New for June: Creative Memories Adventure Collection

I'm really starting to like Mondays - that's the day that the new Creative Memories products are released (at least once a month)

New for June:

The Adventure Collection - camping, nature and outdoors themed products, including a beautiful coverset with a coppery-foil tree silhouette on chocolate bookcloth.

Coordinating sticker, paper, and mat packs are also available along with the new Outdoor Adventure Quartet Punch.

The Adventure Collection is also available in digital format for use with your favourite scrapbook or die cutting software.

If you prefer pocket scrapbooking there is also a Father's Day Outdoor Adventure Bundle available for a limited time.  The bundle includes a one-of-a-kind 11x14 Pocket Album featuring beautiful foiled wild animals, the Adventure Mat Pack and a Brown Dual-Tip Pen for $65. Available through June 23, 3 pm CT

In addition to the Adventure Collection, Creative Memories also added a new Border Maker Cartridge and two new solid cardstock colours,  Orange and Goldenrod.  

Here's a complete list of the current Border Maker Cartridges:

Order early to avoid disappointment.  The one thing I've noticed is that Creative Memories is really good at cycling through inventory to prepare for the new items released each month.  

See all the new items in the What's New Section on my Creative Memories website

Check the Going, Gone section to see the current list of items that will be unavailable once they sell out.

Bash My Stash: Love This Layout

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

Another layout using up my CTMH Happy Times scraps.  This will go beside the 50th Birthday page that I posted the other day.

I used a stamp from CTMH This & That stamp set and heat embossed it in Ranger Princess Gold embossing powder.

The chipboard title and hearts are from a Heidi Swapp Project Life kit.  I used up the other half of the shimmer trim that I cut for the Birthday layout.  I'm still loving this paper and am happy with all the different cards and layouts that I've been able to get out of this one pack.

CTMH Sugar Rush Featured Project: Pocket Scrapbooking Layout

Each month CTMH highlights a paper pack from the current Idea Book.
This month's featured pack is Sugar Rush.

Today's Artwork can be found on page 15  of the new Seasonal Expressions Idea Book. 

Scrap your favourite summer treat memories with CTMH Pocket Page Protectors and CTMH Sugar Rush. The Sugar Rush Paper Packet includes pocket cards ready to cut apart and add your personal touches with Complements and journaling.  Or create your own cards using the double-sided cardstock.

Page Protectors are available in assorted 12x12 sizes and we now have Pocket Plus Protectors available to add a few extra cards or photos to your traditional layouts or pocket pages.

To see an example of how to use the Pocket Plus Protectors download the free Project Guide from the Workshops Your Way® Sugar Rush Scrapbooking Kit page.

Project Supplies:

• Sugar Rush Paper Packet
• Sugar Rush Complements
• Sugar Rush Dots
• Marvy® Uchida® LePen™ Journaling Pen
• Memory Protectors™ Variety Pack
• Memory Protectors™ Pocket Plus™

Planner Haul and First Happy Planner Layouts

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. 

I ordered my Happy Planner during last months Blitsy sale.  While I was waiting for it to ship I did manage to find some goodies at my local Dollar Tree, Michaels & Staples.

Our Michaels didn't start carrying the Happy Planner until a couple weeks after I placed my order but I'm happy to say they now have a great selection off add-ons and I can use coupons for them.

I love the arc punch from Staples.  I bought some 6x8 pocket pages and I can add them to the Happy Planner by covering the holes with Washi Tape and then use the Arc punch.

I tested it out with one of the Heidi Swapp Project Life cards and it worked great.  

I added it into my weekly spread as a book mark.

There are tons of great printables out there, many of them free.  

I found the Mason Jar printable in one of the Facebook Groups that I joined.  

I also ordered these great planner stamps from StudioL2E.  

Here's my first layout in my Happy Planner.  I'm using it mostly as a planner and will add in some pictures and journaling as I go.  I've seen a lot of cute planner layouts that are more memory keeping/journaling but I needed a place where I could keep track of appointments and thought this would work well - no more loose pieces of paper or random notes in my phone. 

  I used some retired Stampin' Up cardstock and a co-ordinating stamp for my meal planning area.  I used the StudioL2E stamps for my dailies and then added in some CTMH Coral Shimmer Trim. 

My second week and it was Canadian Thanksgiving this week, so I used up some scraps of 

CTMH Pathfinding (retired) cardstock. 

