Out of Town

I will be out of town this week through May 29th. My husband and I are sailing from somewhere around Williamsburg up to Annapolis, Maryland. I've never sailed for more than a few hours so this should be anything but boring! I will check email part way through the trip. Contact me if you need anything.

I'm leaving you with a card created using My Digital Studio and the stamp set Goal. My Digital Studio does more than scrapbooks. See all the May Scrapbook promotions here. And, through the end of May you can purchase the My Digital Starter Kit at a 30% discount. For more details click here.

Thanks for stopping by!

God Bless,

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Back-to-School with you Stampin'Up! Binder

Make your own 3-Ring Binder Inserts

Every year our school supply list contains a 3-Ring binder. There are a lot of pretty binders out there but often they aren't the correct size, or just the right color, or are a bit too pricey. This year why not let your children design their own binder inserts and purchase the generic binders.

This cover was created by Michele, my 4th grade daughter. She used My Digital Studio and had a great time playing with it. This is what she ended up with. I took it to a local office supply store and had it printed on photo paper for a whopping $.95!

Stop back by tomorrow for my final Back-to-School project. Tomorrow begins Tax Free weekend in Florida. I'll have details here tomorrow as well as a:

Seasons Of Stamping Back-to-School special.

Thanks for stopping by!

God Bless,

To Order Stampin'Up! Products 24/7, Click Here

Recipe:

My Digital Studio software

Binder with clear front insert pocket

School Children

Memorial Day

Today's project was created using My Digital Studio. The poem I found on The Arlington Cementary website. Click on it to read the story behind the poem, In Flanders Field. It's a very neat story and the words still ring true 95 years later.

As I created this, I learned a lot about the history of Memorial Day. I never thought being a Stampin'Up! demonstrator would have me learning a bit of history! I know some of my fellow demonstrators feel the same way. It's been a history lesson working on these projects.

If you have lost someone in a war or have loved ones serving in the military this Memorial Day, I so appreciate the sacrifice you've made and have you in my thoughts and prayers.

God Bless,

To Order Stampin'Up! Products 24/7, Click Here

Recipe:

My Digital Studio

Textured Card Stock Download

Stampin'Up! Happy Grad

I've got a "Happy Grad" in my house! My son, Jacob is counting the days until he graduates high school ~ 18 more days! Being a proud mom I have to show the page I did for the high school cross country year book. I did it using My Digital Studio(MDS). Because the cross county year book is in black and white I didn't embellish it. But MDS worked like a charm!

Here's my Jacob ~

The focus of the graduation card is the Vintage Ornament 1 Stencil and the new stamp Happy Grad available in the upcoming Summer Mini catalog available May 1. I'm enjoying experimenting with our stencils. Make sure to stop back on Thursday to see the project I created for Pals Paper Arts. Another awesome way to use Stampin'Up! stencils!

The graduation card starts with a standard 4 1/4"x 5 1/2" Soft Suede card followed by a layer of Very Vanilla cut 1/8" less on the length and width. I added a 2"x4" strip of Bella Bleu Designer Series paper (I am seriously almost out of this paper!) and a 3 1/2"x 4" piece of Bermuda Bay Textured card stock. The sentiment is a piece of Soft Suede card stock inked with Soft Suede ink. (I think next time I would try Chocolate Chip ink to make it a bit darker.) The Vintage Ornament 1 stencil image was sponged prior to the sentiment in Very Vanilla Craft ink and Sponge Dauber. The embelishments are 5/8" Very Vanilla Satin ribbon and Gold Brads.

The layout I cased from a card by Mary Fish.

I hope you enjoyed today's project! Please see the recipe for the supplies I used. The stencils you will find in the Decor Element brochure. If you would like more information on our stencils or this project please contact me!

God Bless,

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Recipe:

Stamps: Happy Grad

Ink: Very Vanilla Craft, Soft Suede

Paper: Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Bermuda Bay Textured,. Bella Bleu Designer Series paper

Misc: Vintage Ornament 1 stencil, Sponge Dauber, Very Vanilla Satin ribbon, Gold Brads, Paper Piercing Tool, Mat Pack

My Digital Studio

Besides Stampin'Up!, I have another passion, running. I just got my pictures back from a run I did over at Disney World. I couldn't wait to add them to the My Digital Studio album I started this February. It didn't take me long to get my supplies out; they were right here on my computer!

I chose the Sunny Day Designer Template to create my album pages. Some of my pictures didn't fit the template so I just altered the size of the photo templates. The Designer Templates are great for the beginner scrap booker to just drag photos onto the pages but the software also allows you complete editing ability of every element on the page. My Digital Studio makes scrap booking a possibility for everyone!

