3/28 Tips, Techniques, and Training Tidbits - Studio J®

Wouldn't you love to see examples of Studio J® layouts? Here you go! Just go to StudioJ.com and click on Art Gallery. You'll see at least 24 completed layouts that were created in Studio J®! Pay attention to the beautiful papers....they'll look familiar because they are either available now in the Spring 2011 Idea Book or were available in a past Idea Book. Even some of our (favorite!) discontinued papers are available in Studio J®.

Paper layering is easy when you create your layouts. Let's say there's a particular background paper (or cardstock) that you'd like to swap for another. With the click of a button, whala and it's done!

To become a member, try it out, or just read more about it, click here and follow the link to Studio J® Online Scrapbooking.

See you tomorrow!

Laurie

2/28 Tips, Techniques, and Training Tidbits

Studio J® is an online scrapbooking studio environment using all of your favorite Close To My Heart products! All you need is a computer and internet connection. Believe it or not, as long as you have pictures on your computer (or access to them), you can scrapbook in Studio J®!

Access Studio J® here then click on Studio J® Scrapbooking. Select Create An Account in order to "try before you buy" or to purchase a Membership. Note: Playing and exploring required! (Just kidding:-) No purchase is required until you are ready to check out with your purchases.

Memberships available:
~ 12 month membership is $99.00
~ 3 month trial membership is $30.00
~ 5 Pack is $55.00 (you pay for 5 studio completed layouts)

Give the gift of a Membership for a birthday, anniversary, or for no reason at all! It can all be done through my website or through contacting me.

The creativity is endless! Start by selecting and uploading your photos for a project. A project can be a specific event like a birthday party, vacation, wedding, etc. Name your project then upload selected photos to that project. You can have multiple projects going at the same time. From there, you're ready to roll!

~Laurie

The Dash

I was watching a webinar last week and the speaker had a terrific ending to his presentation. He called it "The Dash". My first thought was speed...how far could I run in how short amount of time? After all, isn't that the name of a race in track and field? Oh yeah, in track and field, they insert something like "500 yard"! Not for me...I'm not a runner:) Well anyway, the point he made really hit home with me. You see, "The Dash" in his context referred to the time between being born and dying. What is it that we do with our "dash", that little hyphen between the year born and the year of passing? Have any of us really thought much about it? Seems a bit morbid but I think if I, personally, spent more time considering how to live my own "Dash", I might enjoy a more fulfilled life, rather than living my "Dash" by scurrying here or there and missing many opportunities to touch the life of someone else or be inspired by someone myself. There's lots to it, for sure. So, maybe today you'll want to consider how you're living your own "Dash".

So, last night at one of my monthly workshops, I pulled out this remarkable little tool kit called the new Soft Set Eyelet Tool. People! If you hear one thing while reading this, hear me yelling "this is the most awesome improvement on a product ever!!!" Followed by..."ya gotta have one!" Love the ease with which I can set eyelets now...and it's s..i..l..e..n..t..!! Ah, the hush of setting an eyelet is unlike any other eyelet setting I've done before. Those were always rough, narly, and above, obnoxiously loud! No more...you'll love this one. Item number Z1208 for $14.95. It's the best buy all this year! You can order it on my http://www.laurie.myctmh.com/ website.

Until next time ~ so long!

There's No One Quite Like Me

Here's a fun layout my scrapbook classes have been working on. It carries on the theme of scrapbooking "All About Me" that we've been doing all year. I'll edit the details the first of the week since we're preparing for a baby shower this weekend. Hope you enjoy! See you again soon~

Recipe Book Add On & Recipe!

Since I spent part of today preparing for a workshop, I thought I'd take this opportunity to show you a couple more pages for the recipe book I posted a few weeks back. I used this incredible stamp set, Bon Appetit from our Summer 09 Idea Book and let me tell you, it's simply a classic. We had a similar set years ago when Close To My Heart was D.O.T.S. and I've never parted with the wood stamps! The recipe book uses a few of my favorite colors from the Close To My Heart color palette: Smokey Plum, Hollyhock, and Olive. Topiary could be swapped in for Olive if you wish.

There are so many ways this little 3-ring binder can be stamped and decorated to steal the show...how about a baby brag book? Or, a wedding shower gift ready for photographs from the shower itself? A collection of favorite recipes is always a welcome gift, too. It's easy to incorporate photographs or recipes on the backside of each tabbed page.

