UNVEILED - NEW WAY TO PRINT CELL PHONE PHOTOS!

Now that I've revealed our new CTMH Picture My LifeTM program, I want to let you in on a new way I just heard about, to print all of your (hundreds of?) photos that are on your Smart phone, iPad or tablet! 

There is a really neat website called GROOVEBOOK. The founders, a husband and wife, were on Shark Tank a couple of weeks ago. One of the "sharks" did invest in this website!

The basics are: You download their App onto your Smart Phone or tablet. You pay a $2.99 per month "subscription fee". You can then upload up to 100 photos per month from your phone or tablet, to their website. They print the photos and put them in a 4.5 x 6.5 inch photobook and it is mailed to you within 10-12 days.

This photo was taken from the Groovebook website.

The little photobook has perforations so you can tear any picture out. The finished picture (after torn out) measures 4" x 6". PERFECT on its own or to put into your photo albums, scrapbooks or CTMH Picture My LifeTM albums. 

When I heard about this Groovebook website, I was estatic, as I had just learned about the new CTMH Picture My LifeTM program coming out on February 1, 2014 in their new Idea Book. What a perfect way to get those photos off of your cell phone and quickly into an album!

This photo was taken from the Groovebook website.

Although I DON'T have a Smart phone..... I'm excited for everyone else who has one and I know many people who take tons of pictures with their cell phones and tablets and then never do anything with them.  UPDATE: I've just learned from another CTMH consultant that you can actually transfer photos from your computer to your Smart phone or tablet, and then upload them to Groovebook!  This app does not presently work for uploading photos from your computer to Groovebook, but their website says "we are working on it".

If you want information on how to do this type of upload, let me know and I can (hopefully) help you.

I am going to share a month's subscription with my sister, email her some of my photos from my computer, and then she can upload them to Groovebook from her Smart phone, and we'll both benefit from the subscription!  The website explains how to do this. I could get 50 photos for $1.50!

This photo was taken from the Groovebook website.

I have sent several questions to Groovebook and they were very quick to respond. 
  

• The paper weight of the photos is not very heavy, but if you are placing them into a page protector, or gluing them onto a scrapbook page, then the weight isn't that important (in my opinion). 
• The $2.99 per month subscription fee INCLUDES the cost of shipping the little photobook to your door. Where else can you get a 4x6 print for 3 cents?

• They do their own "in-house" printing and have a bulk rate for mailing. There is a special "groove" in the photobook that allows it to bend, thus the cheaper rate on shipping. That's why they can offer this at such a reasonable price.
• If you don't have 100 photos, you can upload less, and indicate if you want double or triple prints, etc.  You can order more photobooks for family members at an additional $2.99 cost.
• You can upload your photos in increments during the month.
• You can cancel at any time.

I think this is the best invention (or idea) since toilet paper! 

UPDATE: And before you get too excited about Groovebook, I have just received notice from Close to My Heart that there are some NEW UPGRADES to Studio J Online Scrapbooking, wherein they are making it super easy to print photos using Studio J and having them sent to your home. I will update this in my next post!

I think each method of printing your photos will be phenomenal in it's own way.



 

PICTURE MY LIFE - ALERT!

Would you love documenting your memories in minutes? Would you love a quick easy way to preserve your photos? 


COMING SOON IN FEBRUARY,  Picture My LifeTM scrapbook program from Close to My Heart. Easy, fast, fun!  

Look carefully - do you see the pre-divided page protector where she has slipped in her photos and the cards?

NOTE: Be sure to read my next post (on January 30th) for the unveiling of an AWESOME new way to print photos from your camera or iPad or tablet. 

If it's hard for you to find the time to make your photo books and scrapbooks from "scratch", with the cutting, gluing, trimming and stamping, then you’ll love the new Close to My Heart "Picture My Life™" scrapbooking program. It's meant for quick and beautiful memory-keeping. 

That's what it's all about right? preserving our photos, preserving the precious memories by keeping those photos in a safe place?
 

This is a really neat photobooking program that has eight different themes, all gorgeous! I call it "photobooking" as it's really not "scrapbooking". It's fast and easy and you put divided page protectors in albums, and fill them with your photos and the pretty and unique "journal cards" and "theme cards". No gluing, no cutting, no stamping, no measuring!

You can mix and match the themed cards for a truly unique look, or just use one theme. You’ll love the ease, affordability, and beauty of the Picture My LifeTM programs. Your own photos are all you need to add to make astounding artwork—in no time at all!