I'm happy to talk to you about all the possibilities My Digital Studio has to offer! Just contact me.

Remember, Sale-a-bration ends tomorrow. Get your orders in today and take advantage of all the FREE items!

Better yet, become a Stampin'Up! demonstrator and purchase the new My Digital + Starter Kit for only $157 and receive a Free stamp set of your choice. That is a 15% discount off the regular price of $185.

Digital+ Starter Kit Contents:

• My Digital Studio software
• Party Hearty and Petal Pizzazz stamp sets
• Whisper White card stock (8-1/2" x 11")
• Earth Elements assorted card stock (8-1/2" x 11")
• Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, and Tempting Turquoise Classic Stampin' Pads
• Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, and Real Red Stampin' Write markers
• Chocolate Chip 1/4" grosgrain ribbon
• Real Red 1" double-stitched grosgrain ribbon
• Button Latte Designer buttons
• Stampin' Dimensionals
• Mini Glue Dots
• SNAIL Adhesive
• Business supplies (product catalogs, order forms, training DVD, and other supplies)

Contact me with any questions.

God Bless,

My Why!

As a Stampin'Up! supervisor, I was recently invited to join the "Recruit Crew". This program is designed to help grow our Stampin'Up! businesses by providing us with tools and regular challenges. One of the first challenges was to go back and remember why we joined Stampin'Up! in the first place. I condensed my 4 pages of memories into 1 scrap book page to share at my upline/downline meeting tomorrow using Stampin'Up!s new My Digital Studio software. The papers and embellishments were downloads from Summer Home and the journaling blocks from The Write Stuff.

With guidance from the "Recruit Crew" and the "Demonstrator Business Development team" (another group I was invited to join) I set a goal for myself of adding 3 new demonstrators to my present downline of 1 by the end of June. Whether you are near the Melbourne, Florida area or in another state I would love to have you join my small family that is all about "loving what we do". I am excited and available to train and encourage you in the goals you choose to reach for as a Stampin'Up! demonstrator.

Whether you desire the discount or desire to build your own business, Stampin'Up! gives you everything you need to succeed. The tools, training, support and most of all amazing Stampin'Up! products are the keys to unlocking your Stampin'Up! dreams.

Stampin'Up! makes it even more appealing to join during the Sale-a-bration promotion going on right now. Through the end of March, join as a demonstrator and receive a 15% discount off the Starter Kit and an additional FREE stamp set of your choice.

I love talking about Stampin'Up! and all it has to offer! Contact me with any questions you have or to talk about the opportunities available with Stampin'Up!

God Bless,

Shop My Stampin'Up! Website 24/7! It's Just a Click Away!

Recipe:

My Digital Studio software

The Write Stuff Download

My Digital Studio & My Michele

Welcome to the digital age & My Digital Studio!

I love My Digital Studio! My daughter ran in her first 5k race this weekend. Usually the pictures just sit in my computer but, Sunday I opened up My Digital Studio and scrapbooked her event.

I chose one of the Designer Templates, Sunny Days, for my pages. The colors are perfect Florida colors, Tempting Turquoise, Pink Passion, Pumpkin Pie, and Old Olive!

Just drag and drop your photos. Add any text you want to add and you've got a completed page. Of course there is a lot of embelishing you can add but, my goal yesterday was to complete her pages before the Super Bowl!

Scrapbooking is only one of the uses for My Digital Studio, often called MDS. MDS really is a digital studio! For more information contact me and also see the side bar. I've gone through the My Digital Studio certification program and am happy to answer any questions you have.

Also, join me tomorrow for another PALs Hop! We'll be showcasing products from the Sale-a-bration catalog, Stampin'Up!s most popular promotion of the year. You won't want to miss it!

God Bless,

Shop My Stampin'Up! Website! It's Just a Click Away!

My Digital Studio ~ How Easy Is It To Use?

My Digital Studio is an amazing Digital Paper Crafting software. It was put to the test this weekend by my son, George (alias ~ Stampin'Up! Demonstrator). George often comes up with great ideas but at the last moment. This weekend he and his rock climbing friends were invited to a girl's birthday party. They wanted do something unique and decided to make her a 2010 calendar using pictures of themselves. The pictures below give you an idea of what it looks like. I have scaled down the photographs so the calendar part looks larger than the photographs.

I briefly showed him My Digital studio before I left for the weekend because I didn't think he was going to use it. He and his friends got together, took photos of themselves doing goofy things and downloaded them into my computer. He then dropped the pictures into the appropriate layout (some pages had 2 photos and some 3 photos), put in the desired text, & added their birthdays and half birthdays for the young lady to remember.

