Studio J Updates

It was announced at Convention that there are several changes to our online digital scrapbooking program – Studio J.  Perhaps the biggest announcement was the fact that we are phasing out memberships! EVERYONE will now have access to ALL the fabulous content within Studio J! Don’t worry, if you’re like me and have a membership, CTMH is taking care of us too!

Starting July 12 all Studio J kits and patterns will be available to all users, regardless of membership status. Those “Members Only” flags will come down for good, opening up previously exclusive content to anyone who checks out Studio J. Even better, the non-member price for layouts is being slashed from $13.00 to $6.95! On top of that, non-members will now be able to download JPEGs with every print order, as well as having the option of placing separate orders for JPEGs for only $2.95.  There will be no more free shipping, BUT shipping is VERY reasonable at only $5.95 for a box of up to 50 layouts! I know this will help me out tremendously since I always had more than my allotted 20 layouts for free shipping.

There are minimum and maximum layouts for Studio J orders. You must order a minimum of 4 layouts (a layout is 2-12x12 pages). The maximum is 50 layouts.

Those who currently have a Studio J membership are eligible for our transitional Member Bonus Program, as follows:

Existing Benefits Period: All existing member benefits will continue as is through September 30, 2012, or until your membership expires, whichever comes first. This includes free shipping for one order per month of up to 20 layouts, current pricing, and free Memory Protectors^®.

Free Layouts: As a token of our appreciation, on October 1, 2012, your Studio J account will be credited with 1 free layout for each month remaining on your membership as of July 1, 2012, including partial months. For example, if your membership is scheduled to expire November 4, 2012, you'll receive 5 free layouts: one each for July, August, September, October, and November. If your membership expires at any time during July 2012, you will receive 1 free layout credited to your account on October 1, 2012.

In addition to all this great news about Studio J’s increased accessibility, you’ll be delighted to know that even more new content is coming, particularly our Express Collections Beta: 6 gorgeous collections of 10 professional-looking, coordinating layouts for quick and easy album creation!

Each themed Express Collection includes 10 two-page coordinating, fully embellished layouts, plus a front and back page for your album, that are professionally designed and nearly complete—you simply drag in your photos and add your title and journaling! You can choose to create all 10 layouts plus the covers, or create just a few of the layouts in the collection. It’s up to you. Express Collections makes getting your photos off your camera card or computer and into gorgeous layouts faster than ever! (The beta period runs July 12 - September 1.)  You do have the ability to delete certain content, add journaling, and change colors. Imagine have a complete album done in about an hour! You can even include layouts from different collections in one “project.” Or you can include in your project some layouts you’ve created from scratch and your Express Collections layouts. Talk about flexibility! Keep in mind that you do have to order prints by “project.”

And guess what? Studio J layouts now count towards Hostess Rewards and can be a part of your Hostess Rewards! How AWESOME!

What are you waiting for? Log in to Studio J now and start playing! You’ve taken the photos. Now keep the memories.™

Contact me to schedule your own 30 minute Studio J class and we’ll get you started!

Until next time...

Studio J: Love Your Layout {May 2012}

I've missed sharing the Love Your Layout episodes from Studio J the last few months, so between now and the end of June, we'll work backwards to get all caught up.  Hopefully, you'll be able to find some inspiration - whether you are a digital scrapper, traditional scrapper, or a new scrapper!  I know I always manage to find a few tips and tricks in each episode.

Let's get started with May's episode. In this episode, you'll learn how to use the toggle accents (pre-placed accents ready for coloring/personalizing). These toggle accents allow you to quickly and easily complete your layouts. You'll also learn how to layer and resize the My Stickease accents, as well as have them "spread" across both pages of your layout.  You will also learn how to use the distressing feature to add just the right amount of "ink" distressing to your papers and photos.

Here's a couple more ideas using the same pattern from Studio J from my own albums.

 

Are you ready to give it a try?

Studio J is FREE to try out. 

