The content of this blog is my sole responsibility as an independent Stampin' Up! demonstrator and the use of, and content of, the classes, services, or products offered on this blog is not endorsed by Stampin' Up!
Have you been wondering WHAT My Digital Studio really is?
Have you been wondering if YOU can really scrapbook, make a calendar or a card or a book digitally?
Have you been wondering HOW EASY it is to use?
By way of Stampin' Up!, I have a great offer for you! Check this out:
A FREE 30-day trial of My Digital Studio Express is now available.
How do you get it? Through my business website! How easy is that!? Item # 129600
This is going to be an ongoing offer. Stampin' Up! wants everyone to be able to try My Digital Studio. As you might know, I LOVE IT! I don't use it as often as I'd like but......I have some fun projects in the works! (Can you say l-a-t-e Christmas projects???)
Are you wondering what digital content comes with the My Digital Studio Express Trial? My Digital Studio Express includes one stamp brush set, 12 Designer Series Paper patterns, 81 embellishments, 26 punches, and 5 designer templates. You can view a list of the included content here.
What do you do once you try it and like it? Once the 30-day free trial period is over, you can purchase the downloadable or disc version of the software to continue using it. You'll simply open up the trial version you already have on your computer, and will be prompted to enter the product registration key you received after purchasing the software. (You'll receive this key via e-mail if you purchase the downloadable version, and you'll find it along with your shipped software if you purchase the disc version.)
If you're wondering what the difference is between the My Digital Studio full version and the MDS Express version, please click here for a short video. The presenter, Holly Linford, is the MDS guru-ess! I've taken several classes from her.
And FYI, the site you will be sent to for viewing this comparison video is a training and sharing My Digital Studio site that is open to both customers and demonstrators alike and is a wonderful resource. You can find it at http://mydigitalstudio.net.
If you're wondering, My Digital Studio works equally well on either a MAC or a PC. Awesome!
How can you order the My Digital Studio Express Trial? Through my online store on my business website. You can order the free trial by itself, or you can add it to an order with stamping supplies or other digital downloads. If the My Digital Studio Express Trial is the only item you order, you will not be asked for any credit card or payment information. If you are a new customer, you will need to create an account.
I hope you take advantage of this great offer. It will be ongoing. And I am here to help you along your MDS journey.
And now, I say bye bye for now to my sweet hubby and venture on down to Dublin CA. Tomorrow, an occupational therapist will vist Jeff's home and give us some well needed guidance and tips.
See you tomorrow. And check out this My Digital Studio Express Trial TODAY!
AND WHY I'M SO PROUD TO BE A MEMBER OF THE STAMPIN' UP! FAMILY
As I've been saying, I've just returned from Stampin' Up!'s Leadership Training in San Antonio TX. It was a marvelous experience. Not only was it just a fantastic time, seeing old friends, renewing friendships, creating new friendships, and mingling with the Stampin' Up! staff, it was just another reminder as to just why I'm a part of this fabulous SU! family! What other company is going to present its past year's financial report in Mr. Nielsen's (aka Roger's) Neighborhood, using an MDS scrapbook for the documentation, closing with our CFO dancing as if he was on Dancing with the Stars?
"Mr. Nielsen", changing from his outdoor shoes to his indoor shoes. And yes, on the way in the door and while changing his sweater, he DID sing the Mr. Roger's song. HIS WAY!
Scott Nielsen, SU! Chief Financial Officer, setting the stage for his report with Demos Karen Duke from Canada and a younger demo from ??
Oh Look! It's Mr. Speedy with a special delivery! (Actually it's Spencer Willis, SU! employee and "ham"!)
The My Digital Studio report has arrived, thanks to Mr. Speedy.
Did you notice the gray/white stripes on the cover? Well flip the book over and you'll see the Yankees logo. Scott played with the Yankees !
Played with the Yankees from 1986-89.
He even goes down to the 'pick line' to pack our Stampin' Up! orders.
The newly introduced Simply Scored Scoring Tool has been a very big seller!
Remember that younger demonstrator, sitting on Scott's left? Well, as everyone was about the leave Mr. Nielsen's stage neighborhood, she pulled off her conservative-but-stylish sweater to reveal her dancing costume, stating she was going to finish off the report HER WAY. And away they danced. FABULOUS!!!!!!
So again I must ask: what company will give a CFO enough 'space' to totally engage the audience with the (usually boring and dry) annual financial report? We were on the edges of our seats throughout!
