Digital Scrapbooking Update

As I said in an earlier post, I have been using CTMH's new digital scrapbooking program, Studio J (tm) for the last month.  Today I completed my 10th layout and I'm still head over heels for this program.  Never have I put my pictures into a layout and journaled my thoughts and memories so easily.  Really, there's no mess to get out or put away, and you can work on it as you have time. All you need is your computer with access to an internet connection and your photos -- there's no program to buy either. 


If you want to review all my gushing comments about Studio J (tm), view my post from earlier this month.  If you want to see what all my excitement is about, you can do that below!


I'm including pictures of 4 of the 2 page layouts I completed this month, so that you can get an idea of what you can create. 


Want to try it for yourself? Playing with is free. Studio J reportedly will be available for customer use in mid April! My website is where you will design and purchase your Studio J (tm) layouts.




All you have to do is go to my CTMH website, http://www.fse.myctmh.com/ and watch for the Studio J (tm) info to appear. 

All layouts above created with Studio J (tm), available soon at http://www.fse.ctmh.com/

Eagle's Nest

On Thursday the 18th, Randy and I traveled to Waldport to check out a possible vacation rental.  The coast was fabulous!  Sunny, with a little wind, but how can you complain about that in March.  Here's a couple pictures to whet your appetite!

These windows look west and north.  You get to see the ocean, Alsea Bay and the town of Waldport.  What a great view!!!

This is looking west , toward the bay inlet and the ocean.

This picture is from the deck, looking out over the town of Waldport and the Alsea bay.  This is going to be a great place to storm watch from! 
A link to the rental calendar will hopefully be available in June.  Stay tuned!

My Art Gallery

I have been motivated by some of my favorite local artists, to start posting my art on my blog.  This is the first post in this category, we'll see how this space evolves over time.  Thanks for looking!

I drew this in July or August of 2007, of a hosta in my backyard.  I was taking a Travel Journaling class from Lauren Ohlgren at Linn Benton Community College.  In the class we practiced drawing blind and semi-blind contour drawings, to get our images on paper.  This was a drawing I did for homework, and later added my journaling.  It's amazing the connection you develop to an image after you've drawn it yourself.  And both techniques work really well to help you put what you are seeing on paper.  I highly recommend Laurens class to anyone, especially if you thing you can't draw.

Studio J!

Ok, I've found the new best way to scrapbook! Coming this spring Close To My Heart will unveil our new Studio (digital) scrapbooking site called "Studio J "TM , named after our founder Jeanette Lynton. As a Consultant I have been been able to play with it this month and I have to say it's fantastic! It solves so many issues that kept me from doing the real thing, tell me if you don't think these features are cool....

• The basic layout is already made, just choose how many photos you want on a page and go to it.


• Upload your pictures from your computer right onto the 2 page layout. The size is RIGHT and fits the space the first time! Or in the second or third places you try it. Want to try your photos in sepia or B&W, just click it!


• To mat your photos or not? Click it. What color mat, how wide a mat? Click it, un-click it if you change your mind.


• You can make a layout, and make additions and subtractions without wasting supplies. You can try it, you can try it there, you can put it back where you had it the first time!


• You are never out of supplies!!! Your virtual kit supplies are coordinated and you can use as many or as few items to embellish your pages as you want.


• The "Title Tool", need I saw more?! You have as many letters as you want, you can make the size as big or as small as needed. Your spacing is always consistent.


• Speaking of words....journaling has never been easier! Plenty of font choices, coordinating font colors, and the words will shrink to fit your space if you chose!!!!


• Yeah but does it look like a real page? Yes, all the MyStickies TM, brads, ribbons, etc, appear dimensional!


• You can distress your paper too: Sand it, ink it, tear it.

I could go on, but you get the idea. After completing a layout, send it to your cart, go over it one last time and approve it. Pay for the two page layout, $12.95, and it will be shipped to you. Mine arrived in 3 days, well packaged and gorgeous! I can't wait for this program to be available. Stay tuned and more details will follow. If you are interested, let me know (email please) so I send you the link when it's available.

If you've wanted to scrapbook, but haven't felt you could, well you can now. It's really that easy, Studio J makes it easy.