The bottom of the “Toolbox,” displays five icons that are visible no matter which tab you are viewing.

From here you can lock in place and arrange stack order of backgrounds, photos, embellishments and text boxes. When you arrange the stack order of an object you can send it to back (this will push the object behind all elements on the page), send backward (this will send it behind one element with each click), bring forward (this will bring the object closer to the front with each click), or bring to front (this will bring the object all the way to the front).

As you play with the arrangement of objects on your page, you’ll want to keep a few things in mind.

1. This tool takes all elements on the page into consideration, not just elements that are stacked on top of each other. If you have many elements on your page and you want to bring something forward that was placed first, you will have to go hit the bring forward button several times. Instead, bring the object to front or send another object to back. If you think about the order objects were placed on your page, arranging them will be that much easier.
2. Make sure an object is unlocked before arranging it’s stack order, otherwise it will not move. However, if you are moving another unlocked object in front or back, you do not need to unlock the locked object.

Also remember that the lock icon is a great tool. If you are arranging many elements on a page, lock the elements in place that you do not want to move. It’s easy to accidentally click an element and move it just a few inches from where you want it.

Sara Studio Tips

Have you heard of the fun New Year resolution that involves both the internet and a camera? It’s called Project 365 and it’s a great way to establish a habit of preserving moments and stories. Want to know how you can get in on the fun. Check out our Project 365 post.

Now, what can you do with this project as a heritage maker? You can create a book, of course. Instead of waiting until the end of the year to put your Project 365 book together, you can make it an ongoing project throughout the year. Then, when January 1, 2011 rolls around, all you have to do to get your book is select publish and wait for it to arrive.

Start your Project 365 today with Project 365 Revised (12×12 storybook, Template ID: 25695) designed by Darcie Toom. All you have to do is insert the photos and create the captions. If you have a blog, placing the text is easy: just copy and paste. And you can keep the layout as is. If you’re looking for a different look to go with your style, just replace the embellishments and play around with the Studio art.

And, if you’re looking for more projects to create while participating in the Project 365 challenge, try out these:

Greeting Card: Create a memorable Christmas card. It may be just a little early to be thinking about Christmas again, but this is a good project to keep in mind. You can use the template The Gift that Keeps Giving (5×7 greeting card, Template ID: 5373) designed by Dacie Toom to give your greeting card recipients a great overview of the entire year. Just select your top favorite 67 photos to place. Don’t forget to change the “T” to your family name. And remember, you don’t have to wait until Christmas to send a greeting card. You can send one every 67 pictures to mom and dad, grandma and grandpa, friends, brothers, sisters, etc.

Photos for Any Project: Use template Photo Place Holders (12×12 scrap page, Template ID: 18694) to print your photos in different sizes. You can use this page in your scrapbook, or you can cut out the pictures and create other projects, such as blocks, plaques, tiles, decorative bottles, etc.

There are so many other projects you can create. Project 365 is just a starting point. Have a great idea for a project that you would like to share? Email it to Sara at sholman@heritagemakers.com.

Sara Project of the Month

Heidi Jackson, a Heritage Makers consultant from Canada shows us her 5-year-old daughter getting into the spirit of Heritage Makers!

jennifer Company News

February has a lot of great cultural celebrations, and one of them just happens to be Creative Romance Month. Of course, this is not surprising considering that the all-time-favorite love holiday of the year shares this month.

But to the point… why celebrate Creative Romance Month? Why not celebrate it? It gives us a great excuse to keep our creative juices flowing and to keep the romance going. There are so many things you can do to celebrate the month, but I’ve got a suggestion that will keep the romance more than just a memory in months to come.

Try preserving your romance, your love, your special relationship… on a canvas. All you need is a picture, a few simple words, and a canvas.

Picture – You can have a lot of fun with this. Take a picture of your wedding rings, on your hand or by themselves. Take a picture of your hands holding each other. Take a picture of your heads together, as you stare into each other’s eyes. Take a picture of your backs turned to the camera as one head lies on the other’s shoulder. There are so many stories you can tell with the right setting.

Words – You can use words such as these to display on your canvas: love, my forever, together forever, one, never ending, etc.

The canvas – The design options are endless, but here’s a great idea to start from:

The most Beautiful Day
Designed by Shari McLaws
16×20 canvas
Template ID: 309

Sara Storybooking

By Shirley Brunner

A few months ago I was looking at some old photos in a box I had brought from my parents home after they passed away. My sister, who is five years younger than I, was with me.

I found one picture that I remembered very well from my childhood. My father was the oldest of eight children and this picture, taken in about 1950, was one of a very few taken that had all of his family together.

I asked my sister if she remembered the photo and if she could name each of our uncles and their only sister. Although we have a very close-knit family, she said no, she did not remember the photo and was unable to tell me who was who. In fact, she was only able to point out our father and one of our uncles. At that point it dawned on me that I am now the oldest in our family and it was my responsibility to write down all of these stories so they would not be lost.

My parents had spread their family out over a number of years and it ended up that my mother and I had children very close in age. In fact, my youngest sister is only six months older than my oldest daughter!

