BBTB2: Cricut Santa's Coming to Town

Our spirit was renewed at Christmas once the grandkids came along.  The innocence of believing in Santa, the marveling at sparkly decorations, and learning to sing Jingle Bells just melts my heart.  My layout today includes a picture of my granddaughter from a few years ago.  She came over to help decorate my tree.  She was wearing a dress that her mother wore when she was young, and the stuffed Santa was made by my mother.  Thus, this picture deserves a layout of it's own.

You can join in the Christmas fun by linking up your Christmas cards and layouts/projects that include a Santa Cricut cut to our Bitten By the Bug2 Blog HERE:

My vintage feel has lots of cuts on it:

Tree, Santa, Banner, and Title:  Winter Frolic
Snowflakes:  Artbooking, Don Juan, and A Child's Year
Deer: Wildlife
Presents:  Artbooking
Background Frame:  Artiste

BBTB2: Cricut - Santa's Sharing Treats

I made a treat box with Santa's face for our Bitten By the Bug2 challenge this week - which is "Use a Jolly Old St. Nick/Santa cut" on a card or project.   I think I am going to make several of these for favors on the dinner table.  Of course, they will hold chocolate!  (my husband loves the Chocolates of the World from Costco.  I think they are not as good as they were several years ago.

My pie shapped box is from Tags, Bags and Boxes and More and the Santa face is from Simply Charmed (edited) and I added a mustache from the Santa in Doodlecharms. Stickles and ink add the bling.

BBTB2: Cricut - Christmas Time is Near

Well, I finally got a few scrapbook pages done from when my granddaughter was 2.  She's now 6, so you can see how far behind I am.  I have lots of paper and embellishments for Christmas, but I never seem to get them scrapped.  Our Bitten By the Bug2 team has some great Christmas themes for our challenges over the next few weeks, and that helped me get these pictures done.  Our theme this week is "Christmas Trees".  It is the season, thus, my title, and a little old fashioned truck carrying a fresh cut tree in the back.  I managed to get in 3 pictures from an outing of walking about in the neighborhood just before dark.  She really was in awe of the blow-ups.  A fun day.

Our wonderful hostess this week is Janis from Pause, Dream, Enjoy.  Link up your project related to Christmas Trees to our blog - Bitten By the Bug2 - HERE.

BBTB2: Cricut Frosty Cold Winter Card

Join in our challenges at Bitten By the Bug2 by linking up your project to the theme for the week.  To enter, you need a blog, Flicker, or Pinterest account.  Our theme this week is to use a Cricut cut featuring a scarf, mitten, coat etc.  Here is my creation, a Frosty Snowman with his top hat and scarf.  It was designed by Pat Johnson, who is posts her files on the FB group Cricut Design Space.  She uses basic shapes and performs her magic.  The snowman is from basic shapes as well as the background outline of the scene.  This was a really easy card to cut and assemble. A little bit of Stickles to round out the scene.  Have a great week.

Join our challenges HERE:

Here are the cartridges used:
Hat:  Wedding
Fun: Cricut Font
Frosty:  Winter Frolic
Background shape:  Songbird
Snowman:  Basic Shapes

Stampin' Up: Fall Leaf Card

I had two sympathy cards to get out today in the mail.  Here is one of them.  Done with Stampin' Up "Vintage Leaves" set.  I made several die cuts with a friends die and then I stamped them with my stamp set.  The background is a blend of Distress Oxides, love how all are different and do represent the falling of the leaves.  The embossed background is really a light lavender, hard to tell in the pic.  At the time, I left the sentiment section blank and just added it today.

BBTB2: Cricut - Thankful Heart for Thanksgiving

Where oh where does the time go?  It's Thanksgiving, time to reflect on our year, family, and our decisions throughout the year.  This year I am thankful for another healthy year, for losing weight and feeling better, for a third grandchild, and a great stock market!

