BBTB2 Cricut: I Believe in Santa

This has to be one of my recent favorite layouts.  It came together pretty quickly as well, considering there are a lot of cuts - I think I used 13 mats for this one.  A Quilted Christmas is the featured cartridge, with Photo Props for the bubble words and Ashlyn's Alphabet used for the "I Believe".  I was impressed at how these intricate cuts turned out.  Melanie, of http://courtney-lane.blogspot.com/  is our hostess at BBTB2  this week and she has challenged us to use a Santa in our layouts, cards, and projects.  Ski on over to BBTB2 and post your Santa project to our challenge blog.

Can you tell who has been Naughty and who has been Nice this year?  Two of these little ones look guilty and the older one puts up a good front!   Really, I don't think there will be coal in their stockings. Merry Christmas to All, and to All A Good Cheer!

BBTB2 Cricut: Mr. Grinch Cricut Ornament

 This week I am hosting at Bitten By the Bug2.  I have selected the same challenge as I did last year, which is to "Use a Cricut cut on an ornament, or to Use a Cricut cut to make an ornament."   I hope you have been creating great Cricut projects and will link up your Cricut inspired ornaments onto our BBTB2 blog.

At our Crafty Girls Retreat a few weeks back, we had a fun challenge to decorate a clear ornament.  We then put them in a brown bag and played the "steal it" game.  I ended up with the blue bow ornament shown below.

Mine is the Grinch.  I found the svg online.  I made it about 2 inches big - it's really hard to put flat vinyl on a round ornament.  My first version with a full Grinch face didn't turn out as well as I would have liked, so I used this simple version.  It was a hit - I'm going to make more as part of my family white elephant exchange.

BBTB2 Cricut: Hello Kitty Christmas

Happy Holidays Friends,

By now, the Christmas spirit is in full sprint.  It's cold and rainy here, I'm inspired to put up the Christmas tree today, and put on holiday movies.  Crafting has filled my evenings and I completed 3 holiday layouts in the last few days.

My layout today is made to hold pictures of my granddaughter hanging ornaments on the tree.  Hello Kitty cuts came in perfect for this child-like layout.  The layout also includes cuts from Winter Frolic for the title and Create A Critter 2 for the small ornaments.  Lynn of http://mycardsnstuff.blogspot.com/ is our hostess at BBTB2 this week.  Our challenge is to use an animal or a bird in our project.  Join our Holiday inspired challenge at Bitten By the Bug 2.

BBTB2 - Holly Jolly Candlesticks

I have a 3D project to share today.  I've had these candlesticks forever.  I think they belonged to my grandma.  I used to decorate them with some cheap plastic holly, then just used them plain.  So a few days ago, while looking on the Design Space site under Christmas, I came upon this 3D poinsettia.  So I made 2 of them, used some glaze on everything, and some Stickles on the berries, and adhered them to the candlesticks. They were a little hard to photograph, they are much better in real life.  The glaze helped to make them shiny and give them a little more rigidity. 

Join us this week at BBTB2 to enjoy our creations and link up your card or project using Christmas plants - a holly, tree, greens, etc.  Laurie is our host, and came up with a great theme.  Happy Holidays everyone!

BBTB - Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all!  I am hosting dinner this year for about 10 members of the family.  Everyone is bringing something, so my work in the kitchen will be a lot less than previous years.  It works out good because everyone brings their specialty item and we all eat way too much of good food.

My granddaughter brought home the cutest Indian headband and turkey picture last week.  I had to make a scrapbook page, which fit right in with our BBTB2 theme this week.  Also notice the shirt she is wearing that I showed in a previous post.  So darn cute!

L.B. is our hostess, whe selected our challenge, which is to use the word 'Thanks' in our project.  Come join us while the turkey is in the oven and link up your 'thanks' project.

