Hand Made Ornaments

Oh My Gosh, so little time, and so much to do before Christmas arrives.   A few weeks ago we had a dishwasher fire.  We are okay, but the cabinet is not and there was a lot of smoke damage, so everything from floor to ceiling had to be cleaned in the kitchen/family room.  My lesson learned is to not run your washer, dryer, or dishwasher while you are not home.  I was about to go to bed when I smelled the dishwasher smoking; our damage would have been much worse if I had not been so close.

This weekend I was trying to get caught up with my crafts/presents and still attend a few Christmas parties.  I have a few ornaments that I made to share with you today.  I am hosting the Bitten By the Bug (BBTB2) challenge this week, which happens to be to use your Cricut to create an ornament or use an ornament cut on your project.  I would love to see your hand made ornaments, just use the link to go to our BBTB2 blog, and link up your project.

This first one has a Dollar Store glittered snowflake as the background.    I used the Artiste cartridge to create 6 layers and a bow, stacking each layer and adding dimension.  It's hard to tell, but the paper is holiday music and red/green holly.  I finished off the bow with a gem and Stickles.

Also linked up to:
Fantabulous Cricut challenge -Anything goes

My 2nd ornament is one that goes to a dear friend who had breast cancer this year.  I am also giving one to her daughter and daughter-in-law for their trees.  I used the Cricut Artbooking cartridge for the pink ribbon and words:   Love, Hope, Strength, 2014.  I finished off the top by hot gluing on a piece of pink boa and a ribbon for hanging.   It really was quite easy to make, it just took some time to get the letters on straight.  I think she'll love it.



6x6 Recipe Swap

This is the third year I have participated in JeanP's recipe swap.  We were to make 17 6x6" recipe cards, decorating them and sending them to Jean to swap back to us.   17 of one thing is a lot of work!!  However, I am pleased with the final card, there is not a lot of room to decorate when that small.  Here is my recipe card.  I found the recipe on Pintrest and it's a good one.  Poinsettia from Joys of the Season cart, and swirls from Artiste.

Christmas Tree Gift Tags

I cut several Christmas Trees from the Winter Frolic cartridge with the intent of making tags for presents.  I wanted to use my collection of skittles from A Busy Bee on my trees.  I ended up with Stickles and Skittles for my decorations and a couple of different sized trees.   I had cut several Piglets as well, and he just looked so cute with a tree behind his back!  I'm still tired from Thanksgiving cooking and cleaning and entertaining that I didn't go shopping in the stores but did a little online; it's so nice when delivery to the house is free.

Our talented designer Jayne, from across the pond, is our hostess this week at BBTB2.  She is getting in the Christmas spirit with a Christmas Tree challenge.  If you want to join our challenge, just link your project up to our blog this week.  Rules on the blog.  Hope you like my creations.

Happy Thanksgiving 2014

Here are a few holiday cards I am sending to wish friends a Happy Thanksgiving.  Made with ATCs that I received in a swap. Makes it so simple to put a nice card together.  I don't save ATCs, I use them on my projects.

Give Thanks Layout with Pilgrim

As Thanksgiving nears, I have focused my scrapbooking and card making on all things fall.  I have a simple layout to share this week at BBTB.  You will recognize it as a favorite if you like the Artbooking cartridge.  I added a pilgrim couple that I got in a swap, which is from the Speaking of Fall cartridge.

Emily from Mollie's Motif, is our hostess this week at BBTB.  Our challenge is "Give Thanks".  Join us if you have time by posting your 'thankful' project at BBTB.  Rules listed on the blog.

Also linked up to:

Heart to Heart - NO Rules
DianamLarsen - Anything goes
Fantabulous Cricut Challenge - Give Thanks
My Craft Spot - Thanksgiving/Fall

Musical Happy Birthday

My friend gave me some vintage sheet music to make cards.  She is selling the music and old book pages on Amazon.  Here is a simple card, suitable for all ages.  I might keep it for someone who loves music.  Die cuts were given to me.

Musical Kitchen Towels

I hope you like the humor in my project today.  I made these kitchen towels for a special someone who loves music and loves to cook.  I saw these on Pinterest, and made my own version.  They were pretty easy and turned out so HOT!   I used the From My Kitchen Cricut cartridge along with iron on vinyl for all of them, but used various carts for the lettering.