There is no obligation, so I invite you to click on the image below and see what you think.

If you'd like to save your work, you will need to create an online account. If you've purchased from my website before, you'll use that same login information. If you find you love Studio J as much as I do, contact me for more information about purchasing a Studio J membership and getting your layouts for 1/2 off, access to members only layouts and kits, and SO MUCH MORE!

Until next time...

Studio J: Love Your Layout {October 2011}

It's time for another episode of Love Your Layout from Studio J!  I LOVE these video tutorials from Close To My Heart! I always learn something, even though I play in Studio J quite a bit.

In this episode, you'll learn how to crop My Stickease to make custom titles and embellishments. With these techniques, you'll be able to make your layouts even more unique.



Create your own layout in 30 minutes or less in Studio J.

During October, YOU can get a Studio J 12-month Membership AND 5 layouts for FREE when you join my team!  Just choose the Studio J Add-On Collection as your free add-on when you sign up to become a consultant during October.  You'll enjoy making customized digital layouts in our fabulous Studio J Online Scrapbooking Program AND you'll receive the benefits of being a Studio J Member, as well as the discount from being a Consultant! Each layout works out to about $5.50 (with Indiana tax).

Until next time...

Studio J: Love Your Layout {September 2011}

In this Studio J video from Close To My Heart, you'll learn how to add journaling over blank space in your photos. Be sure to choose a photo with a lot of "blank space" or background, where your main subject is offset.  You'll also see a fun title done in two different fonts using multiple text/title boxes. It really makes the title pop!



Give Studio J a visit and see how fast and easy it is to create this beautiful layout in under 30 minutes!  If you'd like more information, contact me to schedule your free Studio J session!

Until next time...

Studio J: Love Your Layout {August 2011b}

So excited! We get TWO Love Your Layout videos this month! How awesome is that? In this video from Close To My Heart, you'll learn how to use the color picker tool to embellish your toggle accents. You'll quickly and easily find out how to color just one, a few, or all of the like toggle embellishments already pre-loaded into your Studio J layout.  You'll also learn a few journaling techniques and how to add a text box.



When you're done viewing the video, give Studio J a try for yourself. You'll be amazed at how quickly and easily your layouts come together.

Feel free to contact me if you'd like to learn more about our wonderful online digital scrapbooking program.  

Until next time...

New Members Only Additions to Studio J!

With the Autumn/Winter Idea Book release, Close To My Heart also added a couple of new features to our wonderful online digital scrapping program - Studio J!

We now have a new exclusive Studio J Members Only pattern - Photo Op.

This fresh and fun new layout will allow you to showcase six photos. As the majority of the photo wells are square, it's perfect for either horizontal or vertical photos!

We also got a fun new masculine kit - Manmade!

As a mother of boys, I'm LOVING this new kit! There's a classic diamond plate pattern, hinges, rust, and more! You'll get fun titles, quotes, and accents to use with this new kit!

Here's a sample of the titles available:

Check out these fun small accents My Stickease!

While this pattern and kit are for Member's Only, it's easy to become a Studio J Member and enjoy all the perks of membership:

• 50% off your printed layouts
• Free Shipping (once a month up from 4 to 20 layouts)
• Exclusive patterns and kits (like these)
• Members Only specials and promotions
• Free JPG files of your layouts for archiving, personal printing, or easy sharing

You can get all this and more for only $99/year with our 12-month Studio J Membership. Not quite ready for an annual membership? We also offer a 3-month membership for only $30.  Just want to give it a try? Try our Studio J 5-pack for only $55!

For more complete details on Studio J or to schedule your FREE Studio J class, please contact me.

Until next time...

Studio J: Love Your Layout {August 2011}

In this Studio J video tutorial from Close To My Heart, you'll learn how to use the quick-title tool, along with the text box function and My Stickease accents to create a unique and fun title for your layout!  You'll also learn a cool journaling technique using the vellum option over a photograph.