I made a Thanksgiving sign that I put into an 8x10" frame that will go with my decor for the holiday.  I made it print and cut, but really if I had enough time, should have cut it out individually.  There were 3 cartridges used:

Turkey and plaid - Thanksgiving Table Decor
Thankful Heart saying - Phrases
Blue background - Songbird

Join in our "Thanksgiving - Anything Goes Challenge" over at Bitten by the Bug2 and link up your holiday craft or card.  Our hostesses have created Thanksgiving cards and such, inspiring your creativity, I hope.  The link can be found HERE.   Happy Thanksgiving.

BBTB2: Cricut - A League of Their Own Baseball Layout

This layout takes me way back as I used pictures of when my kids were little.  I had these in a double frame in my office and since I am in 'purge' mode these days, out went the frame and in went the pictures into a layout.  These pictures are over 20 years old, I had written on the back of one (so important to do) that my son was 9 at the time, he's now 31.  I've had that baseball paper for a long time too.

Our theme this week at Bitten By the Bug2 is a "book or movie theme", meaning you creation should be related to a book or a movie.  As you can see I picked "A League of Their Own" as my theme for the week.  Amy, from AOCreations, is our sweet hostess.   Join in our challenge and submit your project or card to our Bitten By the Bug2 blog Linky by using your blog or Pinterest links.

Baseball:  Close to my Heart - Artbooking
Baseball: (also my journaling spot) - Life's A Party
Font - Alien
Sign - All Sports
Baseball Player - Autumn Celebrations (altered original card)
Champs banner - Autumn Celebrations
Bat and Ball - Father's Day
Square shape - Basic free shapes

BBTB2: Cricut - Home is where you are

By now my followers know we have an RV and take it out every so often for a long weekend and at least one long trip a year.  I don't have that many pictures of us and the RV, so I made a layout with a trailer so I'll be sure to get some photos to match the scrapbook pages!

I have to credit this layout to Pat Johnson, who shares many designs of hers on the Facebook Group "Cricut Design Space" (just search for her name in the files section). The file is HERE. It was an easy layout when you don't have to think up a design, choose colors, and then cut and assemble, some of those steps were done for me.   It is a perfect layout for our Bitten by the Bug2 challenge this week, which is to "use a WORD from a Cricut cartridge".   Michelle from Crazy Cricut Scrapper is our hostess this week.  She is the queen of layouts.  Join the fun and link up your Cricut inspired project.


Home is Where you Are - Wild Card2
Flowers - Cindy Loo and Sweet Treats
Clouds - Nate's ABCs
Hearts on Trailer - Cindy Loo
Trailer and Sun - Wild Card2
Grass - EveryDay Paper Dolls
Trees - Create  A Critter and Summer Celebrations

BBTB2: Cricut - Happy Halloween to my Mummy

Goblins, Ghosts, and Witches, all looking keen,

My oh my, It's almost Halloween!

Our challenge this week is Ghouls, Monsters, and Ghosts,

Here is my card for all to view, and over at the BBTB2 blog I am the host.

So make a card, project or layout to share,

Link it up to our Bitten by the Bug2 Blog  if you Dare!

Make a link back to your blog or Pinterest,

Yours might be the one we select as the BEST!

Happy Halloween Everyone!

October 31st (modified) - Teresa Collins - Chic and Scary

Mummy - (colored and inked) - Happy Hauntings

BEWARE - Happy Hauntings

I sent off this card to a long time friend that loves Halloween.  She decorates her whole house and front yard with hundreds of new and vintage Halloween decor.  Along with the card I sent 3 fabric pumpkins.  The same fabric was used to cover her vintage table and chairs (I helped with that project).  The pumpkin in the picture was grown by my son - 121 lbs, his biggest ever!  And the flowers are a gift from my sister.

Stems are from old pumpkins found at the pumpkin patch.  I added ribbon, moss, and $1 Store flower stems taken apart.

BBTB2: Cricut - Pizza Chef and Italian Grandma Layout

These were one of the best set of costumes that my husband and I came up with in a long time.  Thanks to my Cricut Explore, I easily made embellishments for the "Pizza Man" costume.  I made 2 slices of pizza, (the ones on this layout) that I put on a string and he wore around his neck, and a black paper mustache.  We went to a really fun party and had a great time acting the part to match the costumes.  I've held on to the pizza slices for 2 years but never made a layout until now.