Diana from D.L.Art, is our hostess at BBTB2 this week.   She allowed our creativity to run wild, and selected an "Anything Goes" theme using our Cricut machine.  I am happy to show you my project, won't you join us and link up a Cricut based project (card, layout, project) at BBTB2 this week?

Giving Thanks at Thanksgiving Time

I could have made a nice card this week with my cuts, but in a moment of creativeness, I thought to decorate my outdoor pumpkin for Thanksgiving.   Using the Cricut Celebrate with Flourish, Autumn Celebrations, and the Lovely Floral cartridges, this project came together pretty easily.  Of course I like to add ink and Stickles on almost anything. The Love, Family, and Friends are cut outs from patterned paper. I pop dotted all the cuts so that in total it is about 1" off the page.  It is displayed on my out door entry table.  I hope you enjoy my project and my blog entries.

First - I was chosen as the weekly Guest Designer at My Sheri Crafts.  Yahoo, I am thrilled.  The theme is "#146 - It's Turkey Time" - Add a Turkey to your card/project (11/8/14 - 11/21/14).  I love all the fall colors and just came back from a trip to the east coast to see the fall foliage.  In the mountains there were trees full of color as far as I could see. There is always great participation in Sheri's challenges, so come and join.  Gobble, Gobble!

Second - Caroline from http://cardcreationsbycaroline.blogspot.com/ is our BBTB2 hostess this week (starting 11/10/14), and she wants us to use a Cricut pumpkin in our projects.   Join us at BBTB2 to link up your pumpkin card, layout, or project!  Happy Fall!

Also linked to the challenge at Cut it Uo Challenge blog.   http://cutitupchallenges.blogspot.com

Also linked to the Stuck On You Sketches blog where the theme is fall colors.

Go 49ers

This has been an exciting sports season.  The SF Giants have won the World Series and we are still celebrating.  My husband and I are long time fans of the Giants and 49ers.  We have been going to 49er games together for over 30 years!   This year the 49ers moved to a new Stadium in Santa Clara.  It is awesome, and so exciting to go to the inaugural season games.  Our seats are further away in the new stadium, but still have a great view.   A few weeks ago, we were a football pass away from Jed York, the owner of the 49ers (we were seated right below the luxury box that he was in).

I am so excited to create a layout for BBTB2 this week, as the theme for our challenge is FOOTBALL!   Brenda, of Friends Craftin with Friends, is our hostess.   Of course I had to make a layout using our ticket and pictures of the new stadium.  Join us in linking up your "football" related project this week at BBTB2.  My 3 cuts were done with the "All Sports" cartridge.  I wish I could have fit more cuts on the page - just not enough space!   Go SF Forty Niners!  Congrats SF Giants!

I'm Dying to Meet You

I have one more Halloween themed 3D item to show off this week.  It's a coffin from the Cricut CTMH Artiste cartridge.  That cart also has all the other items as well (except the bat).  The 'Spooky' was cut twice and glued and Stickled.  The RIP and the clock seemed to match the paper so were added as well.  The skeleton was cut twice, once he ripped, so parts went under the coffin to look like another one was below.  I hand cut a black shadow around the skeleton as there is no shadow cut.

We were challenged to create a box using our Cricut machine for our weekly challenge.  Jayne, from Jane Designs is our lovely host and encourages all of us to link up a 'box' project to BBTB2.  Come join us, this is a fun one.

Witches and Zombies

Susan, from Busy with the Cricky, is hosting our challenge this week at Bitten by the Bug.  She challenged us to use a witches hat in our project.   I happened to stumble across some inspiration from the CTMH blog, where they gave some basic instructions and Cricut cuts.  This project took quite some time to make, and I am pretty happy how it turned out. (and quite different from my original inspiration)  The zombies are from A Frightful Affair and all other cuts (flowers, web, RIP, cat, and leaves) are from the Artiste cartridge. The witch and the word Spooky are from a package of K and Co. die cuts.  I used a lot of ink and glitter along with some Stickles on just about every cut.  I just purchased a multi-pack of autumn colored glitter and I wanted to see how many of the colors I could use.  I hot glued most of the cuts onto the hat.  Bet you didn't guess that the trim of spider webs on the bottom of the hat are the cupcake liner cut from Artiste, pretty cleaver!