Each set (or "program" as it's called) (priced at $24.95) includes 122 (yes 122!) double-sided cards plus 10 unique Memory Protectors™ to capture life as it happens, very quickly. On one side of each card is space for journaling, and on the other you’ll find artistic sentiments and icons. CTMH designers have used some of the past beloved papers sold in previous seasons.

Included in each set are:

• 44 - 4"x6" cards (2 each of 22 designs)
• 78 - 3"x4" cards (3 each of 28 designs)
• 12x12 cover sheet (shown in the above picture)
•            decorated to match the program theme
•  10 -   12x12 memory protectors
•            with various compartments 

There is so much variety in the cards - way more than other programs of this type on the market.

Here's a sampling of a few of the cards in the Avonlea set:

 
Each of the eight sets has a theme, such as childhood, family, sports, "girly-girl", to friendship and travel.

The more I look at these cards, the more excited I get! I can hardly wait to get a set, or two...... or three...........

Sampling of Babycakes set:

 
Each program/set is designed to accommodate approximately 100 photos in your TEN included CTMH Memory ProtectorsTM, so with a balance of photos and cards, you’ll finish with about 20 remaining cards. That means you have plenty of choice and flexibility to make it uniquely yours! Of course, you can easily use more or fewer photos in your project to suit your story’s needs.

Sampling of Chantilly set:

I love these Chantilly papers!  Now I get to see and use them again! I'm thrilled!

Unique to Picture My LifeTM is an included 12" × 12" double-sided cover page with each individual program/set, using a beautiful My Reflections™ pattern.

  

Sampling of L8tr Skater set: 

The Picture My LifeTM program is so versatile that you’ll find dozens of other ways to incorporate it into your papercrafting. Use the cards to expand other projects you’ve started! Use the cards from this program on your other handmade "cards" that you send out for thank yous, birthdays and holidays. Use some of the cards on your "from scratch" classic scrapbook pages, as gift tags, or in your My CrushTM books or mini albums. What great embellishments!

Sampling of Laughing Lola set:

 

I've included a sampling of five of the eight program sets. Do you recognize some of CTMH's favorite paper themes from last year?

To view the other three sets,  you can view the online Spring/Summer 2014 Idea Book on February 1, 2014 by going to my website HERE and clicking on the Products-Idea Books tab.  Two of the programs use NEW papers from the new Idea Book! They are gorgeous.

Two pretty and unique 12x12 albums will be listed in the new Idea Book, to purchase separately for these Picture My LifeTM programs.You can choose either post-bound albums or 3-ring albums.


Even though I LOVE to make the traditional, paper and glue scrapbooking pages, I'll be excited to give these program/sets as gifts to my friends and family, (and to use for myself - don't tell!) for quick projects, so I can get caught up on my boxes and boxes of photos that need to be put into books NOW. 

Are you excited yet? Let me know what YOU would use one of these sets for!

 

JANUARY JOYS.

January joys are abundent, although I've been remiss in posting on my blog.

January has brought busy-ness, a late Christmas celebration (New Year's Day), illness, company and more illness, so I'm not crafting much these days. 

But I am looking out the windows and loving nature........ as usual. 

Snow is still on the ground from our January 5th snow storm. I know there are many out there in blogland who are having to deal with horrible weather conditions.

Our weather has settled down for the time being.........just lovely white fluffy piles of snow to look at and enjoy scuffing through as we walk around our property.

Until the next snow storm.......... I hope I can find some time for crafting and baking!
 

IT'S MY RESPONSIBILITY..............

It's my responsibility, as a CTMH consultant, to sadly tell you that a whole bunch of the darling stamp sets (and many other goodies) will be retired as of January 31, 2014! I hate to see them go! 

Here they are.... if you want any of the retiring stamp sets or other embellishments and papers, get them before the end of January, HERE ON MY WEBSITE.

I know these are small pictures... but it at least gives you an idea of what stamp sets are leaving us. (boo hoo).... Go to my website (link above) and click on any particular stamp set that you want to see close up.

 

The  CARD WORD PUZZLE set is especially neat. It can make up to at least 100 different phrases.

I LOVE the butterfly and flowers too. 

The Cozy Cat and Adore sets are two of my favorites! I used both stamps on the CTMH muslin gift bags.

Besides stamp sets retiring there are several of the Workshops on the Go retiring, as well as some paper packs (Huntington, Frosted, Tommy).

