Coin Envelope Booklet

This fun workshop project has been a great idea for a Mother's Day gift. There's still time, if you'd like to learn how to make it! Just email me, and we can set up a time: julie@myctmh.com. It's also wonderful for birthdays or any moment you just want to share some thoughts with someone special.

You can make this project, all materials provided, for just a $10 class fee - or FREE if you order $30 in Close To My Heart products. PLUS - you will receive a cut list and directions so you can duplicate it at home.

This little booklet holds 5 tags, each stamped with a different image from "Fringed Phrases" at the top - a perfect place to record special memories, write a personalized gift coupon, poem or verse. Make it your own! My customer, Elizabeth W. first shared this project with me, and now I've had so much fun sharing it with others. May I share it with you?

April Stamp of the Month - "Flower Pot"

Art by Debi Gardner - This card features a 3-dimensional flower pot! The pot is stamped on colored cardstock, sanded, cut out and mounted with 3-D foam tape to give a popped-out look, with lots of texture. The centers on these flowers stand out with brads as their centers.

Studio J Releases Tomorrow

Tomorrow is a big day . . . the release of Studio J! Now you can easily upload your photos and play with different layout designs, color & design schemes, journaling and embellishments to create your custom 12 x 12 layouts online. Once you have them just the way you want them, they will be printed beautifully and shipped directly to you.

Play to your heart's content! No purchase is required to try it out. No commitment at all until you decide you are ready to order. You don't even have to purchase any software! It's all done directly online at Studio J. It's the best! So visit http://julie.myctmh.com/ tomorrow - there will be a link at that time to take you right in.

It's Here! National Scrapbooking Month Special - for as low as $5!

Click photo for ordering info and to see all the goodies that come in this special kit.

April Stamp of the Month - "Flower Pot"

Art by Maggie Cameron - This card features Close To My Heart's Exclusive Inks Markers for coloring in the flowers. The inks match our papers so well!

Gold Star Retreat

Five years ago this May, I became associated with a group called "Gold Star Mothers." This is an organization that no one wishes to join - it is mothers who have lost a child in the service of our country. The son of one of my best friends died in Iraq in May 2005. Since that time, I have had the honor of getting to know some of the local women in this group.

Last month, I was invited once again to be a part of their retreat and provide some craft activities for them. I encouraged the women ahead of time to gather some pictures together - ones that simply made them smile. With these, they created a Display Album project called "My Happy Book." Each page will bring a little bit of joy.

The other project they made featured a little Accordion Album. Some chose paper colors that went with many of the camouflage colors of their guys' gear. Some chose bright and fun papers that would later include fun family photos.

Does creativity nurture the soul? You bet. I saw it on the face of each woman there. I was grateful to be a part of the weekend.

For more information on the Gold Star organization, visit: http://www.goldstarmoms.com/

Welcome to "Create With Julie!"

The idea of blogging has intimidated me until now. So why am I finally taking the leap? In working with Close To My Heart these past almost 19 years, I've discovered something you probably already know . . . that creativity nurtures the soul. So I'm here to help you discover ways to feed that inner part of you that longs to be expressed.

So stay tuned for some ideas that I hope you will find fun, some inspiration that I've gleaned from others, and most of all - a way to creatively nurture your soul. You deserve it!

Thank you for joining me, and I hope you enjoy the blog.

Julie