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Hey, girlfriends ... did you get the message?  This blog is no longer posting the NON-watermarked Bright Ideas flyers.  Please go back and re-enter our new address for these two great flyers for June, and for all posts moving forward.  Bookmark our new site, which is:

http://www.brightideas.tips

Here's what you're missing:

 

www.brightideas.tips

Effective June 1, 2014, all new content for this blog will be placed at the new BLOG ADDRESS:
http://www.brightideas.tips.  Please swing by there from now on ... And bookmark!

Bright Idea: Workshop featuring "Picture My Life"

Canadian CTMH Independent Consultant Kari Moyer contacted me via Facebook to ask advice on doing a flyer for her upcoming workshop featuring Picture My Life.  I suggested that she go to the CTMH Marketing Images gallery, and modify a picture to start her flyer-making process.  

Here is one such image that I modified and started for Kari, a "blank slate" for her to add her own class information.  Perhaps you can use it for an upcoming class to promote this newer CTMH product?

Thanks, Kari -- for your Bright Idea!

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If you'd like to use this flyer: 

Visitors to "Bright Ideas" have my permission to use this Picture My Life workshop flyer under a Creative Commons agreement known as "CC BY". This symbol (at left) is shown to allow you to share and modify my work. If you like it enough to share, modify or use it, please consider leaving me a tip in the "Tip Jar" at left.  My PayPal address is esjarvis@comcast.net.

I am also more than happy to work with you to develop your own Bright Idea! 

My e-mail address is cardmonkey@comcast.net; please put BRIGHT IDEAS in the Subject Matter line so your e-mail doesn't get lost.  Or you can send me a message via Facebook. I am http://facebook.com/ellencardmonkey.

Thank you for your interest in Bright Ideas! 

Facebook Cover Celebrating Dads - For June

For those who would like to honor Dads in June, here is a Facebook cover just for you!  Feel free to swap it out with the June Constant Campaign FB design -- whatever works for you!

There is no fee to use this artwork, though your donation to my "Tip Jar" (at left) is always appreciated. Your kindness allows me the time to continue to be creative on your behalf, and hopefully drive more business to your Close To My Heart Online Business Address.  Average tip for the use of Facebook covers is $4.00. 

If you would like me to customize any of the artwork you see here, or to create something unique to you, please don't hesitate to contact me at cardmonkey@comcast.net.

Thank you for interest in Bright Ideas!

June's Facebook Cover - Two versions!

This month, the focus is on June's Constant Campaign that celebrates CTMH's 30 years in the industry.  Remember, the deal is: with a $50 purchase, your customer has a choice of one of six fantastic kits for just $30 each!  

In this version of the Facebook cover, I also incorporated a small mention of Father's Day in the lower right corner.  This hardly seems fair to relegate Dad to such a small portion of the FB cover.  As time permits, I hope to do an alternate FB cover dedicated to Dad.  

For those who may choose instead to personalize their FB cover and omit the recognition of Dad, I have also designed a Facebook cover that has room for you to type in your information in that space instead.  Here it is:

Are you wondering how to type in your own information on a jpeg file?  It's easy.  I created this file using PicMonkey. Find it -- it's free! -- at www.picmonkey.com.  Once there, go to the "T" for type option. Pick your font and your size, and drag your information into the spot on the lower right.  SAVE the modified file to your computer, and use that one on your Facebook.

If  you really don't know how to do this, and don't want to learn, contact me and I will do it for you.  I can be reached via Facebook (CardMonkey Jarvis) or e-mail to cardmonkey@comcast.net.

There is no fee to use this artwork, though your donation to my "Tip Jar" (at left) is always appreciated. Your kindness allows me the time to continue to be creative on your behalf, and hopefully drive more business to your Close To My Heart Online Business Address.  Average tip for the use of Facebook covers is $4.00. 

If you would like me to customize any of the artwork you see here, or to create something unique to you, please don't hesitate to contact me at cardmonkey@comcast.net.

Thank you for interest in Bright Ideas!

Stamp of the Month for May: You've Got a Friend

Hello, CTMH Sisters!

Today's art features the May Stamp of the Month (SOTM) as a jpeg file, for your use in promotion on your social media sites.  

There is no fee to use this artwork, though your donation to my "Tip Jar" (at left) is always appreciated. Your kindness allows me the time to continue to be creative on your behalf, and hopefully drive more business to your Close To My Heart Online Business Address.  