I LOVED the QUICK CARDS - BUTTERFLY stamp set as used the script part of it alot to do some background stamping on my cards and mini albums.

Sniff sniff, most of our colored glitter gels are going away!

I'm especially sad to see two of the fabric lines going away, but there WILL BE two new fabric sets in the new Idea Book, going online on February 1st! VERY HAPPY!

Here's a canvas wall hanging I made using the Chantilly fabric. Using the textiles (fabric) adds so much fun in creating!











And the Huntington paper packet is going away! That makes me really sad. I love that paper!

CTMH Kraft pocket album that I made using our Huntington papers. I'm going to stock up on Huntington papers!

We're losing our Dark Chocolate and Black Striped Grosgrain Ribbons.  That makes me very sad. STOCK UP NOW!

You can't find these ribbons in the stores.

Darling card using the brown grosgrain ribbon, by paperheartist.com.

Our SATIN SLATE POLKA DOT RIBBON is also retiring (whine whine). LOVE this ribbon as it is so unique!

Goodbye flowers, goodbye Chantilly buttons, goodbye pinwheels. SO SAD! You have only five more days to order any of these.

Goodbye pearls, studs, floral accents, Chantilly Dimensional Elements and Huntington Stickease. Will miss you.

Even though there are so many things retiring, CTMH is making room for all of the NEW AND WONDERFUL items (there are some awesome new products) being presented in the new Spring/Summer 2014 Idea Book which will be available on February 1st!  

Here's my website link once again: MY CTMH WEBSITE.

SNEAK PEEKS COMING IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS... but please be sure to purchase any of the retiring items that you just can't live without, BEFORE January 31st!

 

CROSS STITCH WISHES.

There is so much going on this month at Close to My Heart! I've already featured the upcoming PAJAMA PARTY at Big Picture Classes, and the cardmaking kit special CLOUD NINE. 

What else could there be in January? Well......... we can't forget that each month, there is a SPECIAL stamp set that you can purchase for only $5 (retail value of $17.95) with your $50 order. Here is January's Stamp of the Month,  Cross Stitch Wishes:

The hearts have a red line around them. That means that the CTMH Cricut Artiste cartridge has these exact cuts on it. The page number and size is printed to the left of the hearts.

What a cute stamp set! I've sewed since I was 6 years old, and spent many years cross stitching along with my mom. This is really a nostalgic stamp set for me. 

The first thing I would do with this stamp set would be to stamp directly on some muslin or linen and do some actual cross stitching with red embroidery floss! Then I would frame it in a hoop or maybe one of our Bracket picture frames, and dress up the frame with some of my paper flowers or rosettes that I love to make.


I would stamp "you are the best" in the middle, and stitch the little heart banner at the bottom of this set underneath the sentiment and above the sentiment.  I wish I had the stamp set to show you how, but you get the idea! Here is a little "digital mock-up" of my idea (above).

Here are some cards made by my fellow (very talented) consultants:

Cute card from Stamp Til Dawn. I like how she stamped the hearts on the red background.

This 4 1/2” square card design comes from  Krista's Crafty Corner, and she has used the Close to My Heart WISHES how-to book card found on page 94 which is called “Curtain Call”. 

I really love this card. She used Cotton Candy cardstock (pink) and did some stamping on the hearts. Isn't that pretty teal shimmer trim? It's a new product coming in the new Idea Book in February. She also used the teal shimmer trim on the hearts.  I also love how she stamped the background with the cross stitch arrows!

If you want to take advantage of this darling stamp set, which is perfect for Valentine's Day, it is only available through the end of January, 2014. 


 

I'M ON CLOUD NINE! and some Sneak Peeks.

Did you know that January is National Papercrafting Month! It's another good reason for Close to My Heart to present another awesome special for you! 

With this CLOUD NINE cardmaking kit, you can create 10 cute cards (2 each of 5 designs) using three sneak-peek accessories from the upcoming Spring/Summer Idea Book, a new D-size stamp set, and exclusive Cloud Nine papers.  

Oh my, TEAL shimmer trim? gold polka dot washi tape? I would add a big smiley face here if I could!

Here's a peek at the 5 different cards you can make, and instructions are included in the kit:

Here's a darling card made by Sheila Bennett at Sheila's Stamping Stuff.  This gives you an idea of how you can change it up, and use different papers with some of the kit stamps  and assessories.

