Reflections from Primary

I was priviledged to teach the five year olds at my church a few weeks ago and speak on the commandment to love one another (John 13:34). My son, Aidan, is in my class as well and it's been fun spending this special time, just the two of us (well, at least without his brothers and sister!) It's one more way for me to spend time with just him, within our family, and it has created a new bond.

Here are the activities I cut on my Cricut for Lesson 32: Love One Another, in the Primary 2 handbook. Both are cut from Cricut Artiste, an exclusive cartridge from Close To My Heart.

Often, I find when we are assigned talks or teaching assignments, the lesson is for both student and teacher. I've really enjoyed spending time with these beautiful souls. In many ways, they have taught me so much more than I ever hoped they could learn from me. I have truly grown spiritually in the few short months I've had them and I look forward to Sundays in a way I never thought I would. I know that this calling to teach has not only given me the opportunity to share the gospel with others, but has allowed me to research topics and doctrine I wasn't familiar with. Every week I teach I learn something new that I hadn't known before, and the blessings are magnified tenfold. I get to see life through the eyes of a child and I am so grateful for the opportunity given to me to teach these bright minds!

Warm wishes,

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Love Your Layout in Studio J {Dakota}

If you aren't receiving the emails from Studio J, you should! They are packed full of great ideas, tips and new features every month. Keep abreast of what's happening by signing up here. Here's a quick look:

Happy Trails Ahead in Studio J^®

The latest Love Your Layout℠ video is out! Recreate this amazing layout below using the new Dakota kit. The Love Your Layout series is great because it introduces you to new paper kits and My Stickease images and then teaches you a few techniques in an easy and simple style that anyone can follow. In this video, learn how to create a journaling box with a photo background, and dress up your layout using My Stickease^® images. Watch the video and then log in to Studio J^® to make your own!

Studio J^®: Jazzy Combination™

Happy trails!

Easy Party Planning with Cricut {Video}

Hello folks! I just saw this great video on YouTube and wanted to share it with you. With school in session, the kids birthday parties ramp up and Cricut Artiste is a great way to simplify your headache and make an extravagant impression - all at the same time. We have quite a few bridal and baby showers in our family this year and I know where I'm getting some of my decorating done in a snap!



See, just let the Cricut work for you so you have plenty of time to manage the other details of your event with ease. For more party ideas, see here, here and here.

Warm wishes everybody!

Lucky 13

I married my best friend thirteen years ago today. It seems like only yesterday, and yet, my how we have changed! A few more additions. 

A few more milestones! 

Brandon is the light of my life and I sure am the lucky one, here. A wonderful partner and companion, he keeps me on the straight and narrow. I know I couldn't have done what I have in life if he hadn't been here beside me. I love you, Bran. So much. And I am proud to stand by you as you stand up for what you believe in. This year is going to be our lucky one!

This layout was from the first class I ever taught as a Close To My Heart consultant. I still haven't finished my wedding album and I kind of consider it a work in progress, but this is still my favorite layout by far. It's remained unchanged since we made them some 4 and a half years ago. A winning combination of words and pictures, patterns and color. Lucky, to have never been revamped amid life's distractions. May the next 13 be as lucky as the past 13 have been! Love you, Bran!

Warm wishes,

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,

Thanks - Avonlea Style {Cricut Artiste}

Thanks to those who came to my Autumn/Winter Idea Book Open House this past Saturday! This is the card we made, from the Cricut Artiste cartridge. It's so simple and easy and only took about a minute to make, but what a presentation this makes to the reader. (It's even got bling!) Check out the bottom of my post to get the down-low.
We had so much fun, Saturday, playing with the new cartridge and learning the ropes of the booklets included with a much easier logical layout. And who could miss all the amazing projects I have in store for fall classes (no, there's no tests, but there is plenty of opportunity for higher education!)
Miss out? No problem! Just tune in here, because throughout the next week you can see the beautiful artwork I unveiled and the new curriculum, full of all the basics - Everyday Cards, Cricut 101, Free Studio J Core Classes and the return of the 5 Buck Layout at Play Dates! (Wow, I LOVE cheap dates!) Don't forget to contact me for your new Idea Book. It's chock full of brand new ideas and wonderful products to make your art come to life.
Speaking of amazing, for every 3rd Cricut cartridge purchased (Art Philosophy OR new Artiste), you get your name entered into a drawing to win $40 in free loot PLUS one item.of your choice at HALF OFF! Contact me today to get in on the deal!

Warm wishes,

Products: Avonlea Paper Pack, Cricut Artiste Thanks card cut at 3", flower cut from Avonlea Teal CS at 1 1/2" (from the "G" page), Mocha Opaques, Tombow, Pierce Tool

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Oh, Happy Day!

The wedding is still weeks away, but I have been having so much fun with the two stamp sets offered dirt cheap this month from Close To My Heart. This is another card from a pattern in Jeannette Lynton's new publication, Make It from Your Heart. You can see the other one I made earlier this week here.

In the close-up you can see the embossing detail on the lady's heart (or click on this or any image to see it larger) and the lift CTMH's 3-D Foam Tape gives to your art. I got the hearts idea from a pal, here, and gave it my own twist using Baroque Borders, the August Stamp of the Month, and a little of my favorite mix of embossing powder which you can learn about here. Top it off with a simple banner from It's Your Day to give the sentiment and we're rarin' to go (to the church on time..) I love how this turned out and how simply adding some stamps I was able to incorporate her colors of purple and turquoise.

