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!