Our Bitten by the Bug2 challenge this week is "Pizza and Beer" themed.  I knew right away that I had to make this Halloween layout.  Laurie, from Crafty Sisters Creations blog is our hostess and she must love her pizza and beer, I sure do,   Join our Pizza and Beer challenge and link up your project to the blog this week.  It's sure a fattening challenge - Cheers!!

Pizza - Simply Charmed
Frame - Mother's Day 2010
Costumes - Part of a Trick or Treat cut
Trick or Treat Words - Chic and Scary
Happy Halloween Circle - Artbooking (sliced)

BBTB2: Cricut - Fun at the Pumpkin Patch

Well - I forgot until now to post my project for Bitten by the Bug2, so here it is, better a little late than never.   Our challenge theme this week is "Pumpkin Patch, or The Great Pumpkin".  So get out the orange paper and get Cricuting.  I love making fall projects and cards.  Laura, from "Handmade Paper Crafts by Laura" is our hostess this week.  Come join the challenge and see the designers handiwork.

There were 20 mats of colors to cut with this seemingly simple layout, so it took some time.  I should have done a few print and cuts to save time.   I have some great pictures of the grandkids at the Pumpkin Patch from 2 years ago, but dang if I can't find them.  The ink on the mouth of the little boy bled, so I'm just going to say he was eating chocolate!

Boy:  Everyday Paper Dolls
Title:  Mini Monsters
Girl:  Trick or Treat
Corn:  Just Because
Pumpkins:  Simply Charmed
Sign:  Freshly Picked
Gems for the pumpkins, inked edges, and Stickles all around,

BBTB2: Cricut - Yum, Yum, I Want Food

A layout with no pictures - that doesn't happen often.  I am ahead of the game on this layout that will be for the 2nd grandson.  I haven't got any good pictures of him eating messy foods yet.  Or should I say I haven't allowed him to get really messy while eating.

Our Bitten by the Bug2 challenge this week is "APPLES".  You can join along and link up your apple projects, fall themed or otherwise, and participate in our challenge.  A link to your blog or Pinterest account qualifies.  Just look at the rules and follow along on the BBTB2 Blog.

My layout uses 3 cartridges:
Baby Steps - Yum,Yum, the food, and bib
Sugar and Spice - Apple baby food
9 Months - Bottle

BBTB2: Cricut Autumn Leaves

I haven't had much time to craft lately, as we are helping with family matters and I am doing a lot of babysitting.  Thus, a very simple card for you today.  On Bitten by the Bug2 our challenge for the week is "Autumn Leaves".  I used the negative side of the leaf cut from Designer's Calendar and wrapped a square around it.  The leaf background is done with Distress Oxide Inks to give the design fall colors.  A simple tag from Artise and a 'friend' stamp and it was done in about 1/2 hour.

Join in our weekly challenge once in a while or weekly, we love seeing your designs and creativity.  Here is the link to the Bitten by the Bug2 blog HERE.    Caroline, our sweet designer from http://cardcreationsbycaroline.blogspot.com/ is our hostess for the week.  

BBTB2: Cricut - 3rd Generation 49er Fans

It's time to kick off football season - high school, college, and the pros!  We have already been to 2 pre-season games so it really does feel like Fall.

Our challenge this week at Bitten By the  Bug2 is "football", mostly in honor of high school football.   Join in the fun and show us what you create using your Cricut and paper by linking up a picture on the blog.  My layout is pretty simple, only 2 cuts on the whole page.  I did use embellishments to finish it off.

All American - 3 Birds on Parade (Square joined with title)
All Sports

BBTB2: Cricut Take My Kid to Work Day - Please

It's Career Day at Bitten by the Bug2 this week in honor of Labor Day.  Caroline, our hostess from Card Creations by Caroline for the week has challenged us to use a Cricut cut relating to 'your career of choice'.  Join our challenge by linking up your project using a link back to your blog or Pinterest link HERE.