If you would like me to customize any of the artwork you see here, or to create something unique to you, please don't hesitate to contact me at cardmonkey@comcast.net.

Thank you for interest in Bright Ideas!

May's Facebook Cover

This month, our focus is on Mothers! I have used CTMH's Ariana papers here, along with May's Stamp of the Month and other gallery images to create the Facebook cover, above. 

When time permits, I also plan to make a Facebook cover featuring May as National Scrapbooking Month, incorporating images from the "Free To Be Me" Constant Campaign papers and images from the WOTG.  Please check back! 

There is no fee to use this artwork, though your donation to my "Tip Jar" (at left) is always appreciated. Your kindness allows me the time to continue to be creative on your behalf, and hopefully drive more business to your Close To My Heart Online Business Address.  Average tip for the use of Facebook covers is $4.00. 

If you would like me to customize any of the artwork you see here, or to create something unique to you, please don't hesitate to contact me at cardmonkey@comcast.net.

Thank you for interest in Bright Ideas!

April's Facebook Cover

To "lift" to use on your blog, simply right click on your mouse to copy highlight the image, then left click to copy/save. 

Finally, Spring!!!  April showers (not snow!) bring May flowers. And April also brings Easter, Passover, crocuses, daffodils and ... ahhhhhhhh.  

Featured on this Facebook cover are purchased stock images (the daffodils and the kids under the umbrella) and also incorporates some artwork from Close To My Heart's gallery. The little girl in the lower right hand corner is my daughter, Emily -- when she was about four.  She's now 28 and expecting her second baby in June.  I modified one of Corporate's images just above the word "pretty" -- the cutie in the bunny ears is my first grandbaby, Charlotte (now three, but pictured, about 4 months).  I've also incorporated stamped images from the April Stamp of the Month.  

There is no fee to use this artwork, though your donation to my "Tip Jar" (at left) is always appreciated. Your kindness allows me the time to continue to be creative on your behalf, and hopefully drive more business to your Close To My Heart Online Business Address.  Average tip for the use of Facebook covers is $4.00. 

If you would like me to customize any of the artwork you see here, or to create something unique to you, please don't hesitate to contact me at cardmonkey@comcast.net.

Thank you for interest in Bright Ideas!

April's Stamp of the Month: "Balloon Talk"

Hello, CTMH Sisters!

Today's art features the April Stamp of the Month (SOTM) as a jpeg file, for your use in promotion on your social media sites.  

There is no fee to use this artwork, though your donation to my "Tip Jar" (at left) is always appreciated. Your kindness allows me the time to continue to be creative on your behalf, and hopefully drive more business to your Close To My Heart Online Business Address.  

If you would like me to customize any of the artwork you see here, or to create something unique to you, please don't hesitate to contact me at cardmonkey@comcast.net.

Thank you for interest in Bright Ideas!

Exploring New Markets: Hospital Volunteers

What do you do to share your talents in an altruistic way?

Our local hospitals (and senior centers, hospice facilities, nursing homes, etc.) offer volunteer opportunities for "off-site crafters."

Most of these crafters make knitted goods for babies, pillowcases for cancer patients, etc.

I've called and made myself available to make cards for those (adults and children) who are in the hospital for a long time, and perhaps have few visitors.

I'm also making (free or as a fundraiser for the auxiliary) note card sets for the hospital gift carts so those who are hospitalized can keep in touch with friends "on the outside."

This 3-D pop-up box card I have made celebrates the volunteers at our local hospitals. I am sending mine to the office Directors at the three hospitals most local to me, as well as to the senior center, as a thank you during NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK (April 6-13, 2014).  One hospital has asked me to make 10 of these for their centerpieces for their thank-you luncheon!

I developed the logo (butterfly tree in the back) and the theme as well.  If you'd like to use my art for your project, here it is:

 

 

FYI, I used CTMH Lollydoodle bulk paper (pink side) for the interior of the box; the rest was from stash. I cut the box card using a template I found on http://extremecards.blogspot.com.  I developed the logo using an image from http://clickartonline.com that I purchased. 

 

January's Facebook Cover

Instructions: Left click to highlight, right click to save to your computer. 

Hello, Friends!  Here is the January Facebook Cover, for your use. 
Also, as a bonus this month, here is a .jpeg file of CTMH's Stamp of the Month for January, "Cross Stitch Wishes."

