Avonlea Open House Artwork

Here are the remaining art items from my Autumn/Winter 2012 Idea Book and Cricut open house held last month. Guests received a thank you note and a pretty cupcake just for coming out. With Artiste, it's so easy to do parties and showers! You know the old adage, that a pretty ribbon just makes it prettier - well think of adding a pretty Slate cupcake wrapper on top of a beautiful white daisy doily cut on your Cricut! (Both are  on page 71.)

For the white daisy doily, I chose the Fit To Page option and it cut at 10 3/4". The cupcake wrappers are cut at 2 1/2" (this is standard, but double check by looking at the size on the package of paper liners.) The setting is prettied up with some Dark Chocolate Stripe Ribbon. (See, ribbon DOES make all the difference!)

The tiara on Brook's American Girl doll, Julie, was a last minute inspiration as I was flipping through the image catalog included with your cartridge. It's on page 69, cut out of Slate cardstock at 2 1/4" and prettied up with some Pearl Opaques.

I can not believe how many wonderful ideas there are with just ONE cartridge! One thing I really love about Close To My Heart's Cricut cartridges, Art Philosophy and Artiste, is the amazing value you get with each cartridge. Both have around 700 images including fonts, words, 3D objects and cards. That's about 650 more per cartridge than a normal Cricut Cartridge! After Art Philosophy, I wasn't sure I'd ever need another cartridge, it was so packed full of great universal images to use over and over. Then came Artiste. Close To My Heart has really outdone themselves! And don't forget the chipboard and the stamp images that go hand in hand with the two cartridges. What will they think up next?

Anxiously waiting,

National Stamping Month Specials and Play Dates

I looked all over the Lodge at Fish Lake for a T-shirt to bring home that said, "I went to Fish Lake and all I caught was this cold," but for some reason they didn't have one. We had a great time camping this past week (and even got a date night courtesy of the parents, for which I am eternally grateful) despite getting sick, and the cold held off until the end of the trip, at least. We had the kids' time out of school scaled down to the bare minimum, but then ended up taking another day with the cold!

There are plenty of things to cheer about in September, though. Here's a rundown of what's in store:

1. Play Dates
It's the return of the 5 Buck Layout, the cheapest date there is! 

This month you can make this beautiful layout featuring Avonlea papers and stamps. Buy just the kit for only $5 or get the Avonlea Workshop on the Go and take home the stamps, accessories, paper and more to make another 4 pages, cards, or countless other projects, like this My Creations Bracket Frame, which would be an awesome handmade gift for someone you love (HINT: Grandparents always love to receive pictures). Sign up below! For more information about how Play Dates work and the loot, er.. Rewards you can reap, check out the sidebar on the right under "Play Dates".

Saturday, Sept. 15 @ 10 am - 12 pm Avonlea 5 Buck Layout

Saturday, Sept. 15 @ 7 pm - 9 pm Avonlea 5 Buck Layout

Monday, Sept. 17 @ 10 am - 12 pm Avonlea 5 Buck Layout

Monday, Sept. 24 @ 10 am - 1 pm Avonlea My Creations Bracket Frame, $15

Saturday, Sept 29 @ 7pm - 10 pm Avonlea My Creations Bracket Frame, $15

2. National Stamping Month
This campaign is in full swing until September 30th and you can take advantage of this great double stamp set for only $5 with your qualifying purchase. 

Read more about this, here. (Did you know Studio J orders can count towards your Home Gathering totals for Hostess Rewards? Ask me how!)

3. Stamp of the Month

Fall Favorites 

set of 11

Available September 1–30, 2012

Get the Stamp of the Month set for just $5 (S1209A) when you place an order of $50 or more in products. Jump-start the fun by ordering the items from the list below to create this artwork! You’ll find helpful assembly tips at my website under Promotions.

Moonlight Paper Packet

($9.95, X7161B, Autumn/Winter 2012

Idea Book p. 56)

Autumn Terracotta Exclusive Inks® Marker Set($5.95, Z2427, p. 9)

Honey Exclusive Inks® Marker Set($5.95, Z2415, p. 9)

Olive Exclusive Inks® Marker Set($5.95, Z2425, p. 9)

Burlap Ribbon

($7.95, Z1760, p. 124)

Brads Metal Assortment

($4.95, Z1366, p. 127)

Cricut® Artiste Collection($99, Z1790, p. 15)

See you in the craft room soon!

Warm wishes,