 I loved a picture of my daughter and granddaughter going to mommy's work on Bring your Kid to Work Day this year.   She had loads of fun, got lots of attention, and wants to do it again.   In her words "I want to be a hair cutter when I grow up".  How fun.  

Cartridges Used:
Bring Your.... - EveryDay Fonts
Daughter - Keystone Font
Hair Dryer - Paisley
Iron - Girls Makeup Party
Comb - When I was a Kid
Tab - From My Kitchen
Arrow - Home Organization
Flower - Paper Lace

Summer of Love - Fairy Cricut Card

This card is for a friend turning 60 who really was a hippie in her younger years.  OK, she may still be a bit of a hippie - she loves outdoors, daisy chains, vintage, crystals, natural cotton tie-dye, gardening, cooking, and fairy gardens to name a few.  She is a San Francisco girl, thus, the Summer of Love title - which we are celebrating 50 years this year.

I used the new Ranger oxide inks on my background.  I rubbed them on in a liner fashion and then sprayed with water.  I love the effects.  The little fairy children are from Nursery Rhymes. I should have made several of these cute cards.

BBTB2: Cricut Fairy Painted Sign

Join our Bitten by the Bug2 challenge this week by creating a card, layout or project with our theme of 'Fairies", be it tooth fairies, Tinkerbell, or imaginary ones!  Our hostess this week is Susan from Busy with the Cricky blog and she and the rest of our designers have some fairy magic on the blog to show you.

Today I am sharing a project a little out of the box for me - a painted sign using Cricut cuts as the stencil.  I have done several signs, but nothing like this one.  A friend of mine is celebrating a milestone birthday this month and having a big party at her river summer home.  I made a sign that looks a little bit vintage and incorporates her love for fairies and the name of the home, Moon River.

I used a piece of redwood, acrylics, and stencils made from Cricut Explore cuts.  My painting was way too bright, so I sanded it and put on a coat of thinned out light brown.  It measures about 12"x 7.5".  It's ready to get wrapped along with a gift card to her favorite store.

Welcome:  Rustic Wedding
Water:  Disney Princess Dreams Come True
Font:  Candice

BBTB2: Cricut - 1st Day Ever of Pre-School

Hello Followers - My mojo was off a bit this past week.  My layout for the week at Bitten By the Bug2 is a little typical, but here it is nonetheless.  I had a grand idea for another format, but it just didn't look good on paper.  So scrapped it, and went with the schoolhouse background.  Very traditional - well, a lot of my work is....., but I occasionally surprise myself with something unique.

Our challenge at BBTB2 this week is "Back to School".   Join up your project to our Linky on the BBTB2 blog and submit a card, layout, or project related to the theme.   Here is my picture:

School:  My World
First Day:  Artbooking
School:  Recess
Cricut font

BBTB2: Cricut - Let's Jam and make Jelly Tags

Hi all,  I am hosting the challenge at Bitten By the Bug2 this week.  Our challenge to you is to use your Cricut and make a Tag, Bag, or both.  You can Link it up to the Blog HERE.  

I have been making lots of jams and jellies using fruit from our backyard trees and blackberries picked while on vacation.  I have even made blackberry vodka, which didn't last long.  With all the rain here in Northern California, our garden has flourished.  I have made apple butter, lots of apple chips, applesauce, baby food, peach pies, and other desserts.  I'll be giving out the jams and jellies for Christmas presents, so I wanted to have a little tag on each jar to make it special.

Here are the tags I came up with.  I used the print and cut feature and then cut out the tag and fruit to overlay on the print and cut image.  It worked pretty well.  To add a little bling, I Stickled just a bit.  The tag on the right is really purple but shows blue on my screen.

Apple Tag:  https://design.cricut.com/#/design/64799185
Apple:  Serenade
Tag: Bits and Pieces
Font:  Hadley???

Peach Tag:  https://design.cricut.com/#/design/64782760
Peach Word:  Contoured image from Thoughts and Phrases
Tag:  Bits and Pieces
Jar:  Everyday Pop Up Cards
Peach: Just Because

BBTB2: Cricut Adorable baby Layout

I am going to try and make sure the third grandchild gets as much picture time as the first two did.  So far, I am accomplishing that.  I haven't scrapped many of them, but I have a good collection of the little guy.