I used some free Thanksgiving Cricut cuts that were featured in 

Design Space this week and added some CTMH Bronze Shimmer Trim 

for sparkle, and a couple of shiny stickers from my stash. 

 In Canada? You can purchase these products on my CTMH website:

http://nancyhelmer.ctmh.com

Or start your own CTMH business for just $149. 

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by signing up for my Monthly Newsletter.  Link in right hand column.

Pocket Scrapbooking Fast Track Go-Kart Races with Canon Selphy

I spent some time last week printing off pictures from the beginning of this year with my Canon Selphy.  I like pocket scrapbooking because it is fast and easy.  I don't do the weekly Project Life spreads, I still tend to do my layouts based on themes and in somewhat of a chronological order.

I printed my pictures with the Canon Selphy using the Project Life App 

on my iPad to do the 3x4 journaling card. 

I used the CTMH Geometric Backgrounds Stamp Set (retired) to match the checkered flag on the Fast Track Karting logo.   I used my Cricut Explore to do a Print & Cut of the logo and added it to the foreground of the photo to break up the blank space.

I used a 3x4 CTMH Flip Flap to add in the results from all three go-cart races.  I used the PictFrame app for some of the 3x4 pictures and used the label feature so we would know which race the results were from (my family can be a little competitive).  

I like this app because you can save the pictures with a high-resolution for printing.  

Handmade Journaling Cards with CTMH Artistry Cricut Cartridge

I was working on my pocket pages today and have a few pages of the kids playing in the Snow during Christmas Break.     

I used the CTMH Artfully Sent Cricut Cartridge to make the 3x4 pocket card then using the attach feature in Cricut Design Space,  I added the font from the Artistry Cartridge to cut the names out of the card.  I backed it with the same patterned paper that I used on the 4x6 card.  The Ambersand was stamped using the new CTMH Zoe WOTG stamp set.  I added a few Bitty Sparkles for embellishment.

I cut a 4x6 piece of patterned paper and rounded the edges with my CTMH Corner Rounder.  I used my Cricut Explore to write my journaling with a Pilot Precise V5 Blue Pen, then inked the edges of the White Daisy Cardstock.

I cut the Snow Day title from my new CTMH Artistry Cartridge in White Daisy and a blue cardstock from my stash.  I added a few small snowflakes for embellishment but they don't show up in the photo.

Close To My Heart products used:

CTMH Artistry Cricut Collection

CTMH Artfully Sent Cricut Collection

CTMH Zoe Workshop on the Go Stamp Set

CTMH White Daisy Cardstock

CTMH Indian Corn Blue Cardstock

CTMH Corner Rounder

CTMH Bitty Sparkles

Studio J Layouts

I placed an order at the end of November to take advantage of the $5 Layout Special pricing.

I did a cost comparison in a previous blog post comparing the regular Studio J pricing to what I paid at my local Costco for 12x12 layouts.

With the November Special I ordered 12 Studio J layouts, which is the equivalent of 24 pages from Costco.

Costco price:  24 x 4.99 = $119.76

My Studio J order total with my Consultant Discount of 22% plus s&h and tax = 69.63

Savings of $2.09 per 12x12 layout!

In Studio J you can choose from 3 types of layouts - in these I choose a photo template & a paper kit then dragged my photos into the photo wells, added my titles & journalling and embellishments and coloured the existing embellishments (ribbons & buttons).  You can also delete anything that you don't want, you can resize and add more pictures with this type of layout.  There are 130 kits to choose from.  There is also a Studio J app for iPhone that shows all the kits.  I find it handy to look at so I don't have to go back and forth in the program. 

In this next set I chose from pre-done layouts. 

These were really fast I just added my photos and personalized with my own titles and journalling.

With this type of layout you can't make as many changes but it is fast and great if you don't have a lot of experience.  Great way to learn how to use the software and then move on to the other types of layouts when you are more comfortable with how the program works.  And since there is no charge to use Studio J you can make an unlimited amount of pages while you learn the program.  

And finally I choose a No Limits layout.  

You can do anything with the No Limits. 

I added a page that I had created in My Memories scrapbook software to the left side and a page I created with the Project Life iPhone app on the right.  

You can also fill the page with different sizes of photos. 

Great way to save on photo finishing when you use odd sizes (like 2x2 or 2x3 or 6x8) in traditional scrapbooking or pocket scrapbooking. 

You can create as many layouts as you want and won't be charged anything until you purchase your prints.  The software is web-based so you need an internet connection to use it.