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There is no fee to use this artwork, though your donation to my "Tip Jar" (at left) is always appreciated. Your kindness allows me the time to continue to be creative on your behalf, and hopefully drive more business to your Close To My Heart Online Business Address.  

If you would like me to customize any of the artwork you see here, or to create something unique to you, please don't hesitate to contact me at cardmonkey@comcast.net.

Thank you for interest in Bright Ideas!

Resources: Card size chart with compatible envelopes and cello bags

I made up the following chart to assist me in making and packaging my cards. I thought you might find it helpful, too:

Here are resources where I have purchased cello bags for my card marketing. Please feel free to add your resources in a comment, and I'll add them to this list. The more, the merrier!

http://clearbags.com
http://gtbags.com

Promoting Our Products: Studio J

Thanks to Blog Reader (and CTMH Independent Consultant) Marilyn Hannam McLeod for suggesting a flyer to promote Studio J. This is the flyer that I've developed. It was approved today by CTMH's Corporate office. 

I'm planning on e-mailing this flyer to my customer base, and also printing it to use at vendor events in tandem with my laptop connected to WiFi, to demo Studio J. I also plan to put this flyer where there are busy moms:

- The YMCA or local gyms, fitness center
- Local churches
- The community center (Parks & Rec)
- Supermarket community board

Speaking of the supermarket -- where I was this afternoon, in preparation for yet another infernal winter storm -- I heard an overhead announcement promoting the store's kiddie daycare where kids stay while Mom shops. I'm going to ask if I can hold a Gathering there, or have an arts-n-crafts class for kids some upcoming Saturday. Have you tried this?  

Finally, if YOU have special requests or bright ideas that you'd like me to shine some creative light upon, please don't hesitate to drop me a line. 

About the Flyer:  I purchased the image of the speeding racecar as a royalty-free stock photograph, and have permission to distribute. The image of the laptop with the Studio J layout was taken from a free-distribution gallery picture from CTMH. The flyer also includes the approved-use both the Studio J and CTMH logos. I wrote most of the text, and also lifted some from a CTMH Studio J flyer.  The flyer's concept, content and use of copyrighted material has been approved by Close To My Heart, effective 2/4/2014 - JoNell.  

If you'd like to use this flyer: 

Visitors to "Bright Ideas" have my permission to use the concept only of the Studio J Flyer under a Creative Commons agreement known as "CC BY". This symbol (at left) is shown to allow you to share and modify my work as long as you give credit to me as the original creator.  Please change the image and modify the text to make the flyer your own. If you like it enough to share, modify or use it, please consider leaving me a tip in the "Tip Jar", at left.  

If you would like to use the actual flyer (photos, with or without the text), please do leave a tip; a suggested amount is $5.00. I can customize the contact information (in the right hand side of the box), or send you a jpg file of a flyer with the contact info blank, for you to customize, for an additional tip. I truly do appreciate and need your tips to help defray the cost of the purchased stock photographs, computer programs, and creative/production time.  Your support helps keep this service going, and free!  

My e-mail address is cardmonkey@comcast.net.  Please put BRIGHT IDEAS: in the subject matter line if you have special requests.  My PayPal address is esjarvis@comcast.net, though the TipJar at left takes you directly there.  

Thank you for your interest in, and support of, Bright Ideas! 

Tutorial: Express Printing with Studio J for Picture My Life, and Flip Flaps

I originally posted this tutorial on my personal blog (http://cardmonkeyspaperjungle.com). Several CTMH Sisters have asked to use it for their own customers. While I would prefer for you to link to my blog to use it, if you'd rather create your own tutorial using this "footprint," you may.  You'll need to edit any links, as well as any reference to "my granddaughter Charlotte". But if you're up to that little bit of editing, you'll have a good tutorial on Studio J at your finger tips. Enjoy!

As many realize, digital scrapbooking is the next-great thing down the pike in preserving your memories. And Close To My Heart has been an industry leader in the field, with it's STUDIO J service.  

However, many of my friends and followers are still diehard traditional scrapbookers, who only want the ability to print their digital photographs to size for use in their albums and hand-embellished layouts.  There are many services that provide standard-sized photographs (4x6", 5x7", 8x10"), but what if you want to print your photos in unusual sizes to fit your Picture My Life, Project Life, or brag albums?

Consider using Studio J's new Express Print service, where you do a layout of abutting photographs, then print/cut those pictures that you have pre-sized to fit YOUR need!

