Tag: Studio J

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Creating a Layout in 5 Simple Steps using Express Collections

Yesterday, I told you about my top 10 favorite retiring items. I left out one and it is a BIG ONE — all of the current Express Collection layouts in Studio J are retiring at midnight August 31! (If it is already past that date, don’t fret — there are new Express Collections now available in Studio J. Pop on into the programto check them out!)

I love Studio J because it allows me to create beautiful pages without the mess, expense or time-commitment of traditional scrapbooking. Express Collections make this even faster because the pages are completely ready for you. All you need to do is drop in your pictures! Anything you do beyond that is optional.

There are 5 Simple Steps to creating a layout using the Express Collections,

#1 Log into  Studio J

If you do not have an account, you can create one now. This program is web-based which means there is nothing to install. Creating an account allows all of your work to be stored and ready to work on next time you log in. This frees you to work from any computer as long as you have an internet connection!

Remember this is a free to try program. You will not pay anything until you decide you are ready to order prints of your layouts.

#2 Create a Project

Under the Welcome Banner on the right, click on “Create a new project”.

You can think of a project as a folder that holds related layouts. There is no limit to how many layouts you have in a project, but the program will run faster if you limit it to just a handful. Also, it will be easier to manage your photos with smaller projects.



#3 Upload your pictures

Use the browser wizard to locate the pictures you want on this layout. Not sure? You have the option of skipping this step and doing it later when you are finalizing your layout.

#4 Select your Express Collection layout

First you need to choose “Start with an Express Collection.”

This will pull up a list of all of the currently available Express Collection sets. For my layout, I selected the “All About Me” Collection. This opens a pop up window with all of the layouts in this collection. My layout is “layout 09”. 

Here’s what the layout looked like when I first opened it. 

#5 Customize

The great thing about Express Collections is that these layouts are DONE before you START! So all you have to do is drop in your photos. However, you are free to customize more if you’d like.

Although the titles on Express Collections are editable, I choose to leave this one as is. You may notice in the original layout, you will notice there was a journaling box just below the title. I choose to delete it.

Instead, I added a larger journaling box below the pictures on the right page. You don’t see the box because I set the background to “none”. This makes the words look like they were stamped right on the papers.

Isn’t this layout beautiful? I love all the artistic touches — distressing, ink splaters, stitching, ribbon and butterflies. The clusters of embellishments are perfect. Sometimes, I just browse the Express Collections before creating pages from scratch. So many great ideas!

Get started in Studio J>>

Please don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any questions as you get started in Studio J. It truely is an amazing program!

Rebecca

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Using Studio J to preserve Kids Artwork

I love looking back at my daughter’s artwork. Now that she is a teenager, the days of her proudly presenting her latest project to be added to the family gallery (i.e. refrigerator) are gone. As I was cleaning out my closet a few weeks ago, I found a box of some of these precious papers. 

I decided not to stack them back in the box where they would be hidden away, but instead put them in her school albums to be viewed and enjoyed. However, because they are odd sizes — some on full 11″ x 17″ pieces of construction paper while others are doodles on scrap paper — there was not a very neat way to get them into the books. 

Studio J to the rescue! Using my scanner, I converted each piece of artwork to a jpg. I uploaded these images into Studio J as if they were photos. Then I created a layout in Studio J using the “No Limits” pattern. The paper kit I selected is called “Discovery”.

No Limits is basically a layout made up of two 12″ x 12″ photo wells. I converted them to journaling boxes and dropped this pretty “buggy” green paper into them. I added a title and then added photo wells for the photos. After I dropped the pictures of the artwork into the photo wells, I adjusted the sizes and moved them around until I was happy with the arrangement. 

This really was a quick project. The longest step was scanning the artwork. If you are not familiar with Studio J, you can give it a try using the link below.

Enter Studio J>>

You will be asked to create an account and then you can start creating. There is no software to purchase! In fact, you do not have to spend a penny until you are ready to order prints.

Hurry! There is still time to take advantage of the Flash Sale on Studio J prints. You can order a two page layout for just $5 (normally $6.95). This special ends TODAY (July 31) at 5 pm (MDT)!

If you have any questions about Studio J, please don’t hesitate tocontact me.

Now that I have these precious pieces of art copied into her scrapbook, I am trying to convince myself it is ok to get rid of the originals. My mind says it is, but my heart is having trouble catching up. How about you, do you save the papers from your children’s younger ages?

Keep Creating,

Rebecca

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Studio J Flash Sale!!

Close To My Heart just announced a FLASH SALE on Studio J layouts!!! Starting today, you can order our beautiful 2-page 12×12 layouts for just $5! That’s just $2.50 per page ! 

This is the perfect time to do some catch up using this online digital scrapbooking program. If you have not used Studio J, you are in for a treat. The program is easy to learn, creating is quick, there is no mess and the layouts are beautiful!

To get started simply click on this link to set up an account, upload your pictures and get started. Since the layouts are printed on 12″ x 12″ high quality photo paper, you can put them in your scrapbook albums with your traditional layouts.