In addition to Scott's entertaining presentation, we were also presented, throughout the 2 full days of Leadership Training plus 1 day of a Regional Seminar, with A BUNCH of surprise gifts:
Click on the photo for a close up of all of these goodies!
Leadership:
Leadership Bag (which is reversable)
Real Red and Tempting Turquoise Stampin' Write Markers (in our Leadership bag)
Folding Portfolio (lower right) with My Digital Studio tag, signed by Shelli, and a Clear Crystal 5/8" Simply Adorned Bauble; along with the portfolio..........
Stampin' Up! employee-made bag of chocolates, 2" x 3" each: white (sprinkled with oreo cookie bit), milk (sprinkled with something--nuts maybe) and dark (sprinkles with dried cranberries). No photo. Long gone (as in eaten). Beyond delicious!
Mixed Bunch and Loving Thoughts stamp sets (with Leadership Registration)
Surprise: Everything Eleanor 8 piece stamp set, sneak peak of a 2012-2013 SU! Catalog item
With our Make & Takes (both Leadership and the Regional):
Designer Buttons Brights Collection full container. We used ONE button!
Tea Stain Vintage Ink Spot
Pool Party 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon spool
Lucky Limeade Baker's Twine
Blossom Builders Designer Printed Kit with Pink Rhinestones (exclusive to kit)
Surprise: Fresh Vintage Sale-a-Bration stamp set
Surprise: Everyday Enchantment Sale-a-Bration Designer Series Paper
Jewels: Basic Pearl Large
Jewels: Basic Pearl
Jewels: Basic Rhinestone
Daffodil Delight 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon
4 pack of each: Occasions Mini Catalog and Sale-a-Bration Catalog---to share with a new person
Surprise: On Board Art Journal 5" x 5" -- to create an art journal
Surprise: One Big Sale-a-Bration Content CD for My Digital Studio
My PRIZE PATROL win (with a yellow wrist band): The SIMPLY SCORED DIAGONAL PLATE, available March 1, 2012. WOOOOOHOOOOO! Also, Simply Scored 6-pack of Markers and a Simply Scored Stylus
So, why become a member of the Stampin' Up! Family???
You are treated like royalty.
You are treated like family.
You are treated like a friend.
You are spoiled at company events.
You are rewarded for accomplishments of all sorts.
Think about joining me and becoming a member of this great 'chosen' family. Creativity, and sharing it, is a great kind of therapy. Call or email me and I'll guide you with more information and how-to-do-it. I'd love to have you as a part of my team. Long distance??? No worries. None of my team members are closer than 120 miles and it could just as well be 1000 miles. We meet via the computer and with a semi-annual retreat at my mountain get-away.
Mark your calendar with Stampin' Up!'s four-day online celebration of Digital Scrapbooking Days!
November 4-7, 2011
I don't know if you know it, but I'm a huge My Digital Studio fan. I use it whenever I can and for sure every Christmas when I make 12 x 12 calendars for my family. I'll be sharing some of those pages in mid to late December.
But for now.......next weekend, November 4-7, by participating in a short survey from Stampin' Up!, you will be able to receive some FREE DIGITAL CONTENT. Remember, with MDS (My Digital Studio) content, you can also use it with most other digital scrapbooking formats.
Why not set some time aside on this weekend to digitally document some of your personal family history ?
After filling out a short Stampin' Up! survey on www.MyDigitalStudio.net (they're trying to understand more about customer intereset in digital scrapbooking in general and My Digital Studio in specific) you'll be able to download this brand new MDS content:
So Typefelt Stamp Brush Set
Neutral Delightful Digital Tape
Home for the Holidays Ensemble
Delight in the Day Photobook Template
As a Stampin' Up! demonstrator I'll get a chance to download this content early and create some scrapbook pages. Be watching for what I come up with!
Remember, the survey will be available herebetween November 4th and 7th.
(Don't anyone let Austin, Nora or Landen see this post!) But I had to share it because I think it's so cute. I think another little guy, Zion, will be getting his own post card as well.
My daughter has given me the honor of being Santa's helper, saving Santa letters and writing Santa letters and cards to her children, Austin 7, Nora 4-1/2, and Landen who's almost 3. (I'm compiling a scrapbook of these treasurers.) Earlier this week she said that Austin was asking some questions about 'reporting not-so-good-behavior of a friend to Santa'--should he or shouldn't he? Could he go visit Santa's home? How was Rudolph doing?