I've added Skittles from A Busy Bee, and did a lot of inking and some white gel pen to accent.  I'm going to ask my granddaughter what she is thankful for and journal her words in the bottom right of the page.  Cartridges used:  Autumn Celebrations, Animal Kingdom, Disney Classics

Linked to http://fantabulouscricut.blogspot.com/ Challenge 265, Thank you/Thanksgiving.
Linked to http://doubleclickconnections.blogspot.com - Thanksgiving challenge
Linked to http://littlescrappieces.blogspot.com/2015/11/show-it-off-saturday-linky-party-and.html - Give Thanks

BBTB2 - Cricut - Fall Leaf Candles

I have several different decorated candle jars to share with you today.  I used leaf cuts from various cartridges using my scraps (always like to use up scraps).  Then I inked the leaves with same and contrasting colors to make them more realistic.  I hot glued a strip of burlap onto a fall scented candle from the dollar store (frosted glass about 4 inches high).  I randomly adhered leaves and gemstones onto the front.

I'm putting these in the swag bags of our Crafty Girls retreat coming up this weekend.

Just so happens that this week Kelly from http://kellyskoncoctions.weebly.com/home, is hosting our BBTB2 challenge - which is to use fall leaves in a project or card. I love it when my projects and our challenges come together like this.  Join in our fall leaf challenge at Bitten By The Bug2 to link up your project.

I also got these skittles from ABUSYBEE to go in the swag bags.   They are one of my favorite embellishments, in fact, I hoard them.  There will be 8 of us crafting the weekend away.  This is our 5th year together.  We are going to a new place this year that's only about an hour away from home (SF bay area).  We have challenges and a handmade gift exchange and this year we are adding a Christmas ornament challenge and swap.   I'll post some pictures.

 

Okieladybug Challenge - Bee card

Okieladybug had a card challenge based on a bee and honeycomb sketch she supplied.  I had the day to play and easily uploaded her svg file into my Explore and made my version of her card in a snap.   Here it is:

BBTB2 - Thankful for Fall

A few years ago, I made a picture frame in a Cricut swap (see HERE) and said I would make another one for the granddaughter.  Well, now there are two grandkids, so I had better get going.  I had the base of another frame already painted, so got to work.  It's so easy when you have the design already on paper and the papers and pieces available.

At BBTB2 this week, the challenge is to use a Fall Pumpkin in our projects.   So I added a pumpkin at the bottom.  Perfect for the kids at the pumpkin patch.   The patch is called Joan's Pumpkin Patch and happens to be my granddaughters name too!

Frame and sunflower from - Michaels
Girl and Leaves from - A Child's Year
Joan from - Old West
Pumpkin from - October 31st

Link up your Cricut Fall Pumpkin card or project to our Bitten by the Bug2 blog this week.  Dany, our hostess, and the other designers would love you to enjoy our inspiration and to look at yours.  Happy Fall Y'all!

Halloween 2015 - Cricut - With the Pizza Guy

We were invited to a Halloween party with our long time Italian friends.   I was at a loss as to what we could be.  So, of course, I did what everyone else does, I went to Pinterest.   I found a boy dressed as a pizza guy.  That was my inspiration -  My husband would be a pizza maker and I would be the old Italian mama.   Now my husband is pure Italian, from Sicily, so this was perfect.  We were a hit at the party!

Husbands mustache and his slices of pizza were all made with my Explore in an hour. The Pizza insignia was from the internet.  I put the pizza on a string as we didn't want to hold our props the entire time.  His apron was decorated with Italian sayings - it came wrapped around a salami years ago.  I got his chef hat from the Dollar store and glued on a Sicily patch. My costume had some details that probably only Italians would understand - an apron with a wooden spoon and cannoli makers, a cross on a black necklace, glasses, an old hankerchief (normally kept inside the bra), a slight black mustache, a scarf wrapped tightly over the head, a housecoat, loafers with knee high stockings at the ankles. We had Sicily maps on dish towels tucked in our pockets.  I really loved it and glad I had a slight stroke of genius!