I often upload my pictures into different projects from my desktop and then login from a laptop or even from my iPhone (with Puffin web browser).  

Layouts are saved in the software for 90 days which gets extended once you make a purchase.  I created over 50 layouts but only purchased 12 - the expiry date was extended after I ordered.  I created many of the layouts back in July when I was first off work for my tendinitis and very limited to how I could use my left hand.  

Digital scrapbooking was the perfect option to be able to work on my scrapbooking without having to do any cutting or stamping and hurt myself more. 

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about Studio J.  There are also many video tutorials on the Studio J site. 

If you live in the Langley, BC area and would like to see how it works I will be doing tutorials in the New Year.   Sign up for my newsletter to be notified of upcoming dates.  

Try it free today at http://nancyhelmer.studioj.com

Using QR Codes In Your Scrapbook Layouts

Well I'm happy to say that I finally found a way to integrate all the videos that I take with my camera and cell phone into my scrapbook pages!

When I import into my computer everything is saved by date in iPhoto.  Then I create separate folders by year, month and layout so everything is grouped together.   Most of the time I've just deleted or worked around any videos that were in those folders.  Now I'll be able to go back and add in the videos and as I do each layout I can add a QR code to my page and anyone with a QR reader on their phone can scan and be directed to the video.

I played around with it today and it was pretty easy.

Here's step by step of what I did:

• First I add a video to my YouTube account.  
• Then I copied the link to the URL for the video
• I used the code generator at  http://www.qr-code-generator.com/ to get my image in jpg format.
• I downloaded it into iPhoto and renamed it so I would know which video it was.
• I also created a folder on my desktop with the qr code and the pictures I wanted to scrap with it.
• I opened Studio J and created a layout with my pictures and added two qr codes linking to two different videos that I had take when I took those photos.

This is my Studio J layout with the two codes added in. The first video is my dogs wanting to go outside. And the second is them rushing out the door to play in the snow. It's also our puppy's first snow so I'm happy I could add these great moments.

If you do pocket scrapbooking or digital pocket scrapbooking you can add the qr code to a digital journaling card and either print it out as a photo or use it on a digital layout. I had this card already saved so I just added a photo box for the QR code.

You can also add the code directly to a photo and then have it printed or use it in a digital layout.

If you do traditional layouts or pocket scrapbooking you can print the QR code onto paper and add it to your layout or journaling cards.  

Feel free to contact me for more information on using QR codes in your layouts or leave a comment below.  Happy Scrapping!!

Last Days of Studio J $5 layout sale & using Studio J with outside programs

Just today and tomorrow left to take advantage of the Studio J Lucky 5 promotion.  You get a 12x24 layout printed for only $5.00 plus s&h.  That is about half the price of what I would pay to get my pages printed here - Costco charges $4.99 for a 12x12 layout.  CTMH Consultants also get a 22% discount off of that price and orders count towards your quarterly minimums. I've been working on layouts all week - just need to do my final spell checks and I'll be ready to order.

If you aren't familiar with Studio J - it is an online digital scrapbook program by Close To My Heart. You login, create a project, upload photos, choose a digital kit and a two page photo layout or create your own with the No Limits feature. Drag and drop your pictures, add some journalling, titles and embellishments and your done. There is also an option with the pages pre-finished and you just add your photos and journaling - I found those were a real time saver. The program saves your layouts for 90 days so you can order as many layouts as you want. It's flat rate shipping so more economical to save them up and do a larger order all at once.

So that's the basics - there are many other things you can do with the software.   If you are a traditional scrapbooker and like to print out odd sized photos you can do that too.  Just use a No Limits page and create the photo wells in the sizes you like and drag and drop your pictures in - great for those odd sizes like 2x2, 3x3 or larger 5x7.

If you are a digi-scrapper you can import your jpgs created with other software and get those 12x12 layouts printed at a great rate.  Or print out digital images for use in pocket scrapbooking.  I have a lot of digital journalling cards that I can now add to my regular pocket album.  I can even import them and add a text box and do my journalling right in Studio J before I get them printed.

When I checked my email this morning I had an offer to buy the Project Life app for iPhone for $.99 this weekend.  I decided to download it and then did a search online to learn more about it.  You can use your photos that you take with your phone in the app or use photos from Dropbox.   For me that's a bonus because I personally don't care for many of the Project Life journalling cards.  So I can save my digital journalling cards (lots of free graphics online) and import them right from Dropbox.

