August 2012 SOTM Blog Hop...

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If you've come from Allissa's Blog you're on the right track...keep on hopping 'till you get back around to where you started.

Here's what I did...


Keep hopping to Lalia's Blog.

My baby girl...

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So...I am ADDICTED to Pinterest...I mean, who isn't, right?!?!

I saw these headbands by London Raquel that sold for a pretty penny and thought 'I can make that'...so I broke out some of the flowers that I made for my wedding stuff (tutorial here), some lace and some ribbon and this is what I came up with.

Here's a closeup of one of the flowers and the pearls inside...

"Feeding the Ducks" using Studio J...

If you aren't new to Studio J and want to login, click here...if you're new and want to see what it's all about, click here and create a user name and password.  Remember it's FREE to create and a great price if you decide to purchase.  As always, if you have any questions, call or e-mail me (contact information can be found using the Studio J link above)!

Here is my 4th Studio J layout I made for Convention. 

Here's what I like about this layout:

• I've had these pictures uploaded on my computer for years (2 and some months to be exact) but have never printed them.  I do that often.  I was able to make this layout without having them developed and that's a BIG PLUS to someone who never gets around to developing pictures (that's a whole 'nother blog post, my friends...I have a problem and I own it!)
• I was able to stitch on this layout without ever sitting at my sewing machine!!!
• I was able to add a scalloped border without using my corner-rounder or my cricut machine
• I was able to journal using white ink which I hardly ever get to do using the conventional method of scrapbooking
• And...the #1 reason I {{heart}} this layout...I didn't have to print this MASSIVE photo on the left...I just uploaded it with all my other photos I wanted to use for this layout and dropped it into a photo well.  Studio J resized it for me and the print quality was GREAT (remember...if you try to increase the size of a photo and the resolution isn't what it should be for such a large photo, Studio J will alert you so you can choose another photo!)

Here are some detailed photos of what I did to create this layout...

CHOOSING THE PAPER PACKET, THE PATTERN AND THE KIT MIX (instructions are before the photo): 

1st...can you guess what Paper Packet was used for this layout?  Give up?  Remember this one...

Yeah...I can't believe it either but this is how I did it...

I chose the Paper Packet from a HUGE list...here's what it looks like on the screen and there's TONS more that you can't see!!!!

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I told it what Pattern I wanted from a HUGE list...I chose the Powerful Trio pattern which is shown highlighted (you can click on any of these photos to make them bigger)...

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Then...I got to choose with "kit mix" I wanted...I chose 2

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Here's what the layout looked like before I started tweaking it...

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Here's what the layout looked like after changing some colors, deleting journalling wells and changing some B&T to cardstock and vise versa...

What a transformation, huh...the possiblities are ENDLESS!!!!

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ADDING STITCHING (instructions are before the photo):
Choose EMBELLISHMENTS from the left side toolbar...use the drop down menu to select STITCHING then select the RUNNING STITCH and change the color to COLONIAL WHITE...

Drag and drop the stitching to the desired location...in this instance, my Outdoor Denim Cardstock Strips..starting with the bottom...

Resize 'till you get it where you want it then copy and paste for all the other stitching...one more COOL thing about Studio J...the little blue lines show you when everything is straight with other elements on the page and in the center...can you see the blue lines - one is vertical showing that it's centered and the other is horizontal showing that it's even with the stitching on the left (click on the photo to see it larger then maybe you can)...

Here's what the stitching looks like all finished...

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One more detail to show you...you're going to be AMAZED!!!

Remember I said that I was able to add a scalloped border without using my corner-rounder or the Cricut...here's how:

ADDING SCALLOPS USING MY STICKEASE (instructions are before the photo):
I chose the My Stickease form the left toolbar - Medium Accents - Honey circle and dragged and dropped where I wanted it

Then I add more...you can see that the little blue line is telling me that they are straight

Since I have three, I thought this was a perfect time to "send backward" which is how you get the scallop look, copy and paste...I highlighted all three by using the "Ctrl" button and clicked each one...here they are "clicked"

Then I clicked SEND BACKWARD (you can do this at the top next to PASTE or by right clicking) to get them to look like this...