They saved the calendar to a JPEG file, put it on a memory stick, and took it to a local office supply store. The store downloaded the file and printed the entire 24 pages, 12 front and back, onto photo paper for $10. We bound it at home but, the office supply store could have bound it as well.

It was that easy! I was so impressed with the quality of the finished product and they were thrilled with their project!

George and his friends wanted just a simple black and white calendar but image what you can do with all the extras included in My Digital Studio.

All this to say, My Digital Studio is not just for the experienced paper crafter or scrap booker. If you have an idea that uses digital images I'm pretty sure My Digital Studio can create it. Better yet, let your kids play with it, you will be amazed!

My Digital Studio is available to purchase for $79.95. You can also take advantage of the Holiday Extravaganza and receive a FREE Decor Element (up to $16.95 value) with each $50 spent from the Holiday Extravaganza catalog, My Digital Studio is one of those items.

And through the end of November, host a workshop of $400 and you can purchase My Digital Studio at a 50% discount. Contact me for available dates or if you are not in my local are contact me for a virtual workshop.

God Bless,

Shop My Stampin'Up! Website 24/7! It's Just a Click Away!

Coming Soon: Stampin'Up!s My Digital Studio

Here is a sneak peek at Stampin'Up!s new product My Digital Studio. I'm excited about all the possibilities it brings to an already great product line by Stampin'Up! There are hundreds of templates, photo layouts, images, and more using Stampin'Up!s exclusive designs and colors.Create scrapbook pages, cards, photo albums, calendars, invitations, and more. (I've got a family recipe book in mind for my first project.) The product information states it's easy enough for beginners to use yet advanced enough that experienced scrap bookers will enjoy.
The software will be available September 1 to purchase when the Holiday Mini Catalog goes "live". The cost will be $79.95 or host a workshop and possibly receive it at half off.

• Host a workshop of at least $400 and get My Digital Studio for 50 percent off the retail price (retail price: $79.95; promotional price: $39.97)!

I will keep you up to date as September 1st approaches. Contact me if you would like your personal copy of the Holiday Mini catalog. I'll be happy to send you a copy to arrive in your mailbox around the 1st of September.

I'd like to thank Patty Bennett for sharing her pictures from this years Stampin'Up! convention.


God Bless,

Shop Stampin'Up! 24/7! It's Just a Click Away!

Therapeutic Effects of Scrapbooking

As the economic recession leads to a rise in depression (or at least has many people feeling "down"), some scrapbook companies are choosing to focus their marketing efforts on highlighting the therapeutic effects of scrapbooking.

Big Picture Scrapbooking, the site started by Simple Scrapbooks magazine founding editor Stacy Julian which offers online education to scrapbookers, did a survey of their students about how scrapbooking affected them and promoted the results to media outlets. They shared what students said about the positive effect scrapbooking - and BPS classes - had on them:

Where else are you going to find, tucked into scrapbook design medium, a class on choosing joy and gratitude in your life instead of dwelling on the negative things that surround us every day? Where else will you learn secrets that will change the way you view life from top photographers and artists in simple, do-able steps? Big Picture Scrapbooking has changed my philosophy in life. I am learning from amazing women to savor life a little more and capture that in a form that my friends and family can enjoy and learn from for years to come.

Big Picture is also highlighting quotes from student reviews on the front page of their website that reflect the same marketing philosophy - their classes are not only about how to scrapbook, but are uplifting as well:

Stampin' Up! is also focusing marketing effort on the positive effects of scrapbooking. During the month of April, the stamping and scrapbooking direct sales company has been trying to encourage people who are stressed by the recession to relieve stress by adopting a new hobby. The company says that it believes that the "scenario of friends crafting together and enjoying a fun hobby may just be the ticket to relieving stress and helping people 'get connected' during these tough economic times."

Even those among us who are devoted scrapbookers and have known the help that scrapbooking was getting us through a hard time in the past (the loss of a loved one, for instance) can get pulled away from scrapbooking when we are stressed and other things seem more important. Scrapbooking businesses can do their industry and their customers - and their own individual business - a service by reminding people about the intangible benefits of their hobby.

It's value-added marketing: We're not just selling paper and stickers. We're selling relaxation and comfort, too

I hope you enjoy this article on scrapbooking. It's not just a hobby. Join me May 14th from 6:30pm-8:30 pm as we create 20 - 6x6 scrapbook pages for you to use with your photographs. Click here for details.

God Bless,

Martha

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