BBTB - Halloween Bat Layout

HAPPY HALLOWEEN    On BBTB2 this week we are using a 'bat' in honor of Halloween.   It was easy to incorporate a bat into my Halloween layout for this year.   It will contain pictures of my grandkids in their costumes.

Lots of Cricut cuts and color on this layout.

-Bat is from Holiday Cakes
-Girl Cat is from Trick or Treat
-Boy Monster is from Trick or Treat
-Happy Halloween is from Create a Critter 2
-Pumpkins are from Holiday Cakes
-Pumpkin treat bag is from Trick or Treat
-Cat is from Artbooking

Visit BBTB2 for my batty inspiration and to link up your BATTY project. 

Also linked to Hiding in My Craft Room #223 - Freestyle

Celebrate - Breast Cancer Awareness

Our BBTB2 Cricut designers blog is celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness month by making projects and cards featuring PINK and WOMEN.   I found this svg file that someone shared and changed it up a bit.  I love the simplicity and think it's perfect to send out to some friends in memory of how strong they have been in fighting this disease.   I'll make a few more and get them out ASAP.   They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and this one qualifies.

We invite you to link up your PINK / WOMEN project or card to our blog and enjoy our creations at BBTB2.  

Remember to get your mammogram, I have my appointment at the end of the month!

Linked to D. L. Art Linky party = Breast Cancer Awareness

Cricut BBTB2 - BEWARE of Halloween

Yes - BEWARE - it's time to eat candy, lots of candy.   It's been out for over a month now.  As of this writing, I haven't eaten any of it.   Can't say that will happen once my husband goes to the store and sees his favorites - Reeses Peanut Butter Cups. 

This is a little bit of a scary card to share this week.  I love the Frankenstein cut and I decided to go with dark colors.  I'll send it to an adult so that I don't scare any little ones.

Frankenstein is from the Cricut Autumn Celebrations cartridge.  The web is from Monster Bash and Stickled.  The spider is from Designers Calendar.  I just added a basic bracket background twice and pop dotted Frankie and it was done.

Take a look at our projects at  BBTB2 and  enjoy our creative Halloween projects.  I thank our hostess for the week, Melanie.

Cutest Pumpkin in the Patch

Sometimes I am a little challenged when working with Design Space files.  I could not get a shared file to work on my DS.  So I made my  own.  I downloaded a font from dafont.com that matched the examples and then used my subscription to make the half pumpkin.  I used the slice feature for the first time and this was also the first time getting a font.   I may not be learning it fast, but I'm getting there.   This Cutest Pumpkin in the Patch shirt is for my granddaughter.  The lettering is Gold Vinyl and turned out so cute - she can wear it for October and November.  I'm sure she will love it, I do!

Linked to Hiding in My Craft Room #218,  HIMCR218

Cricut BBTB2 - It's Fall, Y'all

Yes - Fall is in the air - the leaves on the trees have started to change here in Northern CA - where has summer gone?

I made a FALL Banner for my mantel. Since I made two of them, I alternated the letters to add extra color.  I had to stop with the embellishments, sometimes less is better.    It is my project this week at BBTB2.  Michelle, from http://cricutcrazyscrapper.blogspot.com/ is our hostess and has challenged us and you to use the word FALL or AUTUMN on a project or card.   Slip on over to BBTB2 and see our projects and link up one of your own.

FALL BANNER

Banner -  Home for the Holidays, Fall, Winter
Apple - Designers Calendar
Crow - Creativebug
Spider - Designers Calendar
Football Charm - Autumn Celebrations
Pumpkin - Autumn Celebrations

Cricut St. Patrick's Day: Who Wants a Pint of Beer?

I saw this on Pinterest or one of the Facebook groups I follow.   Thought it was so cute and added it to my list of projects.   My son-in-law is a beer lover and occasionally loves to go to breweries  or restaurants featuring local brews in Northern California.  Sometimes they bring the kids.   So I made a shirt for my SIL and my grandson.   I sliced the beer cut a bit and cut it with iron-on vinyl on my Cricut Explore.  It's from the St. Patrick's Day cartridge.