 I just had to share these last few photos with you before I let you go. My sweet brother-in-law, Steve, helped my boys make this lovely bouquet of handmade flowers to surprise me with when I got home from work.

 They took some scratch paper and colored on origami flowers to make a fun and vibrant display! This is Aidan's with a bright red and turquoise "A" (his current favorite colors) on the flower to decorate his bloom.

Garrett got into the act going for a more Impressionist look, here. They each took time to personalize it and it sounds like they had a great time with Uncle Steve, too! Then we enjoyed the evening, dining al fresco on the back patio. (If you'd like to see more of these Life Pictures, "Like" my Facebook Business page and follow me on Pinterest and Twitter.)

Hope you all enjoy these last lazy summer days and see you this afternoon at the open house!

Warm wishes,





Card Supplies: Standard Card, White Daisy; 7/8" Black Grosgrain Ribbon; black and white stitched ribbon; Custom Embossing Powder Mix; Black Bitty Brads; Bitty Pearl Opaques; Cardstocks: White Daisy and Black; Stamps: Baroque Borders (Aug SOTM), It's Your Day (National Stamping Month Promotion); Inks: Gypsy; Papers: Magnifique Peacock Teal Tonal; Cricut, Artiste - 1 Black and 1 White Daisy Heart at 2"; one White Daisy Heart cut at 1 1/2"; one Black Scalloped Heart cut at 1 1/2".

The Mr. and Mrs {Bridal Shower}

As I told you yesterday, this is the second card I made for my niece, Paige's, bridal shower. You can not believe how dang easy this card was! As a mom of four, I am all about the time-saving now and this card won't let you down - if you have the secret ingredient! I won't keep you hanging *much*, but watch this video first. It tells you all about the August Love Your Layout in Studio J.

Wow, I just love Avonlea more and more every day! And Studio J is such a lifesaver, too, especially for those of us who may be, um, a little *behind*.

Ok, enough blather. The secret ingredient? Cricut Artiste! Here's the deets. I cut the Mr&Mrs in black cardstock at 4 1/4" (that's the height, not the width). Now, I need to make the base fit, so I measured and then cut the card at 5 1/2" out of White Daisy cardstock. Adhere the black to the white, then tie a cranberry ribbon in a bow and secure with a dab of Liquid Glass to mimic the "tux" on the "Mr." Then grab your Bitty Pearl Opaques and add 5 self-adhesive pearl "buttons" to the "Mrs." for the "dress". To attach the card to the basket I punched a hole in the corner and tied some Cranberry Twine to turn it into a cute tag, complete with my best wishes on the back. Oh, Snap! Baby, it doesn't get any easier than this! (You can slap me now for calling you baby.)

Artiste has plenty of fun sentiments for all your occasions, too, so don't let a lil' ol' bridal shower slow you down. There's baby, holiday and everyday sentiments among the almost 700 images on the cartridge. You ain't seen nothin' yet. Come to my Open House, this Saturday, August 25th from 1p - 4p and play around with the Cricut. You'll never look back.

Paige's Card {Bridal Shower}

Paige's Bridal Shower card, featuring Avonlea,
Baroque Borders and It's Your Day

I was priviledged to go to my niece, Paige's, bridal shower this past weekend and spend some time with the girls "showering" her with gifts and best wishes. My sister-in-law and her girls threw a fantastic party and my mom and I had a great time, though we missed having my sister there (she's in California). We gave Paige, Zac and Berklee a silverware set and then a separate laundry basket with lots of kitchen gadgets thrown in so I made her two cards; one for each gift. I haven't spent much craft time lately and it felt great to get out the ol' Tombow and paper trimmer!

Close up of the embossing detail

This card features our new Close To My Heart Avonlea papers and both the August Stamp of the Month (Baroque Borders) and the National Stamping Month Campaign (It's Your Day) stamp sets. The pattern is featured in Jeanette Lynton's new pattern publication, Make It from Your Heart. I cut the dress form and pattern from Cricut Artiste and then stamped Baroque Borders over the dress and heat embossed with a mix of white embossing powder and silver glitter (I love this custom mix!) to make the lace on the "wedding dress". Ink a Just Blooms Paper Flower with Smokey Plum and add a silver pearl from the Licorice Opaque collection to the center. Then I added a little Liquid Glass to the back and front of the burlap ribbon to hold it firmly in place on the card and make sure my dress form stayed where I put it. There was enough loft from the ribbon to "pop" the dress off the card base without adding any 3D Foam Tape, but I did use it under the sentiment to make it stand out. Super simple and easy, but it packs a lot of PUNCH!

Baroque Borders, August Stamp of the Month

The Stamp of the Month is only available through the end of the month at only FIVE BUCKS! It's exclusive and that means it goes away at the end of the month, so get it quick! You can get this set with any order totaling $50, including your Play Date purchases! And if you think that's hot, read a little more...

The double stamp set, It's Your Day, with almost 50 stamps,
is available now for National Stamping Month in September.

National Stamping Month is in September every year, and Close To My Heart throws a great celebration each year with an over-the-top giftie! This set is perfect for Project Life or any of your 12/365 scrapbook projects. You can get this early, from now until the end of September with any purchase totaling only $35! And guess what? You can combine these deals and get BOTH with your $50 order for only $10 more!! So if you got Cricut Artiste and, say, a new alcohol marker set, you could get two Stamps of the Month and two It's Your Day sets! The good times just keep rollin'!

Amazing things are afoot, here. You can see the other card I made for the second gift tomorrow on the blog, so come on back. In the meantime, stay safe and look for the Silver Lining!