I invite you to view the fantastic projects made by my design sisters.  Come on over and take a look and post your Witches Hat project this week at BBTB2.

 

 

 

Visiting Sturbridge, MA

I was anxious to scrap some of the pictures from my recent trip to New England.  A friend and I went to Old Sturbridge Village as part of our tour.  We wandered around the park which contains old buildings from the 1800's, people dressed in period costume, and learned how our forefathers lived.  One woman was minding the store, showing off goods for sale; the blacksmith was making candle snuffers, and another man told us about the Quakers.

The first scrapped pages of my trip were designed to join in the challenge at BBTB2 this week, hosted by the lovely Sharon.  Her challenge is to use a cow in our project.   So, with the country scenery pictures, I thought a farm theme would fit right in.   Cow, weather vane, sun, barn, and pig are from Country Life.  The scroll, feather, and ox cart (scroll for journaling) are from Heritage.  The pumpkins are from CCR Basics. I inked and Stickled a lot of the cuts.  I used patterned paper that reminded me of the era in time.   Join us by linking up your 'cow' creation at BBTB2.

Fall Decoration - Flower Ball

Yes - Fall is in the air.  I just came back from a trip to New England, visiting 3 new states.  We started in Boston, MA, and made a big circle through New Hampshire and Vermont with a small visit to Maine, ending back in Boston.  We were a little early for the foliage in Boston, but NH and VT were ablaze with color and the weather was in the 70's.  This is the first time we took a tour bus, and I loved it.  No getting lost, no hoping we find a gas station soon, check-in at the hotels was done for us, and some meals provided.  The highlight for me besides the fall colors was touring Martha's Vineyard, oh, how I would love to vacation there.

I'm glad I put out my fall decorations before I left, as I am now in the mood for pumpkins, mums, and cornstalks.  Pam, from http://stamperatheart.blogspot.com/ is our hostess at BBTB this week, and she selected Fall Leaves as our theme.  I don't have many leaves on my project this week, but have lots of Fall color to show.  I used several Cricut cartridges on this one, (Pooh and Friends, Artiste, Forever Young, and maybe others).  I used the hot glue gun to attach the flowers to a Styrofoam ball that I painted brown, and filled in with sprigs of berries.   The flower ball sits on fall leaves that are also Cricut.   Come on over to BBTB2 and link up your Fall Leaf project or card.

Also linking up to http://myshericrafts.blogspot.com

ATC Cards - Swap on Cricut MB

Jean P hosts a swap every few months on the Cricut message board.  This quarter the theme is Autumn, Halloween, and Thanksgiving.  Other requirements were that the background had to be stenciled and we had to use a stamp somewhere on the ATC.   I usually include a Cricut cut, this is the first time I didn't.   I decided to work outside the box and go with a football theme.  To me, fall is the start of football, and we are long time 49ers fans.  Here are the ATCs, I plan on making cards with a lot of them.

 



30 Years of Figs

Our first house in 1981 had a fig tree in the corner.  We didn't really live in a hot climate, so the figs were small and limited.  I took a cut from that fig tree when we moved and put it in a coffee can.  There it sat for several years, getting water once in a while.  It never outgrew the can.  Then one day I planted it, and the rest is history.  It is right at home at our 2nd house and this year has produced lots of fruit.  I had a chance to go back to this house and pick some figs a few weeks ago.  It was then I realized that tree has been there for 30 years and just had to take some pictures to 'preserve' the scene.  Time for some fig cookies!

This week at BBTB2 our challenge is to use nuts or squirrels on our project.  I used a couple of different squirrels, who love these figs just as much as I do.  They sit on the top of the fence and chow down.  Michelle, from cricutcrazyscrapper is our lovely hostess for the week, and she invites you to view our creations over at BBTB2 and submit a project.   Squirrels are from CampOut and Animal Kingdom, figs are from Preserves, and the tree is from CampOut, using CCR I stretched it.  Gate is from Freshly Picked.