 

Cricut BBTB - Cookies For Santa

Melanie, my design sister from http://courtney-lane.blogspot.com/ came up with our BBTB2 challenge this week.   Since it is National Pecan Cookie Day, we have to make a project with a cookie using our Cricut.   I thought about this one for a while and decided I would make a Christmas layout entitled "Cookies for Santa".   It took a bit of time, the colors are quite busy, and I love the final version. 

I cut the Cookie Jar and Mrs. Santa using the print and cut feature, and cut the rest on my Explore.

Mrs. Claus is from Quilted Christmas
Cookie Jar from Kates Kitchen,
Holly from Deck the Hall
Gingerbread people from Gingerbread
Lights from Family Album

Join us this week for All About Cookies and see what the ladies have baked up for you.  It all smells and looks delicious!  Bitten By the Bug2

Disney Layout - Buzz Lightyear Blast Off!

Hi Everyone,  It's my day to host the challenge at Bitten By the Bug 2 this week.  I decided to 'let my imagination run wild' and have selected a Cricut 'imaginary character' cut.  This is pretty broad so I am expecting lots of fantastic and creative entries.  Your character can be Disney (like mine), a bug, a human-like character, or any make believe creature from the Cricut collection.   Link your project up to BBTB2 this week.  Enjoy!

We are planning to go with both sets of grandparents and the kids/grandkids to Disneyland soon.  I had this fantastic cut of Buzz Lightyear that I got in a swap last year and decided he was perfect for the challenge.   Many thanks to Lady Aruba for the time she put in to create this paper masterpiece. I added:

Planet from Life's A Party,
Blastoff from Stencil
Rocketship from Nifty Fifties,
and Stars from Cricut Basic Shapes.

 

New Profession: 49er's Draft Pick

We enjoyed the first pre-season 49ers Game a few weeks ago.  Safeway had a booth with props for taking pictures and of course, I am there!   My new profession is a 49ers player - you might not be able to see my sign but it says "49er's Draft Pick" and my husband is drinking a giant mug of beer. The other two pictures were taken inside the 49ers Museum at Levi's Stadium.

 This layout somewhat fits in to our BBTB2 Labor Day Challenge of making a project that has to do with a profession.   During this time of year, it's about baseball and football - two great professions that almost every young kid aspires to be.   All cuts are from the Family Album Cricut cartridge.

Join the fun at Bitten By the Bug2 and link up your Labor Day 'profession' card or project - it could be a fireman, a nurse, or even a baseball player.

Pre-School - I want to be a Rock Star when I grow up

My grand-daughter started her 2nd year of pre-school this week.  Mommy asked her a few questions to describe herself and she stated she wants to be a rock star when she grows up.  Not quite 4 years old and she wants to be able to sing "Shake It Off" like a rock star.  

Emily from Mollie's Motifis hosting our Bitten By the Bug2 challenge this week.  Come take a look at the Cricut cuts featuring school supplies and icons.   Join the challenge at BBTB2.

My cuts come from several cartridges:
-Pre-School - altered cut from K-12
-Pencil - From Family Album
-Sunburst background - from Artbooking
-School House - from 1st Few Years
-Crayons - from Recess
-Apple - from From My Kitchen, added 2015

BBTB2 - The Hula Dancers are Here

My granddaughter attended her cousin's 1st birthday party, complete with a luau theme.  The highlight of the evening was a hula dancer and her bongo playing companion.   As the picture shows, she was mesmerized by the dancing and costumes.   The girls as well as the guys each got lessons and showed off their dancing skills.

Our theme this week at BBTB2 is "Fruits of Summer" and Brenda is our hostess.  Won't you join in the fun and create a project with your Cricut and link it up to our BBTB2 blog?  Love to have you.  Aloha! from Bitten by the Bug 2.

