You are Darling

Every year Close to My Heart hosts a convention for their consultants.  I started going in 2003, when it was in Portland OR and cannot miss it.  It is such an inspiring time!  (More on that later.)
This year, the inspiration begins before convention with 5 Studio J layouts.  The corporate office gave us 5 layouts with directions on using different techniques in the program.  I had a blast putting these layouts together with the step by step instructions.  And I hope to host a workshop where you can learn these techniques as well.  But until then, you can enjoy the layouts I have created. 

This tips in this layout featured:

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

You can enjoy playing with Studio J without any cost.  Just visit my website here and start playing.  Got questions?  Give me a call. 
To see the unique layouts using the same “tips and techniques” created by other convention going consultants you can see them here, here, and here. 

Product Highlight: Color-Ready Seam Binding Ribbon

See how to make this pretty, soft white ribbon a stunning color to match your projects. It’s as easy as pie!

Here are some projects that have Color-Ready seam binding. 

This card was created by Lalia Harris!

Here I used it for a tie for the banner.

Stitching in Studio J

I love the look of stitching on my cards and scrapbook pages but have yet to pull out the sewing machine to create the look.  What do I do instead?  I have a couple of well used stamp sets with different stitching designs that I use on cards and classic layouts.  But what about my Studio J layouts? 
The Studio J online scrapbooking has a stitching embellishment tool.  This allows the look of stitching with little effort.  Watch this video to see how it is done.

Here is a layout that I have created using the stitching tool.  The second set of banners are not stitched because I was demonstrating how to add stitching in my Studio J workshop. 

If you want a one on one Studio J tutorial, I can come to your home or meet you in the coffee shop and show you how.  There is no cost to “play” with Studio J.  Contact me today to set up an appointment.
The next Studio J Crop at my house is Tuesday May 8th. At 7:00 p.m.  Watch for details in the next newsletter.   

My Team Is Awesome!

For 6 weeks now, I have been working with another leader on a team challenge for our downline.  It has been fun to work with Chris Green and to watch my team take on the challenge and grow.  There have been many successes and rewards!  Each week, the participants totaled their points and when they emailed me their total, they have been promised a handmade goodie from me.  This is one of the cards I made as a reward. 

Lucy papers are beautiful!  The new paper flowers and the rhinestone brads are perfect embellishments that accentuate the paper design.  The stamp is from the February Stamp of the month and I stamp in Grey Wool instead of black for a softer color. 

Mini Banner: Time for Tea

One of the new products in the Spring/Summer 2012 Idea Book is a mini chipboard banner and it made a great decoration for my Sip & See Tea.  It contains a variety of shapes and all of them can be cut from the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge making assemble faster, simpler and easier!  (Each piece is 4” long for your cutting reference.)

I inked the edge of each piece, before adhering the paper,  using a sponge and grey wool reinker.  This was a tip shared by Karen Pedersen and it made the inking so fast.  You can see the step by step assembly process below.

 

I put reinker on my palette from the distressing kit and then used the sponge to ink the edges.  (Just a note, the distressing kit will not be available after this Idea Book season.  Get yours before it is retired!)

After sponging off the ink on scrap paper, I sponged the edge of the shapes cut using the Cricut.

I sponged the Monogram Chipboard letters with the sponge after I colored the edges using a matching marker.  Sweet leaf was the coordinating color for this project.

I adhered the shapes and then letters to the banner pieces.  Then I colored our new “Color Ready Ribbon” using a sponge dauber and Cotton Candy ink pad.  Use the dauber to hold the ribbon and run it over the ink until you have achieved the desired color.  It dries very quickly and ties easily holding the banner together. 

The flowers that embellish each banner piece were also cut using the AP Cricut cartridge and stamped with with flower from the Lucy Workshop on the Go.  The glitter button is from the Bohemian Assortment.

The “4” is from the Irresistible Make it Count Numbers Set.  I love the touch it adds to the banner. 

Hanging in the entrance to the Sip & See Tea Party.

Success!

Last weekend I hosted a Sip & See tea party for my customers and their friends to introduce the new Spring Summer 2012 idea book.  I was fun to transform my crop room into a “Tea Room” and treat everyone to a sit down tea.  My daughter was the server and everyone enjoyed themselves as they shopped and sipped.  It was a success!

Below are the photos of the invitations, the small treat everyone received and the entire room.  I was sad that I was so busy I did did not take any photos of the guests!  What was I thinking?  I will post more this week about the decorations I made.

The heart treat box is made from the new Lucy paper packet and the Art Philosophy Cricut Cartridge.  The flowers are also cut from the cartridge and then stamped with coordinating stamps from the Hooray Bouquet and Lucy workshop on the go set.  So much fun!