Butterfly Kisses from Daddy

This is one of the first wedding pictures I have scrapped.  It's almost a year, so I had better get crafting if I am to have an album done for Christmas!   This is my son in law giving a butterfly kiss to his daughter.  (yes they got married after the DGD was 2).  The colors were green and brown, thus the color palette.  The Hello Kitty Butterfly and words are from Hello Kitty Font, and the butterflies are from Once Upon A Princess.   I was inspired by a Post from Faith Abigail, I wish she was still posting, her designs are beautiful.

Melanie is our hostess this week at BBTB2.  Her challenge to all is to use a Cricut butterfly in our projects or cards.   I knew which cut I wanted to use right away.  I am really happy with this layout, it is one of my all time favorites (I have a new fav every other month).  Come over to BBTB and link up a butterfly project.

Crazy like Daisy

This week at BBTB2, Mayra is hosting our challenge.  She has given us freedom to use any Cricut die cut.   I went with a cart that I love but haven't used much --  Mickey and Friends.  I used a few crazy photos of my Granddaughter with the cutest Daisy die cut.  It was so much easier to put all the paper pieces together when it's a larger size.

Come join us and link up your Cricut project at BBTB2.  I am sure there will be some great entries.

You can Never have too many Purses

It seems I never have the right gift bag for the occasion.  So I thought I would make a few so that I am not giving out just plain bags.   This one took a while to put together and I like how it turned out.  I restricted myself and didn't add too much bling.   The wording was cut using Kates ABCs, as well as the middle purse.  The first and third purse were cut with Forever Young.  The background paper is from DCWV - Ciao Bella Stack.

Diana, of DLArt, is our hostess this week at BBTB2.  She got a little girly on us and challenged us to create a Cricut project using a 'purse die cut'.   I had been wanting to make something feminine for a while.  Link up your 'purse' to our BBTB2 blog this week, there are sure to be lots of fancy purses to choose from!

What a Parade!

Celebrate Freedom - we really don't think about it much.  I've been to several countries where the quality of life for some is very poor and the governments do not give assistance.  Yes - I am proud to be an American - Let's CELEBRATE FREEDOM.  My photos today are from a small town parade we went to this year on the 4th of July.  What a great turnout and it lasted a whole 20 minutes!

I used my new cartridge, Something to Celebrate for the banner backgrounds and the word Celebrate.  I created another banner and put the word Freedom from Create a Critter 2 on top.  Fireworks from CAC2, and the boy with flag from A Child's Year.


Our sweet friend, Brenda, from friendscraftinwithfriends is hosting our challenge this week at BBTB2.   Since it's Labor Day weekend, she has asked us to create a patriotic themed project.  I hope you can join us and make a project to celebrate the day!

Fashion in the 90's - Graduation

When looking for some pictures of my daughter as a bridesmaid, I ran across several pictures of her 8th grade graduation.  I decided to make a layout with her and her friends all dressed up for the occasion.  At the time, the kids all wore nice attire, but had to follow certain rules.  I understand today's graduation is much more casual. 

I am hosting our challenge this week at BBTB2, which is to use a dress form or dress Cricut cut in your project.   I just got the French Manor cartridge so I used it to cut the dress form.  Then I added the word "fashionista" from the Forever Young cartridge.  Who doesn't love Graphic 45 papers, (but hates to use their stash) the hues and corset background paper coordinated so nicely.

Link up your dress form/dress project at BBTB2 this week.  We love to see your creations.

Fun in the Hawaiian Sun

This week at BBTB, Laura is our hostess (Crafty Chicks Creating).  Her choice for our challenge is to use a 'sun' Cricut cut in our project.  Today, I used the sun as a sunset on the Hawaiian shore.  Six of us took a trip to Maui in 2012 and had a wonderful vacation.  One of the highlights was dinner at Mama's Fish House on Maui.  I took pictures of all the couples on the beach and then some pictures of the sunset later in the evening. Mama's is highly recommended for a really nice (i.e. expensive) leisurely dinner.  I made an entire mini album of our trip using G45 Tropical Travelogue.

Most of the cuts on this layout come from the "Life's a Beach" cartridge.  The sun is from "Pooh and Friends", and the "Maui" lettering is from Rock Princess.  Post your 'sun' project, using a Cricut cut, at BBTB2, and also come see the design team creations.