Cartridges used:  Luau for Pineapple and 2 tiki men, Life's a Beach for words, center tiki man, and hula girl.  I used my Stampin' Up Blendabilities instead of inking.  I like how I could use several colors for the grass skirt and pineapple top as well as highlighting the flowers in the hula girl.

BBTB2 - Cricut Birthday Cake Card

Hello Friends.  Today I am sharing a birthday cake card with you.   Our BBTB2 challenge this week is to use a birthday cake Cricut cut on a card or project. Our hostess, Melanie, would love if you join our challenge.   I used cuts from Pretty Pennants, Classroom December and Paper Lace.   I took the 'Happy Birthday' icon and put it inside a blank pennant.  Not quite sure about my color choices, but I had something in mind and just went with it.   The background is brown but I think it looks black in the picture.

I would love for you to link up your 'birthday cake' card to our Bitten By the Bug Challenge this week.  Follow the link and enjoy our designer's projects.

BBTB2 - High Chair 1st Birthday Deco

I have a one of a kind high chair decoration to share today.  I was asked to create a 1st Birthday decoration for the little one's high chair.    It was a great time.  I went bold and I love how it turned out.  It really only took about a hour to design and cut out, and another hour to ink and glue together.  It is held on with sticky tape.  As you can tell, the theme of the party was Hawaiian.  There were hula dancers, a BBQ, tiki bar, and we all dressed in the theme. The name Kaia means 'By the Sea' and she was so named after her parents love of Hawaii.   There are pictures of a few other items I created for the birthday girl.  I used "Life's a Beach" cartridge for most everything you see here.

Our hostess this week at Bitten by the Bug2 is the very talented Valentyna, and she has a challenge to create anything with a sea theme - sand,  beach, tropical.  How fun --- I knew I would like this one.  Join us by linking up your tropical project made with Cricut cuts at BBTB2.  With the summer vacations in full swing, why not create something that will make you think of paradise.

 

High Chair Bling

 Paint stenciled towel and vinyl sand-pail

BBTB2 - Staying Cool In the Pool

Since it's National Watermelon Day, Susan, our hostess this week at BBTB2, has selected a watermelon cut for our challenge.   You can join in our Cricut challenges by linking up your project to Bitten By the Bug 2.  Rules on the blog.

My layout includes cuts from lots of different cartridges:
Watermelon and Popsicle - Simply Charmed
Cooling Off  and Wave - Artbooking
Pool - H2O
Picnic Basket, Ants, and PICNIC - Family Album
SPLASH - Pack Your Bags

My little grandson loves the pool.  He has a sit-in floatie but sometimes I just hold him so he can splash, splash, splash!  I happened to have the camera ready when he was pretending he was Top Model of the Year.  And yes, the camera also captured a not so perfect pose of brother and sister - well that's life!  Love all the pictures and how this Coolin' Off layout came together.

BBTB2 - Shaped Dolphin Card

We are getting shaped up this week at BBTB2.  Our task is to create a shaped card.  I don't know why, but this was one of the fastest projects I've done in a while.  Maybe because it turned out just like I envisioned.  Join us at BBTB2 to link up your 'shaped birthday/other card' to our blog and enjoy the creativity.

My husband's grand-niece has just finished her first four years of college and has been accepted into vet school.  The party for her is animal themed and we have to come dressed as an animal.  Yikes, what to do about that?   She did her internship teaching dolphins in the Caribbean somewhere so I thought to use this cute dolphin from "Whales and Dolphins", adding the Way to Go from "3 Birds on Parade" and the graduation hat from "Recess".  I just glued it at the top and had a card.  I really like how it turned out and think I'll make some more shaped cards.

BBTB2 - Summertime means Pool Time

We recently put in a gazebo in the backyard next to the pool.  There is a seating area with tan cushions.  I am decorating a little bit with turquoise accents.   When I saw this tray at Walmart. it was calling my name and it wanted to be decorated.   I love the split initial projects that are popular right now and used a file created by Narelle  on Cricut Lovers Guide to Design Space to create my project for BBTB2 this week.  Let me tell you, I had to cut this more than once from white vinyl.  When weeding the negative space, the waste stuck to the good parts and it was impossible to 'unstick' the two.  Since the lines are so thin I had a hard time separating the keeper from the waste.  However, the end result is positive!