Get started now because this offer is only through July 31 at 5 pm MDT (that’s 6 pm for us in CST).

By the way, Studio J is compatible with our hostess program andmy hostess club. Let me know if you have questions about how to take advantage of either of these.

Happy Creating,

Rebecca




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Yesterday, I completed 10 layouts!

Yesterday, I completed 10 layouts — yes that’s 20 completed scrapbook pages in just one day! How long do you think I worked on them? 8 hours? 10? 15? Actually, I spent a total of around 3 hours, including organizing the pictures and journaling. 

Want to know my secret? It’s Studio J, Close To My Heart’s online digital scrapbooking program. It really does make scrapbooking quick and easy. A big bonus is that the layouts turn out beautiful! Here’s one of the layouts I made:

Did you know Studio J is free to try? You pay nothing until you are ready to order prints!

Start creating in Studio J now>>>

You can also complete layouts from your digital images in just 5 easy steps:

1 – Upload your pictures into your online Studio J account.

2 – Choose your paper kit. This may be the hardest type since there are now 140 to pick from! 

3 – Choose your layout pattern. You can narrow down the 86 choices by selecting the number of pictures from the drop down box. Don’t worry, you can add or remove photo wells later so don’t stress if you are not sure exactly how many you will end up with.

4 – Choose a “kit mix”. The program will show you a few thumbnails of the papers combined with the layout you selected. Again, don’t stress this decision too much — you can change it later. 

Here’s the three kit mix choices I was given when I picked the Snowhaven Paper with the Photo Shoot layout. I chose the one on the right.

5 – Personalize your layout. You can change the papers, add/remove photo wells, add a title and journaling. You can also add embellishments and stickers. How much you do at this point is up to you. 

Here’s a close of view of my final pages:

Once you are happy with your layouts, you simply add them to your cart to order the printed layouts. The prints will be delivered directly to your door!

Start creating in Studio J now>>>

I’m so glad that we have Studio J to speed up the scrapbooking process. I will put these pages in my 12″ albums along with my traditional paper pages.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll share with you more of my layouts including some of the tricks that I’ve learned over the years of using this program. In the mean time, please let me know if you have questions or need help using Studio J to convert your digital pictures to beautiful scrapbook pages.

Keep creating,

Rebecca

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Getting Started Video for Studio J Digital Scrapbooking!

Are you interested in digital scrapbooking, but not sure where to start? This video will take you from setting up your account through creating your first layout! Remember this is a TRY before you BUY program.

Be sure you read my Lucky 6 postabout how you can get your pages for as little as $2.15 this month. Hurry, this special is only good through Black Friday.

Click here to get started in Studio J>>

Want to learn more?Go to the Studio J Video page>>

Happy creating!

Rebecca

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Studio J Lucky 6! Even more luck with Free Layouts!!

I have an amazing deal for you —  Close To My Heart is offering 5 ways to be lucky in November with Studio J. You can read more about these in yesterday’s post.  With my special, there are now 6 ways that you can be lucky in November with Studio J!

Have I told you that I LOVE Studio J? When I joined Close To My Heart almost 5 years ago, I was not interested in learning this digital scrapbooking system. But, I decided I ought to at least check it out so I’d be ready if someone asked me about it. One morning, I had an extra half hour before work and decided to log on to create my account….in that short 30 minutes, I had created two full layouts!! 


My First Studio J Layout!

From that point on, I was hooked. Studio J is now my go to when I’m feeling behind or have a special event that I want to get scrapped quickly. I now use Studio J for over half of my scrapbooking!


I love showing people how easy the program is to use and how lovely the layouts are. The November special gave me a great opportunity to invite everyone to give it a try!
 

My favorite things about Studio J layouts:


#5 The Price – Seriously, by the time you print pictures and buy your scrapbook supplies $3.50 per page is a pretty good price. How does $2.50 per page sound? How about $2.15 per page?

#4 The Format – Studio J layouts are made digitally. This means that you can order multiples of a layout with a click of the mouse. Want to make pages for each child’s album? No problem. Have heritage pages you’d like to copy for members of the family? No problem. Also, everytime you order a layout, you get a high quality jpg of the layout for free. Archieve these images just like you would back up your photos in case the album is destroyed and you need to reprint.

#3 The Photos – With Studio J, you never wish you had printed your pictures different sizes or had zoomed or cropped differently. Your layouts can have one large focal picture or many small pictures or anywhere in between. Customize the zoom and crop after you have the picture in place on your layout.

#2 The Quality – Studio J layouts are printed on high quality photo paper.  The images pop out of the page. Add them to you scrapbooks and on one will even notice that some pages are “flat”.

AND FINALLY

#1 The Ease – I love simple! Creating layouts in Studio J means no set up, no mess and no packing. Just open your computer and log on to work on your pages anytime, anywhere. When you need to stop, simply save them to work on later. With 104 beautiful paper collections and100 layout patterns, the possibilities are endless. Over 100 ready-made Express  layouts make creating even faster!