Out came My Digital Studio, a 5" x 7" postcard no-design template, and my imagination. This is the postcard:
(The Real Red and Wild Wasabi layer are just so the Whisper White post card would stand out from the white blog background.
And here's the flipside of the 'postcard' (which will be going into an envelope). Now you can see why I placed the Real Red card stock behind the front of the post card.
See Rudolph trying to catch up with the rest of the reindeer?! Be sure to click on each photo for an enlarged view.
My Digital Studio (MDS) ITEMS USED:
A Holly, Jolly Christmas (reindeer)
Winter Post (postcard words)
Old Saint Nick (postage stamp)
Punches: 1.25" circle (center of postage symbol covering up Dec 25), 1.25" square (angle 'cut out' at bottom of 'ribbon'), medium oval (Rudolph's nose), scallop edge border (edges of 'ribbon')
Holiday Blitz (candy canes)
Fonts: Chalkbuster, Curlz MT, Bookman Old Style
My Digital Studio TIP:
If you are working on a project and don't remember what stamp set, punch, image, font you have used, click on the category (stamp, punch, text) on the right side/Design Center, double click on the item in question and that will bring up this box:
Click on the INFO tab and the Stamp Set and more information will be revealed.
Again, click on the photo above for larger views where you can easier read the words.
If you haven't worked with My Digital Studio and would like to give it a whirl, be sure to contact me or go to my stampin' store by clicking on the shopping card in the upper right corner, or my signature below. It is so much fun. I would love to share as much information as I can with you. Once we get real high speed internet (should be November/December 2011) I would like to conduct online My Digital Studio classes.
Tomorrow: sharing some of the fun cards Sharon Sharon (yes that's right) made in my studio today.
It's amazing the things Stampin' Up! comes up with to temp us in the Memento Mall at Convention! I mean really, a lap top cover? You got it! It's so calm and lovely and different:
Because I'm a proud Mac user, I took one of the "Apple" decals that comes with some Apple purchases and placed it over the top of my new laptop cover. The only reason I didn't want to actually put the piece on my laptop was that I'd lose the 'apple' insignia. I'm happy with the 'fix'. The one I added doesn't light up, but it does say that, hey, this is my Mac laptop! :)
The graphic was created with My Digital Studio. More to learn and play with.
There was a coordinating Mouse Pad that was also available but........I guess in the craziness of shopping in Memento Mall, I didn't get one. Or I just haven't unburied it. Oh well---I don't use a mouse anyway!!!
Tomorrow, some more samples and maybe a project. I really have to finish cleaning my table top off before I can create too much.
Isn't this a fun calendar? I have it sitting on one of my cabinets in my stampin' studio. Couldn't put it on the worktop because of the un-cleaned-up conjestion! I'll get it taken care of one day soon.
APRIL 2012
MAY 2012
MAY close-up of the hybridization: adding punched layers and Jewel Rhinestones
JUNE 2012
I hope you've enjoyed walking through the months as seen from a Stampin' Up! point of view: the SU! year which runs from July 1st through June 30th.
Consider giving My Digital Studio a whirl. My advice: start with that predesigned template where you just add your own photos. As you work through the pages of a book or a calendar or whatever project you choose, you will gain courage and feel like changing out a page element. Then your creative juices will be ready to roar and allow you to experiment. Those first steps can be scary but it's a fear that doesn't take long to overcome. GO FOR IT!
My Digital Studio: 118108 $79.95, full software and over $500 worth of content
or
My Digital Studio Express: 124483 $39.95, full software and over $50 worth of content.
Check out pages 6 & 7 of the new 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog for much more information. And please ask me if you have any questions and I'll do my best to answer them.
MDS is such a fun and different type of creative outlet!!!
I forgot to mention that when you go to http://mydigitalstudio.net you can also find all of the downloads released by Stampin' Up! since MDS was released several years ago. Having the releases all in one place is a real convenience. Releases take place on most Tuesday's at 1 p.m. mountain time.
JANUARY 2012
JANUARY with some simple Jewlels Rhinetones bling:
FEBRUARY 2012
FEBRUARY BLING -- check out the new (in the Holiday Mini coming out in September) silver GLITTER paper. It is s-p-a-r-k-l-y! And it doens't 'shed' glitter. There are 3 little hearts placed on the MDS printed hearts.
MARCH 2011
Tomorrow, the final 3 months of my desktop calendar. I'll be telling you later about how we did the letters for M A R. Amazingly easy and what a nice effect.
Ready for October's spookey spider calendar page??? No added bling to this page. I might add some glitter bye-n-bye though.