Apple for the Teacher

Jaren from Purple Paradise Creations is hosting our BBTB2 challenge this week.  She has selected an Apple cut, inspired by the start of school.   After cutting several apple die cuts from the Preserves cartridge, I brought out my Graphic 45 'ABC Primer' paper pack and started creating.  I ended up making 6 cards since I am running low on everyday cards.  I am showing 3 of them here.   Come join us in creating an 'apple' card or layout, it will brighten your day, it did mine.

She's a Lady-Bug

Here is a quick card I put together using a cut I got in a swap.  My daughter always needs birthday cards so I am making up a several cards.  I used a rub-on for the sentiment.  Who remembers the song Ladybug, Ladybug, fly away.......?

Camping, Off Roading, and Quilting

Did you see the title and think 'what?? Those don't go together!".   Well, on this last trip, they sure did.  The girls went off to a quilt show, quilt supply shopping, and a sewing expo, and the guys went off road exploring along the river, a fish hatchery, and just relaxing.  This page is for the guys, future pages will have lots of quilt pictures. 

At BBTB2 this week, Emily, from Mollie's Motif, is hosting our challenge.  She has asked us to use the Campin' Critters or any other camping themed cut from Cricut.   Campin Critters is one of my favorite cartoonish cartridges.  I have used it a few times this year already for BBTB2.   I put a few cuts down on torn paper with a tree background (DCWV).  The food cooler has two tags ready for my journaling.   Come on over to BBTB2 and let's see what you can create with a camping theme.

My Sister's Birthday Card

My sister hit the big 50!   Along with her gift I made this card from the Country Life cartridge.  She is into sewing quilts as her latest hobby so I wanted to incorporate a quilt in her card.   The paper is from DCWV Craft stack.  Perfect for this card, but it limited the color combos for my quilt.  Happy Birthday Sis.

I used rubon's for the 'sisters', the saying, and the inside of the card.

Just Bee-ing Joan layout

Our talented BBTB leader has selected the challenge this week.  Our theme is to use a Cricut cut bee  (buzz buzz) in our project.   I have another layout of my granddaughter, this time, more up to date.  She is a silly girl just bee-ing herself.   Join us by linking up your 'bee' project to the BBTB blog.  We would love to see your creations.

I used a new technique this week, which is a subtle background.  I purchased 12x12 acrylic sheets online and this is my first attempt at making overlays with them.   I used the beehive hexagon overlay from Artbooking and cut it almost full size.  I put this on my 12x12 cardstock and spritzed with Perfect Perals cooper color.   You have to look closely to see it in this picture, as I covered up almost all of it.  I'll try the technique again using paints or some other medium.   I used Pooh and Friends for the bees, hive, and the word Joan, using velum and Stickles for the wings.  I used Artbooking for the word Bee-ing, shadowing it 2 times.  I cut the border hexagon shape for the black border, that side needed something to balance the page.  The lotus flower is from Kate's ABCs, covered in Stickles.

ATC Summer 2014 Swap - Cricut Message Board

This is about the 4th ATC (Artist Trading Card) swap I have participated in on the Cricut Message Board.  Our theme this time is beach, vacation, or summer.   I knew I wanted to use the Life is a Beach cuts on my cards.  I embossed the starfish, embellishing with a small star, I inked the sand dollar, and I Stickled the coral.  A net background, and Perfect Pearls all over completed the card. (looks like I cut off the bottom of the picture, oops)   I can't wait to see what the other 14 ladies have come up with.   Do you collect or make ATCs?

Owl Challenge - Double Posts

Hi Everyone - This week I am hosting the challenge at BBTB2, and it is OWLS.  I see them everywhere, on material, home decor, and lots of art projects.   There are 45 different Cricut cuts with owls on them, you are sure to have at least a few in your cartridge collection.  Please join our challenge over at BBTB2.  I would love to see "Hoo" participates.

I have two projects for you this week, both with owls.  It was hard to choose between the two, so I didn't!  First up, a Tootsie Pop and Tootsie Roll 60th birthday present I created using a bag of Tootsies from Costco.  I hot glued them onto a styrofoam ball on top of a vase.   I put the Dots inside the vase, and the top part lifts off when someone wants candy.   The owl is from Paisley, and the balloons from Celebrations.  My second project is an opening page of a baby book that I made for a sweet little boy.  It also uses the Paisley owl, and the saying and title are from Artbooking.