Then I clicked COPY and then PASTE and got this full row of scallops...

I recreated the same look on the other page by copying and pasting these...here's what it looks like after I have clicked copy and paste and drug them into the center so you can see them better...

Next I finished dragging them over to the right page and then rotated them using the little circle arrow in the top left...I also had to add some more to finish out the row...

Then I sent them to the back so they would appear as scallops...

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Here's another look at the finished page with photos and journalling (notice my white journalling on the Topiary journal well) and some other minor touches...

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"The LAST Walk" using Studio J...

Here's another one of the wonderful Studio J layouts I did for Convention...this one showcased my dear DD's "last walk" through his school before moving campuses...

(click on the phot to view a larger version)

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HUGE opportunity...

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Becoming a part of my CTMH Team during the month of August just got better!!!!

Not only can you become a part of my Team for only $49 and get all of this...

But...during the month of August, you can get this GORGEOUS tote FREE (while supplies last)...

And...on top of that, once you become a CTMH Consultant, you can order yourself this!!!!  You are seeing right...a NEW CTMH exclusive Cricut Cartridge, Artiste!  You get the Cricut Cartridge, 3 Dimensional Element sheets PLUS 3 stamp sets for only $99 retail!!!

I would LOVE to have you join my team during August!!!  Contact me by leaving a comment and I'll get back with you with more details of this wonderful opportunity!

Maternity Studio J...

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Here is the second layout I created using Studio J and Lucy Paper Packet...you can click on the picture to make it bigger...

We had so much fun doing this photo shoot!!!  Jeanie Slate Photos did an excellent job!

SWEET Studio J...

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Since plans changed and I'm not able to be partying it up in Dallas at our annual Convention with all my CTMH sistas, I thought I'd share with you guys some of what I got to do using Studio J...

CTMH sent all Convention registrants instructions to complete five 2-page layouts which would be printed and handed to us to use for a class on Studio J this week.

Here's one of my favorites...

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I bet you're wondering what paper packet that is since you know ALL OF CTMH'S WONDERFUL paper packets!  Well...it's going to surprise you...

Here's the layout before I started messing with it...

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Then I rotated left side 90-degrees and right side 180...

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Then I started changing papers starting with the color of the damask pattern...simply click on the paper you're wanting to change the color of (you can see that the black and gray damask B&T is highlighted by a blue box) and an edit box will appear... 

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Click on the color box and the options will appear...the top set of colors are the ones recommended if you were wanting to stay within the color pallet of the paper packet...the bottom set of boxes are all the colors available which are all EXCLUSIVE CTMH COLORS...I chose Lagoon

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Here's what it looks like with just the Damask changed...

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Next I changed the Colonial White/Black B&T to the Black Grid B&T by clicking on the B&T, choosing "paper" from the left side toolbar and all the cardstock colors and B&T patterns will pop up...

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Simply drag the desired B&T pattern to the spot you want it...in this case I wanted the black grid B&T (top right of the B&T patterns)...

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Here's what it looks like after that step is completed...

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Next I wanted to change the Black to Baby Pink so I clicked on the B&T and the color box appeared...

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I chose Baby Pink and waaaalaaaa...

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I changed some other colors of the cardstock matts, etc. by clicking on the cardstock, clicking on the paper color box and choosing the colors and ended up with this layout ready for me upload my photos and add my embellishments...

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Embellishments and My Stickease were added by using the left toolbar and dragging and dropping...keep in mind that the My Stickease go with the paper packet chosen so this one had all Halloweenish images...so take a close look at this table which is kind of spooky and has a dripping candle on it (you can click the picture to enlarge)...

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To crop the image (in this case erase the candle and book), click on the image and use the arrows around the box to crop as wanted...this image is with the top half of the candle cropped to show progress...

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and here is the same image with the cropped as I want it...

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Without boring you with all the rest of the embellishments, here's the finished layout again...pictures and all!

Check back tomorrow for another Studio J layout and some helpful hints and tips! 

If you want to schedule a Studio J "class" in person or via online, just leave me a comment with your contact information and we'll get that set up!