Our theme, hosted by Sharon, is to create a card or project that has anything to do with water or swimming.   I'll use my tray to carry out dinner to the gazebo on those nights when it's too hot to eat indoors.  I love this tray and plan on making one for my sister and sister-in-law.  Link up your summer pool Cricut projects to our BBTB2 blog this week. Yes the gladiolas are from my yard.  Stay cool!

BBTB - Take a Hike Layout

It's hot here in Northern California this past week.  We all stayed by the fan or in the pool when it was over 100 degrees.  And wouldn't you know my A/C has decided to freeze up in the worst way.  It's 31 years old, so guess it's time for a new one.   A few weeks ago we went up to our ski club on Donner Summit (about an hour from Lake Tahoe) with my family.  The weather was perfect for hiking and exploring.   My granddaughter was quite the trooper and enjoyed the freedom of the outdoors and being the 'leader' of our hikes. And the little guy was comfy in the backpack, sleeping most of the time! 

Our challenge this week at BBTB2 is being hosted by Pam of http://stamperatheart.blogspot.com/.  Since we need some shade during these summer days, she wants us to use a tree in our design.    Since we were up in the mountains with lots of pine trees and wildflowers, I thought my layout was perfect for the challenge. Tree scene from Outdoor Man, compass and 'Take a Hike' frame from Camping Critters (altered for photo addition), and boot from Camp Out.   I would love for you to join us at BBTB2 and submit your 'summer tree' card, layout or project.  Enjoy!

BBTB2 - Happy 4th of July Banner

How do you capture a 4 foot banner in photographs?  Not easily.   I came up with a 4th of July banner to decorate my family room fireplace using cuts from several cartridges.  I think it looks pretty festive up against the white background.

At BBTB2 this week we are in the spirit of freedom, and must use a Flag or Banner for the 4th of July.   Join us in celebrating the USA!   Michelle is our hostess selecting our patriotic theme.

Uses the following cartridges:  Old West, Photo Booth Props, Summer Celebrations, and Independence Day.

jj

The whole banner, small as it is

I Won - Burlap Flowers from Tracy

Hoorah!   I am a follower of lots of blogs and once in a while I enter contests or Random Acts of Kindness giveaways(RAK).  This past month I won something!!!

My present was a big selection of handmade burlap flowers.   They are made by Tracy from Country Charm by Tracy.   She put up a video on how to make the flowers and also posted cards she made.  (her blog link will take you to the video)  Thank you so much Tracy.  I will be starting on some layouts and cards soon!

 

BBTB2 Cricut Food Item

In celebration of National Onion Ring Day our hostess this week - Melanie, has asked us to use a food item in our BBTB2 challenge.   This was an easy one for me as I had just finished making a 3D BBQ box card designed by Becky Fisher Eppley, who shared it on the Cricut Lovers Guide to Design Space group on Facebook.  Since there were no instructions, I was on my own to figure out how all the pieces went together - a few of the pieces were challenging since they were so small.  I made the cuts with the 2 week free images in Design Space.  Since there is no telling what cartridges were used in some cases, I am glad it was all free to cut.   After the free subscription ended, it would have cost me $16 to cut - wow!

I am giving this card to my son in law for his 30th birthday.  He loves to camp, BBQ, and smoke meats and cheeses.  Join us this week and submit your food item card or project at BBTB2.

Cricut Father's Day Cards

I made 4 Father's Day cards for the men in my life.  All completely different, all made with my Cricut Explore.  Can you guess who gets which card?   My husband is a big sports person, my son-in-law loves different kinds of beer, my brother is currently remodeling a summer house, and my brother-in-law is an all around great guy.

Cricut Make It Now project

I altered a SVG for the first time

File created by someone on Cricut FB

Free DS Image of the week