NOVEMBER 2011 - No extra bling on November either.
DECEMBER 2011 - with bling
Basic Rhinestone Jewels 119246, were placed on each of the Old Olive ornaments.
If you already own My Digital Studio but want tips and a community of users with whom to talk over creativity or how-to's, check out http://mydigitalstudio.net It's an on-line community that is open to both demonstrators and customers. Great videos and tutorials!
Thinking that I wouldn't have enough to do at Stampin' Up!'s Convention (this is a joke!!!) to keep myself running in full circles, I signed up for an optional, fee based class that took place on Friday evening. It was a My Digital Studio specialty hybrid class. I am soooooo glad I made the time for it.
We created a hybrid desk top calendar. Actually, the calendar had already been made and bound. AND it was presented to attendees on a DVD as a Convention Class Attendee Exclusive. Wowsers! We added the hybrid parts: some bling and punch layers as will be shown in the photos. Then our fearless leader, Holly Linford, from Stampin' Up! showed us lots of MDS tricks. If I EVER learn how to load videos I will show you some of them. In the meantime, here are July, August and September's pages. This particular template is an attendee exclusive but there are definitely other templates available in the My Digital Studio and there are new design releases nearly every week.
COVER AND STAND
There is an self-contained easel stand and coordinating flip over page for each month. We added the 1/8" Early Espresso Ribbon bow to the cover as well as some pieces punched using the Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch 122464. This was topped with a So Saffron Designer Button (Subtles) 119745, laced with a piece of Linen Thread 104199 which was tied in a know or a bow.
JULY 2011
Nothing added to the design on this page.
Be sure to click on each photo to see a larger image.
AUGUST 2011
August hybrid 'bling': Rich Razzleberry Butterflies from the Beautiful Wings Embosslit Die 118138
You can see the teeny added butterflies better when you click on the photo. They are on the Rich Razzleberry Butterflies in the top row and the second from the left butterfuly on the bottom row.
SEPTEMBER 2011
No additional bling or images were added to this month's page.
Each of these pages was created using My Digital Studio. Be sure to click on the photos for a more full view of each page.
If you haven't tried My Digital Studio yet, perhaps you will after seeing these fun calendar pages. I've made 12" x 12" calendars for my family the last two years. This year I'm thinking about an 8-1/2" x 11" calendar for a change. There are totally pre-designed templates for you to just fill with your own photos or you can create your own from scratch. There are also Photo Layouts to make your job easier.
To explain why I've been missing again for a few days, this is what I've been working on......... My son, Jason, and his childhood friend, Joel, will be celebrating their 40th (I couldn't be THAT old!) birthdays on July 2nd. My task has been the invitations. The party is being hosted by 11 month younger childhood friend, Kevin.
I have been working hard with My Digital Studio to create a 6" x 6" invitation, making use of all four sides.
Here's the cover, as I was searching for appropriate photos of the 'boys'. The spacesaver photos are from our annual camping trip.
Finished cover, Joel at about 18 month, Jason, 3 yrs old, center, 'the men', about 37-38.
Inside upper page/flap, version 1 or 2. Los Tres Amigos were in costume as they took their children trick-or-treating!!! Kevin, the party thrower, is in the center. They all play guitar so the costumes were somewhat appropriate!
Final version, page 2:
Page 3, information page:
Above: Do YOU see what I left out?????
Back page (there is plain white cardstock around this photo), Kevin, Jason, Joel around 4 years old :
As always when working with MDS, I learned a lot. Upon printing I saw some things I would certainly modify---like the Real Red printing. Not as good in real life as I expected it to be. All in all, it was a great way to make 30 invitations, complete with stamping and photos.
I used:
Night & Day Designer Series Paper
Extreme Elements stamp set
Square Punch (to make the photo strip on the cover)
Colors: Real Red, opacity shades of Basic Black, White
And I got to really stamp on the envelopes!
If you haven't tried My Digital Studio (118108), and enjoy scrapbooking or card making, calendars or more, you should really give it a try. It's quite inuitive, is Mac and PC compatible, and is easy for beginners and challenging for more advanced users. I'm going to be taking several MDS classes at Stampin' Up!'s annual Convention in Salt Lake City in July.
I hope you've enjoyed my little diversion and maybe understand what I've been up to. See you tomorrow. I'm having a Tote-ally Tess (117076-wood; 118595-clear mount) class and will be sharing a few of the cards we'll be making. It's going to be fun!