I decided that my New Year’s Eve activity would be putting together a book for each of my siblings, nieces, and nephews, as well as for my own children. I named the book “All because two people fell in love.” 

We lost my only brother to cancer at the young age of 49 in February 2004, my Mother in February 2005, and one year later, we lost my Father in March 2006. I decided to dedicate the book to all three of them.

When I received the finished books I presented them to each family member as an early Valentine’s gift.

In the book I included stories about how our parents met and their love story. I continued with funny stories I had been told about them in their childhood, during their courtship, and their first years of marriage. I then went onto each of us children in the order of our birth with a funny story about each of us. 

Each one of my family have called me laughing and crying about the stories they had never heard about. They each said how much they are enjoying the pictures they had never seen. I had never stopped to think how much I, as the oldest child, knew that the younger members had no way of knowing.

I now use this little 5×7 book as a sample in my workshops. I see many smiles and a few tears as many guests say how they would love to have a book like that and are now placing it in their list of “to do” books.

Sara Storybooking

I love this one and I love the story that goes with it. The best photos are truly the ones that come with a story. Thank you, Patty Reiser.

http://pkphotography.us/2010/01/project-365-day-27/

Sara Project 365

One hobby that will keep you going is card making. There is always a reason for making and sending cards, whether it is saying “happy birthday,” “thank you,” “get well,” or “thinking of you.” Try out these fun templates as you add card making to your list.

 Have a wedding coming up? Make sure your guests save the date by sending them a “save the date” card. Save the Date designed by Anne Degreef (Template ID: 19077) is a perfect example of a fun, inviting card for wedding guests.

Valentine’s Day is coming up. You still have time to get your Valentine’s cards made and ordered to get them in time for Valentine’s Day. Plus, Valentine’s is not the only reason to tell someone you love them. Say, “I love you,” with XOXO designed by Kelly Barquin (Template ID: 5592).

Thanks to You designed by Michelle Bell (Template ID: 19747) is a cute card that will make the recipient feel special. 

And don’t forget about the precious occasions. Baby Girl Announcement designed by Autumn Moses (Template ID: 19039) is the perfect way to announce the birth of your baby.

There are so many fun activities and crafts you can add to your hobby list this year. All it takes is imagination, which you have plenty of, and a Studio account. Log on into  your My Studio and begin creating today.

Sara Storybooking

Okay, here is this weeks Featured photo by J. Lange Images. I love this one… something about the boy’s face and where he is sitting. And the story that goes with it is great too.

http://jlangeimages.blogspot.com/2010/01/day-8.html

Sara Project 365

You can do more than decorate and make storybooks. One of the perks of Studio is you can do whatever your imagination thinks of. And that includes making games.

You’ll want to make sure you add making games to your hobby list this year. And we don’t have just card games, but board games, as well, in our Template Gallery. Take a look at what kind of games you can make:

You’ll love the Shiver Me Timbers Template designed by Wenda Top (Template ID 5757). Personalizing your cards with your family’s photos and a fun themes always makes the game that much better.

You’re kids will love the sports themed playing cards. HM Football Trading Cards designed by Roxanne Buchholz (Template ID: 19928) is perfect for showing off your football star.

Make a fun photo checker board game with A Checkered Past designed by Darcie Toom (Template ID: 16663). The whole family will have hours of fun with this game.

You’ll love the How My Day Will Be! Spinner designed by Shara and David Darke (Template ID: 20353). All the directions for putting it together are right there. 

And, of course, there are so many other templates you can choose from in the Template Gallery. Just search “game” and you will find personalized templates for the games you love to play.

Sara Storybooking

One of the most fun hobbies is decorating the home. Maybe it’s buying a new chair, crocheting a new rug, putting in a fireplace, or making heritage projects.

When thinking of hobbies this year, you can’t forget to put canvases, posters, and other Heritage Makers projects on your lists. With a Studio account, you can find many ideas to add to your home décor. Just take a look at these ideas:

A canvas is perfect for your wedding pictures. Try a design like Wedding Canvas designed by Bianca Szyperski (Template ID: 2043).

A family photo canvas above your fireplace would give the finishing touch on your livingroom. Try Fall Family Canvas designed by Darcie Toom (Template ID: 20612).

You can use more than canvases and posters to decorate your home. Try the Block Photo Holder designed by Lynda Angelastro (Template ID: 21682). You can put this photo holder anywhere—on your mantel, your TV, your kitchen counter, your window seal…

Personalize your tumblers with Heidi’s Winter Wonder Tumbler Template designed by Heidi Jackson (Template ID: 20705). Such a design will add a little extra personalization to your dishes.

And don’t forget about the clock. You can give that final touch to any room with the Beach Themed Clock designed by Lisa Delange (Template ID: 17526). Keep this design or change it to fit your style.

You’re sports kids will love a personalized sports poster. The HM Soccer Poster 24×18 designed by Roxanne Buchholz (Template ID: 20876) is the perfect piece for your soccer star’s room.

Sara Storybooking