Just One of the Reasons I LOVE Studio J (Online Scrapbooking!)

Normal scrap booking area when finished with a project:


Scrap booking area when finished with online scrapping:


I think the photos say it all!

My layouts are beautiful! Not only do they get printed and shipped to me (including page protectors!), but I also receive jpegs via email so I can print more on my own or send them via email to my friends and family.

I'll never give up paper & tape scrapping, but this does have some great features. With my laptop and wireless connection, I can scrap and watch movies with my family at the same time.

You can play with Studio J (online scrapping) at no cost. If you like what you do, you can then purchase it. Go play with it here: Paper Boutique.

The Amazing Things You Can Do With A Lunch Bag (one of)

At IOD last night Margy shared a gift from a friend that was made with a lunch sack as a gift holder. It was so stinkin' cute!! I did up a simple version, not nearly as awesome as the one Margy shared, to help me remember what it was like. Think matchbook cover.

Here is it open with a mini stamp set and one of our new spray pens inside. Just needs a few little tweaks and details and it'll be awesome!!


If you are attending MAC's stamp retreat in Washington next month, please forget you ever saw this....

IOD Challenge

Just want to give a quick share of what we are doing in IOD (Ink or Dye) this year. Last year our monthly swaps were theme based. This year the challenge is for everyone to take home the same stamped image for our card exchange and a specific item to be used for the ATC exchange. Both the stamp and the ATC items are supplied by the gal who is also doing the technique or presentation that month. This photo is the image we were assigned for the card this month, and the paper is the item assigned for the ATC.

What I really liked about this challenged was knowing that we'd all be using the same things therefore I really wanted to think outside the box and do something that was either unexpected or unusual.

After I chalked up the image I decided to chop it in half and use layers of papers for my accents in completing the card. I am pretty happy with the results.



The paper for the ATC was full of grasses and flower petals. I decided to salvage the 2nd bird that I didn't use from the stamped image. I then tore the paper to make ragged pieces and create a nest (of sorts, lol!) with the little bird adding a bit more.



It was really a fun challenge.

Sweetheart - February Paper Trail

Welcome to the February Paper Trail blog hop! If you arrived from Karen's blog, Inky Fingers, you are on the right track! And didn't you love Love LOVE the cards she made with these papers?

This month we are featuring work created with Close to my Heart paper packet "Sweetheart." I think the combination of pinks, reds & blacks is just stunning. I particularly love the reverse sides that are black on black patterns. So cool & sophisticated!!

I decided to do up a couple of little Valentine gift card holders. You don't have to have a romantic love in your life to give or appreciate getting Valentine gifts. I think I'll be giving these to my daughters on Valentines day. I know they'll love them!

I chose the red plaid paper for the outside of this because I wanted to make it a bit less girly. On the flap is the reverse side of the same paper with edges sponged in red. I used the Sweetheart Level 2 Assortment which is the black polka-dotted epoxy stickers to embellish.

When open you'll find two pockets, one the perfect size for a Starbucks gift card (or any gift card of your choosing), and the other with a little insert to write a sweet note to the recipient. I love this style of GC holder. It has a very substantial feel to it.


This second GC holder is a simple tri-fold, embellished with sparkles and images stamped from the exclusive set that comes with the Sweetheart Workshop on the Go.

And again, my Starbucks gift card tucks nicely inside. So quick & easy!!

This last card is by my daughter, Alyssa. She wanted to show that the papers can be used very differently than the reds & pinks suggest. The blackish polka dotted paper at the top of this card is from the same packet as the first two items, but the card has an entirely different look. Great job, Alyssa!!

Thanks for stopping by. You're on your way to Erica's blog, From the Heart, now for some more great ideas. Just click on her blog name.