Here is the first layout that I made with the app.  The kit choices included with the app are very limited and I'm not going to spend money on any other kits when I can use my own graphics.  The Snow Fun card is one that I downloaded for free off the internet and uploaded to Dropbox from my computer.  I was then able to add it to the layout in the app.   It was fun to play around with and I can see it being handy for pictures that I don't necessarily want to keep but can still scrapbook while it's fresh in my mind.   These pictures are from last night - it had just started to snow and my 4 month old puppy needed to go out.  I took them with my cell phone and they aren't great quality but I'm happy I've got a quick page done.  It's these everyday moments that I love to capture and too often I miss out because I wait too long to scrap them.  

Another fun iPhone app that was recommended when I was looking into the Project Life app was one called Phonto.  It was a free app that lets you write directly onto your photos.   I tried it out on a picture with my dogs and it worked great.  

Now I can add it to a Studio J page or a pocket scrapbook page and don't have to wonder later why I have a random picture of the dogs looking out the window.  

Here is the layout I made with the Project Life app imported into Studio J alongside a 12x12 layout that I made in My Memories:

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about Studio J.  There's no cost to try it out and you don't need to create an account right away either.    

New to Project Life Style Scrapbooking

I've been planning on really getting going & finishing my Disney World album and I had a few kits from Britt-ish Designs and was working on 12x12 digital layouts.  My biggest obstacle was time - there just isn't enough of it these days!  Between work and obedience training and spending time with my family I found that all scrapbooking and card making was getting pushed to the back burner.  And I really wasn't happy about that.  It's the one thing that's all mine.  Add to that the fact that I haven't had a vacation in 19 months and you will get the idea - I've been too busy for ME time.

So I was finally able to book a week off of work thanks to some great hardworking teenagers who are on Spring Break and could help out during the day.   One of the first things I did was start looking at the Disney pictures and kits that I had, then off to Britt-ish Designs and Sahlin Studio to look at the Project Mouse collection that they have been working on.  The more I read the more interested I got.  I've seen reference to the journaling cards on other sites but I never paid attention to what Project Life really was.   At the same time I sent off some of my 12x12 layouts for printing and found it is really expensive - the best price I could get here was $4.99 at Costco.

So that brought me back to Project Life.  As I took a good look at it I was intrigued with the fact that I could use this system along with all the card and scrapbooking supplies that I already own (hoard!) and with my digital scrapbooking software.

I played around with a couple of 12x12 layouts in My Memories then started to price out what I would pay per page if I printed out my pictures in 4x6 and wasn't I surprised!  Each Project Life protector holds the equivalent of 6 prints which I can get at Costco for $.14 each.  Then the protectors are $39.99 for 60 sheets which would get me 120 scrapbook pages - so it works out to $.33 each page.  When I realized that I have everything already to make my own journaling cards and fillers then I worked it out to between .89 - 1.17 and that's paying full price at Michaels here in Canada.  If I use my 40% off coupons or run down to Bellingham I will save even more.

So after a quick trip to Michaels with a 20% off my entire order coupon I was ready to get started.

First I had to clean my craft room which also serves as a games room that occasionally gets used by my children and for storage.

I have make-shift cabinets and a piece of counter top for my tools - eventually we will buy proper cabinets upper and lower and add a bar fridge at the far right side.  Everything got a good scrub or dusting then all the tools went back.

 The table got a good wipe-down - I really wasn't impressed when I found out my 19 year old had used it for playing poker with his friends.  Paper only!!  Something I'm really picky about - I don't like any transfer onto my paper when I'm crafting.   I love this Ikea table - $60 craigslist find.

 Then I started laying out my pictures.  These were the only ones that weren't digital. We bought a disposable underwater camera for Typhoon Lagoon.  Great idea - I just got my daughter a digital underwater camera for her upcoming trip to the Dominican Republic - no worries about water or sand!

I laid everything out then decided not to crop any I just put them in the sleeve that had 6 4x6 pictures and will add some journalling and embellishments later this week.

I felt really good about how quick I was able to get it all laid out and since then I have sent an addition 24 pictures into Costco for printing.  I used the My Memories software to put two 3x4 on some 4x6 prints and added in a journaling card too if there was space.  So all I have to do tomorrow is do a bit of trimming then slide them into the protectors (I've already planned out which sheets to use) and add some paper and embellishments.  I'll post more pictures tomorrow after I pick them up.