Studio J®: Photo Editing Tool

This is my second post of the day. Here is the second video I wanted to share with y'all. This video will teach you how to edit the photos you are using on your Studio J layouts. Isn't Studio J the coolest online scrapbooking program on the market today?

Studio J®: Personalize Your Layouts

This is a great video about Studio J. I am in love with Studio J as many of you know. And I am super-excited because I am leaving tomorrow for Utah to attend an exclusive and intense Studio J training. I plan to learn as much as possible so that I can come home and teach all of you. If you have not already gone to my website (amy.myctmh.com) to play with Studio J do so TODAY! It does not cost anything to play! And once you do play let me know what you think!

Have a super weekend everyone!

May National Scrapbook Month Exclusive Kit- YOU ARE GOING TO LOVE THIS!

I LOVE this kit... and know you will too! Check out this video to learn about all the FABULOUS exclusive products that are only available with this kit during the month of May 2011. Then get ready to order your kit...earn it at the FABULOUS discount of just $15.00 OR get it for FREE!

You can place your order directly on my website (amy.myctmh.com) or feel free to contact me and I will be happy to place your order for you!

I am alive!

Hello!

I do apologize for not posting sooner than today. The kids are on spring break and we have been busy going to the pool, doctor for yearly check-ups and to the dentist. My parents arrived in town last night. They drove from Connecticut. They are here for a week. I am trilled! Life is always so wonderful when my mom and dad are visiting. Nothing ever seems to bother me when they are here!

We have an exciting weekend ahead of us with Easter activities and my daughter, Payton's, First Communion.

I wanted to remind you that you still have a week to purchase your Studio J Membership and take advantage of the awesome Members Only special going on all month long. When a member purchases 10 layouts she/he will earn FREE BLING-both the sparkles and the pearls! How sparkly cool is that!

There is also an online special all month long. Place a minimum $100 order on my website (amy.myctmh.com) and you will be awarded a FREE LEVEL 1 SCRAPBOOK KIT! This will also make you eligible for a FREE STAMP OF THE MONTH! Isn't FREE fun?!

I wil be back soon with some fun photos from our Spring Break.

Happy Friday!

SMiles,

Amy

I LOVE BANNERS!

Banners are a big thing right now and I LOVE them! I was thrilled when Close To My Heart came out with the My Creations White Chipboard Banner (item #Z1378 $5.95 plus S & T- pg. 120 in current Idea Book). I make banners for just about every occasion. I have even created them to give as gifts. Here is the banner I created for my daughter, Molly, in honor of her 11th birthday. We hung the banner in her room after the party. The trendy My Creations Banner includes 8 chip-board pennants with 7 jump rings. The pennants are 7 x 6. You can ink them, sponge them, stamp directly on them or even cover them wiht background and texture paper or cardstock. The possibilities are endless!

I Twitter Now!

Hello!

This is my second post of the day.

I am excited to tell y'all that I am now on Twitter! I'd love to have you follow me! My address is twitter.com/stamperamy

Smiles,

Amy

A Baking theme Party

Last week I told you about all the celebrations we had going on at our house. Here are some photos of my daughter, Molly's, 11th birthday party. It was a baking theme party. Here is the invitation I created. I used the exclusive stamp set that comes with the Fanfare Workshop on the Go Kit(#G1021- page 42 in the current Idea book) and theTiny Typewrite Stamp Set (#D1222- page 110 in current Idea Book), along with Tulip Ink and Heavenly Blue Ink. I applied liquid applique to the top portion of the cupcake and then heat set it with the CTMH heat tool. This gave the cupcake a frosting look. Add a few brads to serve as sprinkles and you got a fine looking cupcake! Molly and I went to a local kitchen store and purchased whisk keychains which we added to the invitation using a hole punch and bakers twine!

The party was

alot of fun. Upon arriving they each created a paper flower using coffee filters and cupcake liners for their own chef hat. The

girls made peanut butter granola, birthday cake bark and personal pan pizzas. They also decorated cupcakes. Each guest was given her own apron (thanks Mom for making them) and at the end of the party all their treats were handed to them in a bakery box with a label that said "Freshly Baked by" and a cute cupcake ovenmit (also made by my mom-Love you mom!). I hope you enjoy the photos!