Speaking of recipes, oh my goodness...our daughter, Jessica, and her friend, Jessica, made us the most scrumptious dinner last night! You've gotta give this a try. Hmmm, now that I think of it, why haven't they been preparing dinner for the last 4 days while they're both home from college??


Chesapeake Chicken Imperial
6 ea. 6-ounce boneless whole chicken breast
6 tablespoons shredded cheddar cheese
Light Italian dressing
Flour to coat chicken
Pinch of paprika

Crab Imperial Ingredients
1 pound Phillips jumbo lump crabmeat
1 teaspoon parsley
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1 egg
1 teaspoon Phillips Seafood Seasoning
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
6 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 ounce capers (optional)
1 ounce finely diced red peppers (optional)
1 teaspoon melted butter

Imperial Sauce
6 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 tablespoons half & half
1/2 teaspoon Phillips Seafood Seasoning
1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1. Marinate chicken with light Italian dressing, salt and pepper. Place in the refrigerator while preparing the crab imperial and the imperial sauce.

2. Combine all crab imperial ingredients-except for the crabmeat-in a medium mixing bowl and whip until smooth.

3. In a separate mixing bowl, add crabmeat and pour imperial mixture over crabmeat. Blend all ingredients together by tossing gently in order to avoid breaking crab lump meat.

4. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine all ingredients for imperial sauce and whip until smooth.

Cooking the chicken
1. Lightly dredge the chickens in flour, and remove any excess flour. Heat a large skillet with canola oil in a medium-high heat. Cook chicken for three minutes on each side.

2. Place the cooked chicken on a greased baking sheet pan. Put six tablespoons of the crabmeat mixture in the center of each chicken breast and bake at 400 degrees F for 10-12 minutes.
Top each stuffed chicken breast with imperial sauce, 1/2 ounce shredded cheese and a pinch of paprika. Place in broiler until golden brown.
Serve with your choice of vegetables or starch.

Trust me on this one...it's restraurant taste in your own kitchen!
I'll see you soon with more tales of our hiking adventures!

My Favorite Things - Side 2

I have a brilliant friend! Artistic, too. I wish I could be just like her but that wouldn't make me......well, me. So, I have to be happy just being me and being inspired by her creativity. Like this layout...how darling is this! It's the second side to the My Favorite Things layout that we made in my monthly scrapbook group. You know those little leaflets that occasionally come in the mail, advertising different paper crafts? Well, her eye caught this one and she hung on to it for years. Kinda like all of those wonderful papers I hang on to, waiting for just the right photographs to use or journaling that will compliment the theme. Some things are just timeless!


I never cease to be amazed at how all of my wonderful ladies can take the same papers, the same inks, same design and turn it into a work of art. Ahh, so much fun to watch!


For this layout, we used Daydream Paper Pack (#X7108B), Homestead Alphabet (#E1007), and inks in Lilac Mist, Blush, and Sweet Leaf.

See you soon!

My Favorite Things - Side 1

I mentioned in a previous post that my monthly scrapbook groups are scrapbooking about themselves this year. One of our themes was My Favorite Things. When I designed the pages, I remember walking through my yard thinking what some of my favorite things are...the smell of flowers, their bright colors, the pond we put in this year, great music while cleaning, naps on Sunday afternoon, our annual family vacation to Pismo Beach, scrapbooking and stamping with friends, and the list goes on and on. What was so neat was how the theme got me to thinking! I do have a lot of favorite things in my life. Here is the first side of the layout. There's lots of room in the lower left section for photos! Watch for the second side in the next day or two. It's the greatest.

I love photographing flowers! Can you guess where this photograph of sunflowers was taken? Hint: It's at an amusement park in California. Post your guess in the comment section of this post - I'd love to know your guess!















Another of my favorite things are the friendships I have with other consultants. Although we may not see each other but once or twice a year, they have a special place in my heart. Here's a fun photo of my friend, downline and sister-consultant, Kristina.


When I feel the need for inspiration, I enjoy watching the latest episodes of Close To My Heart TV. Take a few minutes and treat yourself to some incredible inspiration! Watch the current episode or any of the archived episodes. Whatever you choose, you'll be in for a treat.

Until next time!