Using the mustache stamp from the Cloud Nine set (and probably white pigment ink), Sheila's card has the appearance of a bow on top of a gift box. Isn't that smart? 

To create the polka-dot box, she adhered some strips of the new gold Washi Tape to a square of black cardstock.  After adding some of the (new) Triangle Studs, a strip of the Washi Tape on the front of the envelope and on the inside of the card, the gift box look is completed. 

Both the Washi Tape and Triangle Studs (along with the teal shimmer trim shown in the above cards) are included in the Cloud Nine cardmaking kit, and are NEW items in the upcoming Spring/Summer 2014 Idea Book (going live, on-line on February 1st)! Love these! 

THIS SPECIAL OFFER IS ONLY AVAILABLE DURING JANUARY, 2014.

There is a Cloud Nine blog hop going on right now. Go to Sheila's blog, Sheila's Stamping Stuff and you can continue on from there. You'll find some fun ideas and inspiration.

Here's the sweet stamp set that is included with the kit.








Also included in this kit are:

• Cloud Nine B&T paper (1 sheet)
• Lagoon cardstock (1 sheet)
• Honey cardstock (1 sheet)
• White Daisy Die-Cuts sheet (1)
• 1 roll Gold Polka-Dot Washi Tape (new item!)
• 1 roll Teal Shimmer Trim (new item!)
• 1 pkg Durables Triangle Studs (new item!)
• 10 card bases & envelopes
• Instructional Brochure

You can receive all three of these new embellishments (retail value $16.85) PLUS the stamp set (retail value $13.95) and other contents of the Cloud Nine cardmaking kit for only $15 with a minimum $35 CTMH order from the Autumn/Winter 2013 Idea Book. 

If you want to watch the CTMH video about this darling kit, please go HERE. You'll get excited about this kit after Christine, from Close to My Heart, shows you, "up close and personal" all of the pieces in the kit!

So get out the scissors, stamps and glue and Happy Papercrafting!
 
 

PAJAMA PARTY!

Close To My Heart is teaming up with Big Picture Classes to have another Pajama Party - and it's FREE!

They will be bringing you a live webcast with step-by-step instructions for making this Valentine’s Day scrapbook page.

This page is the perfect way to showcase your precious photos of that special someone. 

The free webcast will air Thursday, January 30 at 7:00 pm (MST). The Pajama Party will be available for FREE at BIG PICTURE CLASSES.COM on January 30, and will be archived after the event for future viewing. There is a nice video to watch on the BPC Pajama Party tab, by Stacy Julian as she talks about how fun these pajama parties are.

I've participated in past pajama parties and they are FUN. If you sign up with Big Picture Classes, you can interact with other gals watching, with live chats, and post your finished product to the project gallery.  By posting your project, you are entered to win free products!

If you would like to interact on the message board, participate in live chat, post to the gallery, download handouts, or enter any contests, you will need to log in to the Pajama Party “classroom” by creating a free account on the Big Picture Classes website.

To make our “Lucky in Love” scrapbook page, you will want to have the following items—or similar products—on hand:  (I'm listing our item numbers, but you can use ANY other similar product that you may already have).

• Stamp set with words relating to love, you are special, etc. The stamp set used on this page is from the Sarita Workshop on the Go (G1066) kit.
• X5935 Adventure combo cardstock pack - OR any pink and red papers
• 1385 White Daisy Cardstock - OR any white cardstock
• Z2106 Blush Exclusive Inks™ Pad - OR any dark pink ink pad
• Z2170 Ruby Exclusive Inks™ Pad - OR red ink pad
• Z1826 Hollyhock Zipper Lace OR any other kind of lace or wide ribbon
• Z1807 Pink Glitter Gems - OR clear gems or pearls
• Z1850 Lagoon Houndstooth Washi Tape - OR no washi tape and use strips of coordinating paper to make the little strips and flags. If you use blue paper, you could use blue gems.
• Z1294 Sanding Kit - OPTIONAL
• Z1151 3-D Foam Tape - OPTIONAL or pop dot tape from any craft store

If you are a crafter, you more than likely have most of the above products already in your stash.

A scrapbook page I made last May at a free Big Picture Class.

 

Hope you join the Pajama Party!  They are really fun!  If you do, I would LOVE to see what you make. 




You can email me at pinkpapercottage@yahoo.com with your finished pages.

Have a ton of fun - maybe I'll see you there.