Thursday, July 1, 2010

July 2010 Newsletter - Christmas in July


Christmas in July
The best time to make Christmas cards is when the weather is hot and the drinks are cold.   Come to my July 17th class and make 30 cards quickly and easily using the brand-new Simply Scrappin' kit "Christmas Cheer".  

Make your cards now with no holiday stress, and they'll be finished and ready when you want them on December 1st.  Everyone on your Christmas list will love receiving special hand-made cards which are unlike anything they've seen in the stores.  You'll love how fun they are to make with the self-adhesive die cuts, designer paper, and quality Stampin' Up! designs.  This year's Christmas colors of Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke, Marina Mist, and Very Vanilla are beautiful and stylish.

Bring your friends and we'll have a Christmas in July card-making party!  If you can't make the date, just find 3 friends who also want to make cards and we'll schedule a private class, either at your house or at mine.  

The new Stampin' Up! Idea Book and Catalog is here!  
See the newest colors, designs, tools, and ideas!  I am absolutely in love with the colors which are available this year, and it seems like there is a new stamp set on almost every page of the catalog.  This year we have clear-mount stamps, a new punch design, new storage solutions, new accessories... there is so much, you'll just have to get a catalog for yourself.  Even if you aren't looking to buy much, you'll love the ideas on every page.  The catalog is a $10 value, but you can get one for free by hosting a workshop!

I am especially thrilled with the new Getting Started collection.  This is a set of 12 colors which are versatile enough to be used for any occasion, and which look good together in almost any combination.  Instead of buying ink and card stock in individual packages, or as a collection of Brights, Subtles, etc., try the Getting Started collection of ink spots and card stock.

Featured Project for July
July's card is a quick and easy design, just perfect for when you need to restock your stash of handmade cards.  Use different sentiments to make cards for every occasion.  This example features Greenhouse Gala paper from the new catalog.  Would you like to make this card, plus receive the new catalog for free?  Host a workshop with your friends!



Calendar

July 8: Christmas Cards sign-up 
July 17 2:00: Christmas Cards in July
July 18 2:00: Freestyle Stamping Club
Aug. 5: Mini Scrapbook sign-up 
Aug. 14 2:00: Mini Scrapbook class
Aug. 15 2:00: Freestyle Stamping Club
Sept. 9: Scrap Card class sign up
Sept. 18 2:00: Scrap Card class
Sept. 19 2:00: Freestyle Stamping Club

Freestyle Stamping Club
Come to my Freestyle Stamping Club to give yourself a little crafting time and stamp with friends.  I will provide ink, some stamp sets, basic tools, and I will have paper packs available for $5.00.  Any of my current customers are welcome to come - if you have purchased $15 or more from me from the Stampin' Up! catalog in the past 3 months, then you are one of my current customers.

July Class - Christmas Cards in July
Finish all your hand-made Christmas cards now, and be stress-free and prepared when the holidays come around again.  We'll be making 30 cards for $30, using the new holiday Simply Scrappin' kit.  Please sign up by July 8th.

August - Flip-Open Mini Scrapbook
This 5"x 6" flip-open mini scrapbook is a breeze to make with one of our Simply Scrappin' kits.  With 14 pages this unconventional scrapbook has a lot of room for pictures and journaling.  Class fee is $18.  Please sign up by Aug. 5th. 

September Class - Scrap Cards
Scrapbooks can be big, intimidating projects, but scrap cards (cards with photos and journaling) can be made in a snap!  Come learn to make 3 scrap card designs.  Class fee is $9.  Please sign up by Sept. 9th.  

Super Summer Sale
For every $50 you spend on Stampin' Up! catalog purchases, I will give you a free Classic Stampin' Pad in your choice of the new colors!  
Also, for every new customer you bring me who signs up for my mailing list, I will give you a coupon for $5 off your next catalog purchase!  



What have you been doing this year?  
Wouldn't you like to share your family news, along with all your pictures, with your family and friends?  Send a family newsletter!  Some people send newsletters now during the summer break; others wait and send a Christmas letter.  Either way, your distant family would love to see photos and hear the latest on your family.  In this age of Facebook and email, sending a real letter means twice as much.  

How to write a family newsletter: 
Most importantly, write like you're talking on the telephone.  Don't write in the third person like the butler is writing the letter for you.  Instead say, "The kids and I went to the beach", or "I've just started a new project".  Devote one paragraph to each family member and one paragraph to each major event.  Keep it simple.  

Easily add photos, text, background patterns, mats and layers, or other elements.  My Digital Studio has the most intuitive interface I've ever used. 
Pictures are worth 1,000 words. 
Make sure you include many good-sized photographs.  Consider designing your newsletter a little like this one, with photos and captions down the side of your block of text.  If you don't have much to write, add more photos.  Design the back side of your letter with nothing but extra-large photos and captions.  Write all your captions first - it will change what you write in your letter.  

Think about layouts.
You don't have to be an experienced scrapbooker to lay out text and photos for your family newsletter.  First plan how much you want to write.  Will it take up most of a page or just three paragraphs?  Then arrange your photographs accordingly.  You could have a few smallish photos down one side, or many photos across the top, bottom, and both sides.  If you're using My Digital Studio, artist-designed templates and layouts are available for you to use directly or as inspiration.  
Some software does too much and you need to be a professional to use it.  Other software doesn't do enough.  Buy the right program for the job -  My Digital Studio. 
Make it easy.  
You might be thinking that writing a family newsletter is just too hard, or you don't have the time.  I admit, with the wrong software it can be a frustrating, time consuming project.  But with the right software you can put together a letter in just one afternoon!  For example, every month I send out "Charly's Ink Link" newsletters with different backgrounds, photos, and embellishments.  I can put it all together quickly, since I'm using My Digital Studio from Stampin' Up!  

Take care of Christmas in July.  
The winter holidays are stressful enough.  Why not prepare for them this summer when you have some extra time?  Buy My Digital Studio now, and check out the amazing templates and fun designs which come with the program.  Experiment by putting together a first-draft letter and your photos of the year so far, and then you'll be able to finish up your holiday letter in November, stress-free.  

Family newsletters are only the beginning.  
My Digital Studio is perfect for family newsletters, but of course that's not all it does.  It's a digital scrapbooking and card making program, and it comes pre-loaded with backgrounds, photo layouts, punches and shapes, digital stamps, images, embellishments, and templates.  Use it to print out a professional quality last-minute birthday card, or show off your vacation photos using the artist-designed scrapbook templates.   There is so much you can do with this program, you'll just have to schedule a meeting with me so I can give you a tour.  Invite your friends and make it a party!  Everyone will take home a sample. 

With My Digital Studio you can start creating the same day you install your software.  You won't need to take a class or buy a book, just start experimenting and see how easy it is.  

No comments:

Post a Comment