribbon streamers

FIRST STEPS

1. Select Lucy kit.
2. Select Stars Above pattern.
3. Select kit mix 4.

PUTTING THE LAYOUT TOGETHER

1. Turn off toggle accents. (Located under embellishments tab.)
2. Change Colonial White cardstock to Grey Flannel.
3. Change Blush cardstock to words B&T paper.
4. On right page, delete bottom-left photo well.
5. On left page, delete two photo wells, second and third from left at top. Delete title box. Delete journaling box.
6. Add journaling box by dragging the box from the menu to the desired spot on the left page to cover Sweet Leaf honeycomb B&T and the Grey Flannel that was behind the journaling box (to cover the shadowing). Delete "Add journaling" by highlighting both words and hitting the space bar. Fill with Grey Flannel.
7. Add journaling box to left page where two photo wells were; fill the box with Sweet Leaf honeycomb B&T; delete "Add journaling" with a space. Send to back (right-click) so that it stays behind photo wells.
8. On right page, add journaling box to cover B&Ts and corresponding area, including photo well for ease of matching pattern. Delete "Add journaling." Fill with Sweet Leaf honeycomb B&T. Send to back so photo well shows.
9. Create grey border strip by adding one journaling box to the bottom of the page. Delete "Add journaling," fill with Grey Wool, crop and place at top of words B&T papers. Click on the grey strip, click on copy, then paste to use for the second page.
10. Drop in photos into available wells. Zoom in or out as needed.

FINISHING TOUCHES

1. Add the following My Stickease images to each page, rotating and resizing as desired. Right-click to bring layers forward or send backward as needed.
• 2 flag pennants (Borders, 88%) for the left page and one for the right
• You Are Darling tag (Quotes, 135% - I used a different tag and covered it with a journaling box, changing the paper to "None" so I could use a different title.)
• 2 pink lace ribbon borders (Borders, 100%) for the left page and one for the right
2. On left page, create button/ribbon accents as follows:
• Add Colonial White 1/2" buttons (Embellishments>Buttons, 100%) and Grey Wool thread (Embellishments>Buttons)
• Add 2 more pink lace ribbon borders. Crop, rotate, and place below button as streamers. Send to back as needed.
3. On right page, create button/ribbon accents as above, using 5/8" button and two 1/2" buttons with Grey Wool thread.
4. Add Colonial White Medium Brads (Embellishments>Metals, 100%) to all banners.
5. Add Grey Wool Running Stitches (Embellishments>Stitching) to edge of Grey Flannel cardstock.
6. To create journaling boxes, add five text boxes on right page, cropping as desired. Send backward by right-clicking to tuck them behind the photo well. Distress text box edges using Direct with Grey Wool. Add Grey Wool Back Stitch (35%) to edge of journaling boxes. Add journaling using Elemental font (or font of your choice). 

Why I love being a consultant

I recently got to spend several glorious days in Dallas at the annual Close To My Heart convention. It was three full days of new product reveals, business sessions, creative sessions, and FUN, plus a Leadership Day with additional business training. My favorite part was connecting with other consultants who I had previously only met virtually on the consultant chat boards. I love this company for so many reasons, but the relationships I have built over the years are the #1 reason why I continue as a consultant. 


Close To My Heart offers many fantastic training events such as Convention and Regional events, plus terrific online training. Because of the excellent virtual community established by the company, I have relationships in place with other consultants and then get to enjoy meeting them face-to-face! I love the support of other consultants, my team, and the corporate staff. This is an organization like no other - we have great products and love to share them with others, but at the end of the day, it's about relationships. Isn't that why we scrapbook? To preserve the memories of the relationships! Now to scrapbook the 100+ photos taken at Convention ...