If you'd like to learn more about Studio J, contact me to schedule your FREE Studio J class. You'll be creating layouts and preserving memories in no time!

Until next time...

New Studio J Additions!

Close To My Heart recently added to our wonderful Studio J online digital scrapbooking program! 

We now have two new kits: Discovery and Independence Day.  These were very popular paper kits a few summers ago, now you can enjoy creating layouts with them again in Studio J. Of course, now you have a LOT more options. Don't like the colors? Change them! Papers need toned down? Change them! I LOVE the options available in Studio J. This new kits are available for everyone!

CTMH also added two new patterns for Studio J Members: In Focus and Viewfinder.

In Focus spotlights 3 photos, as well as a title and journaling area.

Viewfinder spotlights 10 photos with lots of room for additional journaling.

CTMH also added some new embellishment features: STITCHING! I love this! Stitching has been an option using the threads for the buttons, but is very tedious and time consuming. Now, it's SO much easier! There are SEVERAL options: large cross stitch, small cross stitch, open cross stitch, zigzag stitch, back stitch, running stitch, blanket stitch, and scallop stitch. PLUS, you get three pennants: triangle, banner, and scallop. And there's also pre-formed shapes: stars, posies, hearts, blossoms, squares, and circles!  You can resize, rotate, change colors, crop, etc.

Log in to Studio J and get started today!

 
Until next time...

Studio J: Love Your Layout - June 2011

In this Studio J video from Close To My Heart, you'll learn how to change the papers to coordinate with your photos, make custom embellishments, and enhance your journaling. 






Let your imagination be your guide, and play and have fun creating YOUR layout with our Studio J online digital scrapbooking program.  Let me know what you create with our program.  If you need help, you can always contact me for help. There are also several more videos for Studio J here!

Until next time...

Studio J: Perfect Placement

In this Studio J video, you'll learn how to perfectly place your accents and My Stickease on your layouts.  You'll learn how to use the align and distribute tool menu, as well as the layering tool set. 



During June, you can receive one FREE Studio J JPG file of a layout that YOU create! You can use these pictures to share your layouts with friends or have them printed.  You'll LOVE how easy it is to use Studio J and be creating fabulous layouts in no time!


Until next time...

Studio J Free-for-All during June!

During June, we're giving everyone a FREE Studio J^® JPG file—no purchase required! Simply log on to Studio J via my website, create a layout, then order one JPG file of your layout during the checkout process. It's as easy as that!

We're offing one free JPG file per customer account during June.  A Studio J JPG file actually consists of three files: a high-resolution file of your right page, a high-resolution file of your left page, and a thumbnail image of the entire layout.  The high-resolution file allows you to have your layout printed elsewhere if you wish.  The thumbnail image will allow you to easily share your layout with family and friends through Facebook, email, and more!  

This is an example of the thumbnail image you'll receive.

If you already have a Studio J or a MyCTMH^® account, you are ready to log on and start creating. If you don't have an account, you can log on and create an account and then order their free JPG file as well. Make June the month you try out Studio J with our Free-for-All JPG file promotion. You'll love it and return for more!

Until next time...

Studio J: Personalize Your Layouts

Interested in learning a few more tips and tricks in Studio J?  Check out this video tutorial that shows you how to change papers, colors, add embellishments and resize them, and so much more!  You'll be creating FABULOUS layouts using our online digital scrapbooking program.  It's completely FREE to try! If you decide it's something for you, you can get your layouts for 50% off, as well as free shipping, and so much more with a Studio J Membership!



Until next time...

Sparkle with Studio J!

The second special from Close To My Heart this month is for Studio J Members Only!

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. 

Clear Sparkles

 Opaque Pearls 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.

Here's a step-by-step video to the basics of Studio J to get you started! If you have questions, please don't hesitate to contact me! 



Until next time...

Just Two Days Left!

