what holiday is it?

Am I confusing you? The past few weeks, I have gone from Christmas, to Halloween, and now back to Christmas. That's just how I roll!

This is a pretty quick and simple 5x7 Christmas card, using the gorgeous new Christmas papers, called Mistletoe and the new stamp set, I Believe.

I did lots of inking on this, along the edges of the paper. I used a mixture of a few different colors. . .Chocolate and Barn red mostly. And when I inked my images, I inked them in red ink, and then bumped the edges around in a brown ink pad. (I think it was Barn Red and Chocolate!) It's subtle, but it adds a little extra interest and dimension (especially in person. Sometimes it's so hard to photograph those little details!)

Whatever you are working on. . . Christmas, Halloween, or something else altogether, I hope you have inky fingers and maybe some glitter on your nose! Have fun!

STUDIO J

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE EMAIL ME AT JOESUSAN@AOL.COM

Products & Pricing
Studio J® is free online scrapbooking design software brought to you by Close To My Heart. Studio J helps you easily create two-page layouts using our foundational scrapbook patterns, exclusive color palette, and themed designs all delivered in 12" × 12" custom prints ready for your albums.

Full Retail –
You’ve taken the photos—now keep the memories. In five easy steps, create beautiful 12" × 12" two-page layouts showcasing your stories. When the custom prints arrive at your door, slip them into your cherished albums. No one will guess it only took a few minutes to design them!

Purchase Option Price
Per two-page, custom-printed layout $13.00 US
Shipping per box of up to 20 layouts $5.95 US

Membership –
Save an amazing 50% off retail price by becoming a Studio J® member. Order up to 10 custom-printed layouts per month—that’s as many as 20 pages at half price! Only members receive free JPG files of their layouts with each purchased custom-printed layout and also have the option to purchase JPG files separately. JPG files come in both high resolution and thumbnail sizes to print, share, or archive. Membership comes with other perks like exclusive patterns, kits, and free Memory Protectors®. On top of all that, members also get free shipping on their monthly order of 4 to 20 layouts in the continental US or 7 to 20 layouts in Canada and non-continental US shipping zones.

Membership Option Price
12-Month membership $99.00 US
3-Month membership $30.00 US
Per two-page, custom-printed layout $6.50 US
Per two-page JPG file $3.00 US
Minimum layouts per order for free shipping 4 (continental US)
Additional layouts over 10 (per layout price) $11.00 US

5-Pack –
A 5-pack includes 5 two-page, custom-printed layouts, 5 Memory Protectors, and free shipping. Ideal for gift giving, or as an affordable way to try Studio J for the first time.
Purchase Option Price
5-Pack $55.00 US / $73.00 CAN


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Close To My Heart products are shipped to the continental United States by Federal Express (FedEx), to the non-continental US by United States Postal Service Priority Mail, and to Canada by Landmark. Studio J layouts ship in a protected box that can hold from 1 to 20 two-page layouts, plus Memory Protectors. Standard shipping and handling per box is priced as follows:
Destination Shipping Method Price
Continental US FedEx SmartPost (< 8 days) $ 5.95 US
FedEx Ground (< 5 days) $ 7.95 US
FedEx 2nd Day Air $11.95 US
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FedEx or Landmark will notify you by email when an order is shipped so you may track the delivery of your order. Studio J orders shipped through USPS do not have tracking numbers.

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In the continental United States, Studio J customers have 4 shipping methods available through Federal Express (FedEx). These options are not available for destinations outside the continental United States. Upgrading your shipping method will not affect the in-house turnaround time of your order (typically 2 to 4 business days). Please keep in mind that upgraded shipping methods are guaranteed by the carrier, and Close To My Heart is not responsible for shipping delays after the order has left the warehouse. The shipping options are:

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FedEx 2nd Day Air: This option guarantees orders will arrive to most areas 2 business days after leaving the corporate office, Monday through Friday by 7:00 pm.

FedEx Ground: After leaving the corporate office, orders using this option typically arrive within 1 to 5 business days, Tuesday through Saturday between 9 am and 8 pm.

FedEx SmartPost: After leaving the corporate office, orders using this option typically arrive within 2 to 8 business days. SmartPost orders are delivered via the FedEx network but will use the United States Postal Services (USPS) for final delivery.

halloween? or not!

I am running with the Halloween theme again this week, although really this doesn't have to be a Halloween card at all! I think it would make a fun card for any occasion, especially for a child! (Bryce will LOVE this, and want this card if I ever let him see it!)

These felt self-adhesive monsters are soooo fun. I paired my fuzzy googly-eyed pal with the matching Hooligans paper. I tried and tried to decide what sentiment to put on this card, and I think I found the perfect one. . . it's from Be Yourself (one of my favorite sets. . ..you can see it HERE!)

To create the vertical purple zigzags on my card, I cut them out from the backside of the patterned paper. Love the tone-on-tone on the back of the CTMH patterned papers!!! It makes them even more versatile!

Have a great day! I'll be back next week. . .and we're jumping back (ahead) to CHRISTMAS again! See you then!

moving backwards!

Last week we thought about Christmas, but now I'm going to distract you. . . .let's go back to Halloween. This is a cute and OH-SO-STINKIN-SIMPLE little treat can. I stocked up on a bunch of these cans, from the Target Dollar Bin, when they were on clearance. Watch for them, and you'll see them here and there! Really any kind of little container would work.

To create the tag, I used a scalloped and a regular circle punch. I stamped the Spot On Backgrounder stamp onto my circle, matted it on the black scalloped circle, and pierced holes along the edges. I think that little touch really makes the tag POP! The sentiment is from Say It In Style (still one of the most practical and well loved stamp sets in my collection!)

I stamped the cutie pie pumpkin face (from Spooky Smiles) onto my can using black StazOn ink. It's slippery, so be careful . . .but when stamping with black, I have an easy trick for boo boos. If it doesn't stamp totally evenly, just use a black Sharpie to fill in any un-inky spots! Easy peasy!!

Okay, on to the assembly. A few pumpkin Peeps. . . put them in a sandwich size ziplock bag. Trim off the zipper part. Tie it with a piece of string, ribbon, whatever you have. Tie a little ribbon bow, attach it to your tag, and use two sided tape to attach the tag to your treat bag. Stick it in the can. And guess what? YOU'RE DONE.

I told you it was easy!
This idea can be VERY easily altered for just about any occasion! This would make a great teacher gift, co-worker gift, or a child's gift! (I think ours is going to be a Halloween decoration for just as long as I can keep Bryce's fingers out of those Peeps!)

It's not too early!!!!

Here it is, SEPTEMBER. . . . and if you are making your own Christmas cards, NOW is the time to start! Before the hustle and bustle of the crazy winter days, get a head start! I have one done now, see!?

To create this card I used a stamp from Christmas Melodies along with the NEW holiday paper, Mistletoe. I also used the new Mocha Opaques Adhesive Gems. (LOVE these things!) The flower is from the Mistletoe Level 2 Assortment. I snipped between each petal a little bit, so that I could fold them and crinkle them a bit. I also inked the edges just a bit!

I hope I've given you some holiday inspiration. Now. . .go get busy! Christmas is coming! Christmas is coming!

Hooligans Invade!

This card was created using our new Hooligans paper pack and felt assortment. They are so darn cute! The inks are both new colors, Gypsy and Lagoon. If you are attending the Round Robin Card Workshop in September, this is one of the cards you'll be creating!