Join my team in August

How many businesses can you start for just $49? That's the amazing price for a New Consultant Kit with Close To My Heart. To see the contents of the kit, visit the Join My Team tab. To make it even a better deal, in August you will receive this gorgeous bag in addition to the creative and business supplies in the New Consultant Kit (retail value - $50). I received one at the annual CTMH Convention a couple of weeks ago in Dallas, and I can tell you - the bag is beautifully constructed and will be a huge asset to your business. It is roomy enough for a 12x12 album and can be used as a backpack or a shoulder bag. Sign up on my website August 1 or contact me for more information.

Why you should order your New Consultant Kit today...

• Get 22% discount on all of your CTMH products, every day!
• Free Online Business Address (website)
• Free monthly newsletter sent to your customers
• Earn Select Product Credit
• Order trendy new products before they are released to customers
• Free online business, creative, and personal development classes through the Training Academy
• Weekly Start With The Heart e-mails for the first six weeks
• Access to Consultant-only bulletin boards, including artwork, templates, swaps, business, gathering, and more
• Have the opportunity to attend the annual Convention, 3 days filled with business-building ideas, inspiration, and FUN!
• Earn up to $125 in free products in your first 90 days with the Straight to the Top Program
• Be your own hostess and earn hostess rewards as well as generous commissions
• Attend team training meetings
• Gain access to predesigned workshops and tons of wonderful project ideas
• Much more!

Be an Artiste!

When I was expecting my second child, I could not imagine how I could love another child as much as my first. Miraculously, the heart expands to make room for another love. I didn't think I would love another Cricut cartridge as much as Art Philosophy, but - oh, my! - there is room in my heart for another. Artiste is as special and as unique as my second-born, and I don't know what I would do without either. 


Artiste focuses on 3-D items and has a lovely alphabet and some really unique features. Like Art Philosophy, the Artiste Cricut Collection comes with a cartridge, 3 D-size stamp sets, and 3 sheets of coordinating Dimensional Elements, including a mini album. Some things I love about Artiste: mini purses, gift boxes, mini albums, cards, cards, and more cards! That's just the tip of the iceberg. You can view all the images here. This is a must-have cartridge, and I'd love to make it easy for you to enjoy it.


Pre-order Artiste from me by August 1, and the shipping is on me ($7.95 savings!). This offer is only available by pre-order (free shipping not available on orders through my website). The offer expires August 1. Contact me to place your order now!

Going, going, (get them before they're) gone

One of the big announcements at the recent CTMH Convention was the retirement of 24 colors. The stock of retired colors (cardstock, inks, markers) are going fast, so you will want to get the colors you need before they are gone. Take a peek below to see if there are some you need. After August 1, these colors will no longer be available. Many of the reinkers are already gone, so act fast if you want these colors! Remember, too, that many of the current paper packets retire on August 1. You can order these on my website. When you order online, your order ($75 or more) can qualify you to earn a paper packet and coordinating Stickease free!

• July 21–25 - Mayberry Paper Packet (X7136B) and Mayberry My Stickease^®Assortment (X7136C)$17.90
• July 26–29 - Sophia Paper Packet (X7131B) and Sophia My Stickease^®Assortment (X7131C)$17.90
• July 30–31 - Believe Paper Packet (X7145B) and Holiday Pockets (Z1486) OR Wonderland Paper Packet (X7146B) and Wonderland My Stickease^® Assortment (X7146C)$14.90 

Also retiring are several paper packets and their coordinating accessories. Be sure to get them before they're going, going -- gone!

The Perfect Pair in July

Are you ready for a fun promotion? Get a free paper packet and coordinating accessory - the Perfect Pair - with every qualifying online purchase in July. Here's how it works:

Place an online order of $75 or more during July, and CTMH will send you a popular paper packet and coordinating accessory for free! That's a retail value of up to $17.90! Different Perfect Pairs are available on different dates throughout the month, so you'll want to place more than one qualifying order to grab several Perfect Pairs. Place your order early in the availability period, as the promotion is while supplies last.

Here is the chart of paper packets and when they are available:

Offer valid July 1–31, 2012. While supplies last. Additional shipping/handling and tax may apply. Discounted products do not count toward a qualifying purchase.