When this week's Bitten by the Bug2 challenge came up, I knew I had to put in some baby pictures, he won't mind that the embellishments are flowers.  Our challenge theme for the week is "lots of flower accents", chosen by our hostess Marti, from Pez-A-Doodle blog.   I went with some modern looking flowers on a red background.  At the end, I added the flower paper background, but now thinking I should have left it off - the traditional clashes with the modern.

My daughter was dropping off the kids a few weeks ago and I decided to snap a few pictures of her and the baby.  #1 granddaughter had to get her picture taken as well, glad she did as both snapshots turned out nice.

Join our Bitten By the Bug2 team and link up your creations or cards that contain Cricut cut flowers to our blog for a chance to win the project of the week.

Flower on Left - Live Simply
Flowers on Right - Cindy Loo
Butterfly - Disney Classics
Title Font - Alphabet Font
4 Months Font - Cutting Up Font
various inks, buttons, dots and rickrack

BBTB2: Cricut - Down By the Bay with Family

For Mother's Day I always want to do something outdoors - dining in a restaurant on this crazy day is just not for me.  The last few years we have gone on a hike.  There is an estuary by the San Mateo Bridge that has an interpretative center and several hiking/biking trails next to the bay.  We hiked and the kids rode bikes, while sighting birds, ladybugs, spiders, and wildflowers.  It was a nice morning stroll along a route that we have been by hundreds of times but haven't visited in years!

Our Bitten By the Bug2 challenge this week is "Water Fun".  If it involves water - the beach, the ocean, the pool, or fire hydrant, it's good.  Let's get wet and see your fun water related cards and projects - just link them up on the BBTB2 blog.  Laurie, from Crafty Sisters Creations is our hostess, her designs are awesome.

Lots of cartridges used for this layout - I think there were about 20 mats needed, yes it took awhile to cut out all those pieces and ink them.

Geese:  Outdoor Man
Seagull:  Sea, Birds, and Fish
Waves and plants:  Disney Princesses
Waves Frame:  Artbooking
Cloud:  Hello Kitty
Font:  Hathaway

Space left for journaling,

BBTB2: Cricut - Custom Bar Tray

It's time for another BBTB2 challenge this week.   Laura from Handmade Papercrafts by Laura is our hostess for our "3D" project challenge.  We haven't had one of these in a long time, and I'm excited to see what the team is sharing with everyone.  Go on over to Bitten by the Bug2 and take a peek and link up your 3D project for all to see.

My project is another bar tray that I made as a gift for relatives who we see often.  I just wanted to give a little thank you to them.  It's an SVG that I got free from one of the Facebook groups I follow.  There are initials for all the letters and then I customized it with the last name in the middle.   I used a burgundy vinyl from Expressions Vinyl and the lettering is from the Noah's Arc cartridge.

BBTB2: Cricut - Ants Love Watermelon Too! Card

Yes - We all know ants get into everything this time of year, and they love everything sweet.  Well - so does our hostess, Janis from Pause Dream Enjoy.  She has challenged us to create a Cricut project or card using Sweet Summer cuts.  This could be watermelon, ice cream, apple pies, or fresh fruit!  Endless possibilities.  Hop on over to the Bitten By the Bug2 blog to link up your Sweet Treat creations and see the favorite summertime treats of our Design Team.

I want to get more use from my Cuttlebug folders and when I saw this one, I thought of watermelons.  I've used this watermelon cut a few times from Preserves, and found the So Sweet on the Once Upon a Princess cart.  I thought I was finished, and just wanted to add a little something, and the idea of an ant, just one, came to mind.  I inked the pieces, used the Love Triangle Cuttlebug folder, and mounted on 3 mats for the finishing touch. A pretty easy card this week.

Now I am off to work on my bathroom.  The new vanity went in yesterday, but you all know I can't just do one thing.  I need new wallpaper, wall repair, new faucet, new knobs, etc.  And oh, I can't believe all the old stuff that came out of that vanity, there is some major purging needed!  Stay cool you all, we will be in the 90's all week,  and that means pool time!