"Fill In The Blanks Stamp" Set

I absolutely LOVE this stamp set! It is one of the most versatile sets I have ever owned. Take a peek at the artwork below! Simply Sophisticated "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication," said Leonardo da Vinci, and who could argue with that great artist? The seeming simplicity of the My Acrylix® Fill In the Blanks stamp set (D1465) is what makes it such a perfect-and perfectly versatile-addition to any stamper's toolbox! The words and outline images that make up this set really lend themselves to a variety of looks and techniques. Let's take a peek at some artwork! The butterflies on this card are stamped tone-on-tone using the small butterfly image from the Fill In the Blank set, and then we took word stamps and stamped them in first and second generation to create our own patterned paper. We've also used the small butterfly stamp on this layout, but can you guess what other stamp we used from the set? If you guessed "flower," you're right! Since our My Acrylix stamps are flexible, we've scrunched up the flower stamp in different ways to get these cute cloud images. We stamped them on B&T Duos® paper to give them a subtle pattern. For this card, we cut out the large butterfly stamp image a few times and then layered it to make it dimensional. Here are the steps so you can make it yourself: Stamp butterfly with Desert Sand ink on Colonial White cardstock. Using a craft knife, cut along wings, leaving body intact. Mount cardstock piece on Cocoa cardstock and Bamboo B&T paper. Pop up wings using 3-D foam tape. Stamp butterfly again on Crystal Blue B&T paper. Cut out entire image, omitting body. Mount on Colonial White butterfly using 3-D foam tape. Stamp butterfly a third time on Sweet Leaf B&T paper. Cut out entire image, including body, and mount on Crystal Blue butterfly with 3-D foam tape. Accent body with Opaques Mocha adhesive gems. Spring/Summer 2011 Idea Book, page 96 This card, featured in the Spring/Summer 2011 Idea Book on page 96, also shows the stamping on B&T paper technique. This time we used the bird stamp, and the background pattern is much stronger. To give visual variety, we stamped the bird's wing on a complementary piece of Grey Wool cardstock. Then, we stamped three different sentiments with Grey Wool ink, then highlighted one of them by stamping over it in Goldrush ink. This brings in a third color and makes the "friends always" sentiment stand out as the main message of the card. Spring/Summer 2011 Idea Book, page 96 Does this card look familiar, too? It's also from the Spring/Summer 2011 Idea Book on page 96. Check out the Hollyhock cardstock on the sides. We stamped the flower on it in a repeating pattern to make an abstract, subtle patterned paper. Notice how the petals overlap in various spots? This gives the flower image a whole new look! And here's a final technique for you: using the stamp set as a cutting guide for negative space then filling it with a patterned paper to give visual interest. To create the stars you see in this layout, follow these steps: Stamp three stars on top of your layout, overlapping paper pieces and photos. Use a craft knife to cut out the center, leaving a 1/8" border, and distress the edges with a stipple brush dipped in Desert Sand re-inker. Stamp three 2 1/2" × 2 1/2" pieces of Colonial White cardstock with words or phrases, using Cocoa ink and first, second, and third generation. Attach the cardstock pieces to the back of your layout so the sentiments show through. Accent each star with a pair of Opaques Mocha adhesive gems to give them even more zing! Don't you love this set, too? do you NEED to OWN it for yourself? Hop on over to my website (amy.myctmh.com) to order yours today OR feel free to contact me and I will be happy to place the order for you!

April Stamp of the Month: Blessed

Here are some cards created with the April Stamp of the Month "Blessed."

This stamp set comes wiht 12 imag

es and is available to purchase at regular price OR with a discount OR you can earn it FREE!

When you place a $25 order you will receive a 25% discount!

Place a $50 order and earn a 50% discount!

Place a $75 order and earn a 75% discount!

Place a $100 order and earn it FREE!

You can place your order on my website (amy.myctmh.com) or feel free to contact me and I will be happy to place the order for you!

Springin' Up Flowers!

Happy Friday!

It has been an action-packed week for the McGrew family. My son, Tucker turned 13 a week ago and my oldest daughter turned 11 on Tuesday. So...lots of celebrating has been taking place in the McGrew household!

Now we are looking forward to our youngest daughter's First Communion which will take place on Easter Sunday so...more party planning is in order!

Today I wanted to share with you another informative and fun video that will not only teach you a SUPER FUN and EASY technique perfect for all your spring time projects but will make you want to purchase the Spring Up Stamp Set (you are going to LOVE it and USE it often!).

And the winner is...

We have a winner for the contest I announced last week. THANK YOU to all those who participated!

My now 11 year old daughter, Molly, pulled CMDonna out the bowl yesterday. CMDonna, please contact me so I know where to send your goodies to! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

Molly's Baking Theme Birthday Party was last Saturday. What fun we all had! I will post more photos tomorrow.

SMiles,

Amy

Most Memories Happen when there's no time for Scrappin'!

I have become a HUGE fan of Studio J! I knew I would love it but I never dreamed how much I would use it for my own personal use. I know I have shared my thoughts with you about Studio J in the past and I know many of you have purchased either a 3-month or 12-month membership. I invite y'all to watch this quick and informative video about the basics of using Studio J. Then hop over to my website (amy.myctmh.com) and click on Studio J and then start playing! It does not cost you anything to play!

If you do not have a Studio J membership yet- this is the month to get one! All month long Close To My Heart is offering a great special to Studio J Members. Here are the details"