Story by Stacy

Stacy Julian has partnered with Close To My Heart to do a product line to help you create authentic stories of your memories.  This first one is a Story Starter Kit.  This starts to discover, access and grow your written storytelling skills. 

I have always pushed for journaling and doing it in your own handwriting.  This process will help you journal better but it is something that is more centered on the story with photos to help rather than have lots of photos and a little writing to go with it.

There are 3 different covers.  Each kit has 2 quotes cards, 1 title page, 1 back page with a place for a 2.5 x 2.5 photo of yourself as a creator of the book.  There are 9 double 4x4 page protectors in the middle.  You have 18 pages so that you can write a draft and a final copy. 

Every summer we go places where people ask "How are your kids doing?  What are they doing?"  I have for years created different formats of small books so that people can see them with some writing for those who just see the book without me around to explain.

This really wasn't how this project was made but it did turn out to be useful.  These are small books.  They suggest at least a 2 1/2 hour workshop for a group but there is a workbook included if you want to do it on your own.  You could actually do a number of books taking 1 person and 9 photos about them and writing about 9 attributes.  You could do a number of small books. 

For the workshop they suggest you bring 10-12 photos that are or can be cropped to 4x4.  If you don't have a .05 journaling pen, you can buy one from CTMH.  Close to My Heart has also brought back the small paper trimmer to make trimming photos easier for this and other projects.

You could do a book for a vacation or family reunion.  You could do one about 9 things that are important for you about your Mom or Dad or remembering 9 people that have died that were significant in your life.

You can use this in so many different ways.  If you are interested in doing this, call me, email me and check out my website.  Stories are important.  There were lots of story tellers in my family.  As a teen it seemed to get boring hearing them over and over.  What I wouldn't give to hear them said again and I wish I could remember all the details of things I though I never would forget. 

 There are 2 sets of stamps so far that can enhance your writing pages.  The journaling pen is also important to write your words/stories.

6 x 8 albums

I am a little late in getting "The Important Things" Album done.  I have made the Kitchen Traditions Recipe kit.  I have made some Christmas presents using this size.  I am beginning to love the versatility and creativity that can come from the 6 x 8 albums. 

You have page protectors that are 6x8, 2 - 4x6 and 4 - 3x4 sizes.   You can use a variety of flip flaps to expand the number of photos you can use.  

You can make a calendar in this medium.  You can make an album.  You can do a trip or event that is smaller in size from the 12 x 12 layouts and still have layouts!  If anyone would like to explore making this size album, please let me know.  I have some designs in mind and some creative ways of using the Picture My Life and Paper packets.  Let's get creating!!

New Cricut machines and possible t-shirt time.

You might have seen the new Cricut machines that have been out on the market.  With new machines, one has to deal with the old ones where technology is leaving you behind.  Many of you might have older machines.  The older machines could only use the Cricut Craft Room.  Circut is closing the Cricut Craft room down as of July 15^th.  The reason for that is that Cricut Craft Room was built using Adobe Flash and Adobe no longer supports that product.  This involves the Cricut Personal, Create, Expression, Expression 2, Mini, Cake, Cake Mini, and Imagine Machines.  If you go to Cricut.com you can see they have reduces some prices on new machines. Close to My Heart has had the offer that hostesses reaching the third level of Hostess Rewards unlock the special opportunity to purchase the Cricut Explore Air™ 2 for $299 and receive the Cricut® You Are Here digital collection FREE. 

Plan to host a party if this is something you are interested in!

Along with the Cricut Craft Room closing, you may have noticed in the stores and with Close To My Heart that the Cricut programs are going digital.  Close To My Heart has some cartridges but soon all will be digital.  

My sister Sue Page got a new machine that cuts the iron-on for T-shirts.  I had thought it would be fun to pick a name or logo for “our group” or just make T-shirts lifting up scrapbooking or card making in general.  We did make t-shirts at one time and I lost the place to do it.  It is helpful to have a t-shirt for your working with ink and glue and glitter so as not to permanently damage good shirts etc.  It might be fun to pick a “name” or pick a logo that we all can wear.  Think about a name and get back to me if you are interested maybe like “Scrap Happy” If you buy your own shirt and get it to Sue, Sue estimated @ $10 (depending on size and amount on the shirt) would cover the cost of her making the iron-on and making them.  This summer if you come for a crop or a workshop when she is here, you could bring your t-shirt and/or leave your shirt for her to do later.  Let me know if you are interested.  