Now, here’s the deal:

I told you I would add to the Lucky 5 Studio J special. In addition, to the $5 layouts and the posibility of winning an accessory or an album (see details), I will send credit for a free layout to everyone who orders 6 or more layouts. That’s right, order 6 layouts for $5 each, and I’ll send you a credit for another layout. So you are getting 7 layouts total for $30!  That comes out to $4.29 per layout or $2.15 per page! 

While the Lucky 5 special is for all the month of November, to get the the free layout, you must submit your order before midnight on Black Friday, November 28. 
 

So what are you waiting for? Start creating today!


Studio J is a try before you buy program. You can create an account and start designing layouts for free. as many You only pay when you order prints!

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Lucky 5! Celebrate the fifth anniversary of Studio J with five lucky ways to win!

As a huge Studio J fan, I am very excited about this month’s special. Studio J is an easy to use online program that turns your pictures into beautiful layouts. As always it is FREE TO TRY: simply set up an account on my Studio J website and start creating. You only pay when you are ready to order prints. 



I challenge you to give it a try this month — you have nothing to lose and lots to win! 

November marks the five-year anniversary of Studio J®, and that means it’s your lucky month. There are FIVE ways you can win with Studio J in November.

#1 – Take advantage of five amazing ways to win through Studio J and Close To My Heart social media by creating and ordering your Studio J print layouts at the outstanding price of just $5—then hope for luck to visit! 

#2 – Every fifth print order in Studio J will include one FREE accessory retailing $5 or more. But that’s not all! 

#3 – Five lucky winners will receive a “golden ticket” redeemable for a brand new D-ring album* loaded with 10 Memory Protectors™ hidden in their Studio J print orders! 

#4 & 5 – If luck is not your lot, then you can earn your prize through raw talent. Those who post photos or JPEGs of their newly printed layouts on Facebook or Instagram, marked with the hashtag #ctmhlucky5, will enter the contest for layouts featuring the best artistry and creativity. Five winners will be chosen from each site, notified after November 30, and will then receive their own D-ring album with 10 Memory Protectors. The luck is abounding—come and get your fill!

*Offer valid November 1–30, 2014. Pattern and color of new D-ring album to be given to winners will be at Close To My Heart’s discretion based upon availability. No tax or shipping will be charged on the free item(s). Studio J layouts ship in a protected box that can hold 4 to 50 two-page layouts. For additional information about shipping/handling, please visit StudioJ.com > Products and Pricing > Shipping Options. 



Learn more »

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Studio J Blog Hop “Anything goes”

Hey friends, let’s talk a little about Studio J. If you have a camera, a phone or a computer full of pictures, you need this program! If you want your memories preserved in books, but don’t have time to build paper scrapbook pages, you really must give Studio J a try.

To get started, you simply follow this link to set up your personal account. There is no software or kits to purchase. Once you have an account, you can start designing your pages! The Studio J wizard will guide you through the steps of uploading pictures, picking a paper pack, choosing a layout and adding finishing touches. If you get stuck along the way, just drop me an email and I’ll help you along.

I pulled together these two layouts of our trip to Florida in January in less than an hour. And there was NO MESS to clean up!! Plus I got to set in my comfy recliner watching a favorite show with my hubby.

This post is part of a blog hop brought to you by Close To My Heart Consultants to showcase Studio J projects.

So it is time to get hopping! Your next stop is Jen Patrick’s blog, roxybonds-scrappin.blogspot.com.

If you get lost along the way, here’s the full list of blogs participating:

1. Adeline Brill – www.adeline-brill.blogspot.com2. Marianne Hancock – www.thescrapbookchick.blogspot.com
3. Julie Sinnott – www.12X12travels.blogspot.ca
4. Heather Plotzke – www.heatherplotzke.blogspot.com
5. Rebecca Brown – www.showmescrapping.com (you are here!)
6. Jen Patrick- http://roxybonds-scrappin.blogspot.com
7. Traci Godbee- www.createwithtraci.com

Enjoy the ride!

Rebecca

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For the First Time, I’m Jealous of iPhone users: Studio J Snapshot App

I love my Android phone and am on my third model. I’ve never had an iPhone. Each time I upgrade my phone, I compare models and the iPhone always falls short. My husband would say it is because I don’t like change. And there is probably some truth to that, but I have always been 100% happy with my choice of sticking with an Android.

Until today…

…because I just found out that there is an iPhone Studio J app! 4 Reals! I can’t believe I had not heard of it.

It’s called Studio J Snapshotand you can download it for FREE in the Apple store. It works on the iPhone, iPod and iPad.

While you can’t create new layouts in this app, you can show off the ones you have already made and purchased. You can also review the color palette and the kit options to plan your next project.

How cool is that?

To use the app, you must first create a Studio J account.

Create account now >>

Download App>>

So, if you have an iPhone, what are you waiting for. Create your free account, download the free app and start playing with Studio J. Let me know if you need help; I’d love to help you get started!

Happy Creating!