There are only TWO days left to take advantage of CTMH's AWESOME specials this month!  You have until Monday, February 28th to join my team as a Close To My Heart Consultant and earn a rebate on your consultant kit, PLUS get $100 in FREE select products!

In addition to the $100 in free product you can earn when you reach both levels of our Straight to the Top program (CTMH's great 'get started' program), every consultant who joins the company in February 2011 and achieves both levels of Straight to the Top will receive a New Consultant Kit rebate of $129! Free product and Free Kits make February FABULOUS! For $129 out of pocket for the kit (over a $350 value in products), you can get another $100 in product and your $129 back! That's $229 for FREE...and if you count what the kit is worth, it's more like $450 for FREE!  Click here to join my team today and get started on your new and rewarding adventure with Close To My Heart!

You also have until February 28th to get your FREE layouts with Studio J! 

For every 9 layouts you purchase, you get the 10th layout FREE!  This is a member only special, so if you don't have a Studio J membership - NOW is the time to get one!  Find more details here, then head on over to Studio J, try it out for free, purchase a membership, and build your layouts!




Until next time...

New Studio J Kit Take The Cake!

With the release of the New Spring/Summer 2011 Idea Book, we also got a NEW Studio J Kit - Take the Cake!  This new kit is PERFECT for birthdays, celebrations, friends, and SO much more!

The colors in this kit are Buttercup, Pear, Topiary, Lagoon, Cotton Candy and Chocolate. Of course, with a couple clicks of your mouse, you can keep the patterns and change the colors to any of our 60 colors!

For this layout, I chose to use the Zoom In pattern, which is a Member's Only pattern. It's perfect for highlighting my grandson's 2nd birthday photos.  This kit comes with TONS of My Stickease to choose from - cupcakes, presents, candles, frames, borders (check out the cool pennant border on the right page!) and more!

This "paper packet" can only be found in Studio J!  If you haven't tried our Studio J online digital scrapbooking program, I invite you to take a minute to do so.  You can create beautiful layouts - just like this one - in no time at all! There's no mess to clean up, no hunting for the perfect embellishment, and it's only $6.50 per 2 page layout with your membership! Don't forget, during February, you get 1 free layout when you purchase 9 layouts!

Until next time...

A Perfect 10 with Studio J!

February is FULL of AMAZING deals and incentives with Close To My Heart! Along with our Free, Free, & Fabulous promotion this month, Close To My Heart is also offering a Studio J promotion for members only!

Are you a Studio J member? Well, if not, NOW is the time to join. During the month of February only, members who buy 9 custom-printed layouts in a single order get the 10th layout FREE! That's a PERFECT TEN! Click here to play! Studio J is CTMH's answer to digital scrapbooking. Check it out and play for FREE on my website. Just click on Studio J when you get there and set up your account (again, free to do). There is NO cost to play and build layouts. There is NO program to download. Once you have played, created some layouts and decided it's for you, then just purchase a membership.

Remember, membership has it's privileges!  Here's what you get with your Studio J membership... 

• 50% off your custom printed layouts ($6.50 or only $3.25 per page)
• FREE JPG files for emailing, archiving or printing elsewhere
• FREE Memory Protectors
• FREE shipping once a month on up to 20 layouts
• Exclusive kits and patterns reserved especially for members
• Members only special promotions (like this one!)
• $3 Stand alone JPG files if you do not wish to purchase your custom printed layouts
• Indefinite storage of layouts with a maintained membership

So what does a membership cost?  We currently offer 2 memberships -

• 3-month membership for $30, which automatically renews at $10/month after the initial 3 months.
• 12-month membership for $99, which automatically renews each year

If you find Studio J is not for you, you can cancel your membership at anytime.  If you're not quite sure you're ready for a membership, we also offer a 5-pack for $55.  You'll receive 5 custom printed layouts for only $11 each (saving $2 off the regular price), free shipping, and free memory protectors.  You do have to redeem all 5 layouts at one time or you forfeit the remaining layouts.

Here's a comparison if you're not completely convinced.