National Scrapbooking Month- Postcard Perfect

May brings the National Scrapbooking Month at the same time as the new Close To My Heart catalog comes out! 

May is the National Scrapbooking month with the Postcard Perfect Paper.  Anyone hosting a party at the 3^rd level or becoming a new consultant will get the $24.95 Cut Above packet free. 

You can purchase individual items:

CC5181 Postcard Perfect Paper Packet $14.95 : 16 paper sheets; 2 each of 6 double-sided designs and 2 each of 2 vellum paper designs

CC5182 Cut Above® Layout Kit—Postcard Perfect $24.95 : Three coordinating 2-page layouts, including diecuts, stickers, photo placeholders, and instructions. Includes four 12" x 12" Memory Protectors™ CC5183 Postcard Perfect Coordinating Cardstock $9.95 : 12 cardstock sheets; 2 each of Bashful, Canary, mint, Peacock, Sorbet, and White Daisy.

CC5184 My Acrylix® Postcard Perfect Stamp Set $17.95 : D-size stamp set with sentiments, titles, palm tree, and floral images.

CC5181	Postcard Perfect Paper Packet	$14.95
CC5182	Cut Above® Layout Kit—Postcard Perfect	$24.95
CC5183	Postcard Perfect Coordinating Cardstock	$9.95
CC5184	Postcard Perfect stamp set	$17.95
CC5185	Postcard Perfect Product Bundle	$53.95
CC5186	Postcard Perfect D-ring Album Bundle (Grey Album)	$51.95
CC5187	Postcard Perfect Post-bound Album Bundle (Grey Album)	$51.95
CC5188	Postcard Perfect D-ring Album Bundle (Sea Glass Album)	$51.95
CC5189	Postcard Perfect Post-bound Album Bundle (Sea Glass Album)	$51.95

The Postcard Perfect Product bundle is everything above it.  The ones with the albums include the Cut Above Kit, journaling pen, and adhesive. 

If you look at some of my previous posts, you can see that 8 double page layouts that you can do with this paper.  This would be a great workshop for 3-4 hours.  Bring your photos and you will go home with everything all done!

Story by Stacy

I have always urged people to do journaling in their own handwriting in their scrapbooks.  Some people get intimidated by this.  the reason stems from my own experience.  I know how I felt the first time I saw my dad’s handwriting after he had died.  He had written in a book he gave to our kids when they were little.  Handwriting and stories are important.  I remember all the stories I heard when I was growing up and sometimes got bored hearing them.  Now I wish I had more video and audio tapes of the people telling them.  I can’t always remember all the details.

Stacy Julian has partnered exclusively with Close To My Heart and this Story Starter Workshop is the first.  You can order the kit and do this individually or I can lead you in about 2 hours through the process of filling this little 4x4 book with special memories. We can do this in person or online!

The kit contains: 1-      Title card, 3-      Quote cards , 1 -      Created by card ,   18 stories cards,     Workshop instructions and a 4x4 album.

There is room for 9 photos/stories so with the 18 cards there is room for mistakes and rewrites.  Imagine that your brain is an attic that is full of boxes that are labeled with memories.  Sitting here right now you don’t remember all the details.  Many of our memories are sensory and can help remind us of what are in our “memory boxes”.  This workshop is to access your memories and get them down in writing. 

This workshop is great to repeat for all the people, places, and things you have experienced.  Did you start your own business?  Make a book and share your story with people that come to your business.  Do you remember stories of your Mom or Dad?  Do you want to share your memories of your siblings?  You can make these as gifts as well as things you can carry around with you! Is there a significant birthday or event that you would want to honor your child or friend?

You may make 1 and through the process find out you want to make more!

Do you have 2 hours in June that you want to take a walk down memory lane and create a cute 4x4 album?  Contact me and lets get together! #ctmhxstorybystace  #storybystacy  You can check out and follow on Instagram Story by Stacy.  You can also find the products easily on my website at: 

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