Convention 2013 - Let's Get it Started

Okay here I am in FL, well okay I've been here a few days playing, but today...today is the first day of convention 2013.  Today is Leadership day, so its going to be jam packed with business classes, some sneak peaks at what's coming this week, and best yet I'll be surrounded by some amazing women and men whom I'm grateful to call friends and inspiration.

I will be updating you all week either via here or my facebook page.  If you haven't stopped by my facebook page PLEASE DO and LIKE!  I love getting feedback from you all and its such a great place to hear and see what you've been creating.

1st Day of Summer - Studio J Layout

Happy 1st Day of Summer!!!!!!!!!  

It's hard to believe I'm already saying that.  

Wow this year is FLYING BY! 

PS: 186 days left until Christmas!!!!!

Add some Sparkle to your projects with CTMH glittered papers

Easy gift for my Mom using CTMH papers and paper mache

I bought this cute paper mache Cross for a dollar and have had it lying around in my too be crafted pile forever.  I have been trying to clean out left over bits of papers and make some little gifts so here is what I came up with using the last treasured pieces of my retired Stella papers. 

Using Bonding memories glue on the papers allow for a great seal between the paper and paper mache items; also great for chipboard items.  I used some Mocha pearls for the top accents, along with stamped (and popped up letters) to finish the top. And two zip-strips perfectly framed the outside of the Cross.

Pintrest, Graduation, and Pride

My husband, who was deployed out of the country for 15 months, learned the crash course way this week what pintrest is.

 We have a child, as close as the five of our own, who graduated this week.  I wanted Brittney to having something special to wear on her graduation gown as Lei's are a big tradition here in our area.  So not having bought or made one before, of course I naturally headed to my pintrest, http://pinterest.com/Heatherplotzke/ and searched for graduation lei's".  I found a huge variety, candy ones, real flowers, money circles, you name it, but the origami butterfly quickly became my choice.

 Here is where my poor, but loving husband  who has no idea what pintrest is comes in.

Gordon spent 7 months in Okinawa and played around with making origami animals and mailed them home to our kids.  So I mentioned the super cute, easy directions I found on pintrest for butterflies.  He quickly said sure, he loves Brittney as much as I do and liked being the hero of this tale. 

With a dollar tree lei, 10 beads, a yard of wire, and 20 new singles here is what he came up with!

Here is a close up, so it takes two bills to make one butterfly.  If you head over to my pintrest you'll find a link to this and some other super cute ideas for graduation and anything else that catches my fancy lol!

Here is a photo of our Brittney and us just after commencement.  She loved what Mr Gordon made her!  I LOVE and was proud of the BOTH!

Paper stereo-typing scandal part 2

Yesterday we talked about the scrapping travesty of "holiday stereo-typing".  Today in this important series, we are going to talk about allowing papers to be their true color.  The color they were meant to be, not just the color that they arrive in, in paper form.  This true freedom can only be found in Studio J scrapbooking.  In Studio J ALL patterened papers can be transformed into the color your photos need them to be by a simple click of a button. 

What do I mean.....lets take the Valentine themed paper we had a few years ago-"Sweetheart".  I loved this paper packet, except for the fact that it was black, white, and deep pink.  I loved the ideas of all the hearts for those touching lovey-dovey moments.  My husband however NOT a deep pink kind of guy lol, and for that matter neither am I most of the time.  So I wanted to show you what I did with a simple click of the button in Studio J using that paper packet.  In the first layout, you'll see photos of me while I was visiting my husband in Japan (definitely not pink color tones).

This second layout, is of the Marine Corps ball that same trip overseas.  For this layout I wanted something classical looking so I choose this great patterened paper.  The paper however is from a Halloween paper packet; Black tones and pear greens not the most classical or romantic of color choices.  So with some simple clicks I quickly changed the colors of these two originally very bold papers to something rich and classic.

So give your paper color equality in Studio J.  Let me help show you how!

Let's think outside the "holiday stereo-typing" Studio J or Traditionally Scrapbooking

I wanted to mention something about sad and unjust habit we all get into about "holiday stereo-typing" our paper packets.  This happens to all scrappers, Studio J or Paper traditionalists alike.  When you see a holiday themed paper packet, that's it we put it into that stereo-type forever.  No more!  Break free, and allow your papers to be treated fairly, whatever their true identity should be LOL.

Take this paper packet for instance.  Halloween all the way, the matching sticker sheet told me so.  NOT!!!!!  This packet is PERFECT for teen pages, especially for my Magic obsessed son.

So let's help stop this injustice and give equality to ALL paper packets!!!!!!!  Tomorrow I'm going to show another equality move to help fight "holiday stereo-typing"

Hook & Loop ideas

Watch this super cute video to find some fun and easy ideas to use CTMH's Hook & Loop dots on your projects.  These easy to use adhesive dots are only $3.95 per package of 25.

Heirloom Jewelry Studio J style Close up

As promised earlier in the week, here are some close up photos of the Heirloom Jewelry I made.  If you want the full scoop on how to make them watch my You Tube video that I posted here this week.  Gotta LOVE Studio J-ing WITH your papercrafting!!!!!!

 

Fun by all at June workshop

Had a blast freestyling our June workshop.  My rockstars Brenda and Bonnie whipped out stunning cards using Clementine papers, while I worked on a USA banner.

Be sure to come out and play with us in July when we make card keepers more details to follow.

Happy scrapping and stamping

Free those Jpegs! using Studio J to make Heirloom Jewelry

Alright everyone here it is my FIRST EVER video tutorial....I wanted to start out with a bang so I decided to showcase my heirloom jewelry I recently made from my Studio J Jpegs.  Over the next few weeks, and months I am going to be showing you new ways to use what you already have if you are Studio J scrapping.
I want you to start using those FREE Jpegs you now receive of your layouts.  The possibilities are endless.

So starting here, NOW, I'm asking you to join my campaign to FREE THOSE JPEGS!

Please leave me a comment about the video, I'm excited to see what you all think!  Stop back Thursday and I'll be posting up close photos of this finished project.

Three new patriotic stamp sets—only available for a limited time from June 1 – July 31, 2013!

With Flag Day, Independence Day, Canada Day, and more right around the corner, now is the perfect time to celebrate military service and promote patriotism with our three new patriotic stamp sets—only available for a limited time from June 1 – July 31, 2013!

One B-size stamp set and two D-size stamp sets were created specifically to celebrate independence and freedom. The best part is that $5 from every patriotic D-size stamp set and $3 from every patriotic B-size stamp set sold will benefit a military-support charitable organization.

Donations in the US will be made to the USO, the leading, most recognized military-support and services organization in the country. Donations in Canada will be made to the Canadian Hero Fund, which supports spouses and children of fallen Canadian military troops by helping provide post-secondary education funds.

Show your military support and patriotism by purchasing your very own patriotic stamp set today. We love our troops!