To do this, all you need is your digital pictures, a computer and internet access to use the Studio J software -- and this tutorial where I'll walk you through how to get the most out of your Express Print project.  

It's EASY and FUN ... and best yet, in March, all Studio J layouts (including Express Print) are discounted to just $5.00 (plus tax/shipping/handling) for two 12x12" pages, with as many pictures as you can fit on those 288 square inches!! (The regular price is $6.95 plus t/s/h.)  

Step 1:  Let the Fun Begin with Studio J!
Go to: http://cardmonkey.studioj.com.  This is your opening screen, shown below:

Step 2:  Create an Account – It’s free and easy!
Here is what the screen looks like, and what you’ll need to complete:

Step 3:  Welcome to Studio J!  Here you’ll find ways to create or open your existing projects (top right click), start a new project (middle right click), or how to buy/print your projects (bottom right click):

Here is what the screen looks like:

Step 4:  Today, I want to show you how you can use your Studio J “layouts” as a printing service for your digital photographs by using what is called “Express Print”.  You can arrange the photographs in any size configuration that fits on two 12” x 12” digital pages and, during the month of March, have those photographs printed for just $5.00 for each two-page spread (Regular retail: $6.95).  

To start, click the middle link: “Create a new project”

You’ll see that I’ve named my project: “Pictures for PML” – that’s Picture My Life™, Close To My Heart’s newest product for scrapbooking-on-the-go.  

With the Picture My Life™ specially-designed layouts produced with sectioned page protectors, your photos can be full sheet (12” x 12”), or 4”x6” (horizontal  or vertical) and/or 3”x4” (horizontal or vertical).  

Here are the designs of the sectioned page protectors currently available in Picture My Life™:

Design 1 – 12 x 12” page protector: Full sheet.  Available as top loading or side loading to fit in your
D-ring or post-bound albums, in packs of 10 or 25;
also available to fit your strap-system album,
in side loading value packs of 25. 

Design 2 – 12x12” divided into 6 sections,
each 4”h x 6”w (horizontal photos).
Holds 12 photos (using both sides)

Design 3 – 12x12” divided into 4 sections
that are 6”h x 4”w (vertical photos),
plus 4 sections that are 3”h x 4”w (horizontal photos).  Holds 16 photos, using both sides.

Design 4 – 12x12” divided into 4 sections
that are 4”h x 6” wide (horizontal photos),
plus 4 sections that are 4”h x 3”w (vertical photos).
Holds 16 photos, using both sides.

Design 5 – 12x12” divided into 3 sections
that are 6”h x 4”w (vertical photos),
plus 6 sections that are 3”h x 4”w (horizontal photos).
Holds 18 photos, using both sides.

In addition, you can expand the possibilities of how your pages look and how many photos each page can accommodate, by using Close To My Heart’s unique Flip Flaps™. 

Flip Flaps™ are individual protectors with an adhesive strip, made in convenient sizes to attach over your page protectors to add more photos or journaling to conventional layouts.  You can also use them with your Picture My Life™ albums in the same way! 

So be sure to design your Studio J™ Express Print pages to include some photos in the Flip Flap™ sizes you want to use in your albums. Those sizes are:

2 x 2”, 3 x 3”, 3 x 4”, 4 x 4”, 4 x 6”, 4 x 12”, 6 x 6”, 6 x12”, and 8 x 12”

Step 5:  Upload your pictures. 

Step 6:  I’ve uploaded pictures from my granddaughter Charlotte’s recent photo shoot with her Mom and Dad.  I’ll want some for my albums, and some to give away.  

See the tab in the bottom right that says “CONTINUE”?  Click that!

Step 7:  To use the Express Print feature of Studio J™, you’re going to want to design your own Custom Layout. So click the bottom link, “Create Your Own Custom Layout” when the Select A Layout Type screen appears. 