Non-Member

10 Layouts/Month x 12 months = $1560
$5.95 Shipping x 12 months = $71.40
120 Memory Protectors = $57.80
Total for one year = $1689.20

3-month Membership

3-month Membership = $120 (renews at $10/month after 1st 3 months)
10 Layouts/Month x 12 months = $780
Free Shipping!
Free Memory Protectors!
Total for one year = $900
Save $789.20!

12-month Membership
12-month Membership = $99
10 Layouts/Month x 12 months = $780
Free Shipping!
Free Memory Protectors!
Total for one year = $879
Save $810.20!

This month, I am also offering a special in conjunction with our Studio J Perfect 10 promotion.  When you purchase a 12-month membership, you will receive a FREE Faux Leather Album in your choice of colors.  When you purchase a 3-month membership, you will receive a FREE Quick Pic Album in your choice of colors.

I invite you to take a few minutes to play in Studio J and see how easy it is to create beautiful layouts!

Until next time...

Journal Your Christmas {Right Now}

The prompt for the 21st was about what our houses looked like "right now" - 4 days before Christmas.  I did not get to this prompt until late Christmas Day - but I still remembered what my house looked like on the 21st!

For this layout, I converted one of the photo wells to a text box, then changed the mat to the pattern paper (the garden green wallpaper).  Then I changed the font size to 10pt and Garden Green to hide the "add journaling".  It doesn't even look like a photo or anything was supposed to be there!  There are tons of possibilities in Studio J!

Until next time...

Journal Your Christmas {The Unexpected}

The prompt for the 20th was about the unexpected.  I was blessed with only one true unexpected surprise this year. Perhaps it's because I've learned that anything can happen in December. Thankfully, everything turned out well.

I used this class as an opportunity to play with most of the layout choices in Studio J.  I tried to use a different layout for each prompt - sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't.  Sometimes it forced me to actually write more than just a few sentences or get creative.  For this layout, I turned all the rectangle photo wells to text boxes. I used the two end ones for accents placing stickease and hiding the "add journaling".  I didn't always follow the layout plan as to where the title was "supposed" to go or where the journaling was "supposed" to go.  It's great that Studio J lets you delete unnecessary boxes and move things around for personalizing your layouts!

Until next time...

Journal Your Christmas {Dear Santa}

For this prompt, we were to write a letter to Santa. We could either ask Santa for what we wanted or just write a note to him.  It's been a long time since I've written a letter to Santa! 

I used the digital element numbers we were given as a part of class for the "19".  I converted the other photo well to a text box, then added the Santa stickease from the Mistletoe kit over the top.  Doing this allows me to still have a mat.  It seems the default "add journaling" is always there (even if you delete it), so you'll have to "hide" it behind your stickease.  I just centered it vertically and horizontally using the buttons on the tool bar and shrank the text to 10pt so it would be hidden.


Until next time...

Journal Your Christmas {Christmas Dinner}

The prompt for the 18th was all about Christmas Dinner.  Everyone in my family loves food! I added the menu, along with who does the grocery shopping and the cooking.  Our family dinner menu does not vary much - more so out of simplicity than anything else (and everyone generally eats it!).  Our Christmas Dinner this year included ham, turkey, hashbrown casserole, baked beans, green beans, corn, and deviled eggs.  Desserts are also a favorite in our house. This year, as in year's past, we fixed pumpkin pie, pumpkin cheesecake, fudge, cherry pie, and cookies.
 

I used the stickease to make the "Menu" title over one of the journaling boxes. Then used the other text boxes for the who does what. I'm lucky that my husband is an excellent cook and doesn't mind helping out with the holiday cooking.  I added the Cranberry ribbon, then right clicked on it and selected "send backwards" to get it to go behind the "2010" on the left page.  Now that I look at it more, I think I may go back in and add a couple of ribbon knots on top of the "2010" cut out to make it look like the ribbon is tied through the title part.

Until next time...