Step 8:  Now the next thing that will happen is that Studio J will load its kits.  For the purposes of “Express Prints,” you’re not going to be using a kit. However, just allow Studio J to load the new kits. Your screen will look like this:

Step 9:  Pick any paper that suits you – it doesn’t matter, because for this, we’re not using the paper. Pick one and you’ll be taken to layout PATTERNS, and your screen will look like this:

You’ll notice that all of the print patterns are shown alphabetically. I want you to scroll down to the pattern that is titled: “NO LIMITS”.  Click on it:

Step 10:  It’s kind of silly here, but it’s asking you to pick whichever “mix” on blank pages – and you’ll see no mix, like this:

That’s okay.  Double click on any one of them – I usually pick door #1 (far left).  Here’s what your screen will look like next:

Step 11:  Next you’re going to want to create your “photo wells”. Click on the first tab underneath all of your photos on the left – the one that says Text & Photo Areas:

See that bottom box on the left column that’s marked Photo Area?   While your cursor is over that box, left click and hold to drag a box onto your upper left side of your page one (left) as I did here:

You’ll see that there is an operations box that opened up next to the space for the photograph that you’ve placed.  Here, this is a horizontal 4x6” photo.  You can change the size by simply changing the dimensions in that box (typing the numbers), or by grabbing the arrow to the lower right of the photo, and dragging it to whatever size you want. 

Your photos don’t need a mat if you plan to trim them for a layout or matting on paper, but if you want to add a mat to ensure your size, choose the drop down menu in the Operations Box and pick how wide you want your mat.

Here is how it looks if you chose a 1/16” mat.  Note that a color box pops up, so you can change the color of the mat to whatever you pick, including white if you just want a trim space.

Continue filling your layout with photographs of your desired shapes/sizes, simply by grabbing another photo box from that left column and dragging it into position on your layout. Resize them manually by grabbing the drag arrows, or be sure your sizes are a perfect fit for your Picture My Life™ spaces or your Flip Flap™ pockets by typing in your desired dimensions.  

Remember, Picture My Life™ only uses 4 x 6” or 3 x 4” sizes (either horizontal or vertical), while there are wider varieties of sizes available in Flip Flaps. 

Another hint:  When you’re dragging your photos into place on your layout and you want to snug up the pictures next to each other, remember that your arrow keys on your keyboard can be used to move the photographs too, one little space at a time.  This makes it easy to ensure you’re using all of the printable surface, and maximizing your dollars when printing these pages. 

If you’d rather save some of the space for titles or Journaling boxes that will print along with your photographs, grab those boxes instead.  These are handy to print out to use on your traditional layouts, or made to size with your Picture My Life or Flip Flaps. 

OK, my layouts are done and now it’s time to drop the photographs in place.

Here are the photographs I’ll be needing to complete my future layouts, along with a title:

Step 12:  Drop in your photographs.

Go back to the upper left-hand column and click on where it says Photos.  This will bring in all of the photographs you have downloaded for this project.  (You CAN add more at any time!)  

Move your computer’s cursor over to the photo you want, and left click and drag the photo into the space you want.  

You’ll see on the Operations Box that opens with the photograph that you can increase the scale of your photograph.  When you increase the scale, the center focus of your photograph may now be out of the print area.  Do you see that in the middle of the photograph there is a handprint?  Move your cursor atop of that handprint and left click/hold to drag the portion of the photograph into the print space. 

For example, here is Charlotte’s picture placed at regular scale:

Here it is scaled to 250% before I’ve grabbed the hand to move it:

Here it is after I’ve moved it into my print position:

There are also all sorts of special effects you can apply to your photograph. For example, here is one of Charlotte’s picture that has had a Sepia filter applied, and her photograph has been rotated 60 degrees:

Here she’s flipped horizontally, and converted to Black and White:

….and if that isn’t sweet enough, you can also edit any of your images, just by clicking the Edit Photo box (third from the right, top, in the Operations Box) to take the photo you’re working on directly to the editing function:

For example, if I wanted to make my little Munchkin into a Leprechaun, I could toy with the saturation and hue:

Not to worry, there are UNDO and REDO buttons in the upper left of the Image Edit screen!  

There you have it, I’m done, in twelve easy steps!

When you’re ready to purchase your layouts, click “PURCHASE” in the upper right hand corner, and your project menu will appear.  To the right of the project menu, you’ll find “Add to cart”. Each two-page layout is currently $6.95 but is on sale throughout March for just $5.00.  And best yet – whether you buy four layouts (the minimum order) or fifty -- they ship for a flat $5.95!

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About the Concept:  I developed this tutorial for use on my personal blog @ http://cardmonkeyspaperjungle.com.  If you choose to use this tutorial on your blog or social space (etc.), I would appreciate some credit or attribution to me. It did, after all, take me about 6 hours to compose.  If you use this tutorial or just think it's swell, your contribution to my "Tip Jar" (at left) is always welcome. Thank you!