BBTB2: Cricut Stars and Swirls All Around

It's July!!!   It's nearly halfway through the year and I am yet to cross off more things from my to do list than what I have added.  I have been working on it, in fact got a few things done these past few months.  They include a lot of work on the backyard (it needed it after 4 years of drought), curtains and pillow for the RV, working on a 3000 piece quilt, cleaning my craft room (for the 100th time), a good vegetable garden, a fairy garden for granddaughter and small one for me, and a trip to China.  Still lots more to get done this summer, including the downstairs bathroom vanity, wallpaper, fixtures replacements, more yard work, and a trip to see friends in another state.

I made this metal serving tray for a friend's birthday a few weeks ago.  I got the idea because she actually has a very similar tattoo on her arm of the stars and swirls.  I added the INSPIRE as my touch.  She really liked it.  Her new house has a small patio and she plans on putting it out for display this summer.  It really looks like it could be used for a 4th of July party decoration, just add red cups, and blue napkins!

Our challenge this week at Bitten By the Bug2 is "patriotic" or 'red, white, and blue'.  It was chosen by Emily from Mollie's Motif blog.  Come see the layouts cards, and projects created by the design team - you'll see fireworks for sure!  Happy 4th of July USA!  Link up your patriotic card or project today!

Vinyl - From Expressions Vinyl
Star and Swirl - from internet - free SVG
Red stars - Free Cricut image
INSPIRE - Botanicals cartridge
Tray - purchased a bunch of these last year at Walmart

BBTB2: Cricut Summer Nights - Pillow for the RV

I did something today that I normally don't do - I paid full price for Cricut iron-on glitter vinyl at JoAnns.  I didn't have the iron-on color I needed or anything close for my project, so I went shopping., and we all know you can't use your coupons hardly ever for Cricut items.   This pillow is going in my RV, I love the words and meaning, they ring so true.  The interior colors include a lot of grey, and I just made new curtains in the same fabric, so it's going to look great inside!   First time working with glitter iron-on in my machine - that black glitter is a little interesting to work with - not all of the letters stuck to the backing like it should.  With a little extra work, it came together nicely.   I found the Make It Now project a week or so ago and saved it off, and then waited until today to come up with an idea on what I would do with it.  I only altered the first word, changing it from Cabin to Camping.  I broke off the 'Camping Rules' and made it a little bigger than the rest of the fonts.   Love how it turned out.  I think it will be a great conversation piece.

Laura, from Handmade Papercrafts by Laura is our hostess this week at BBTB2.  Her challenge is Summer Nights - using fireflies, fires, stars, and other things reminding us of camping or summer evenings.  I love all the projects and cards that the team is sharing this week - I want to make them all, they are awesome.  Join in the summer fun and link up your project to our Bitten By the Bug2 Linky this week.  Have a great summer y'all!

Maureen

Winner, Winner - It's Me - Fantabulous Cricut Blog

My graduation card won the project of the week over at Fantabulous Cricut Challenge.  I enter this challenge every so often - when I have time and have a project in mind to match their theme.  The prize is a gift card to Dreaming Tree.  They have lots of very unique and creative SVGs for use with the Cricut Explore.   Can't wait to pick our my prize, something I wouldn't normally choose, something out of my box, so to speak!  Click HERE to see my winning post.  Actually, I thought it was a great card for a male graduate in business.   Here is the winning card.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

BBTB2: Cricut - Backyard Chicken Coop

This week on BBTB2, our challenge leader is my long time blogging friend, Caroline, from Card Creations By Caroline.   We are to create a layout, project or card with a cut from our Cricut of a bird.  That can be a peacock, a wild bird, a cartoon bird, an owl, or in my case - CHICKENS!   Link up your bird related project to our Linky on the Bitten by the Bug2 blog this week.  We love to see you spread your wings and create!!!  (haha)

My 'Birds of a Feather' layout features my grandkids a year or so ago when their dad first built a chicken coop.  It's really hard trying to photograph these chickens - they just didn't smile for the camera.  But the kids did.  They love their chickens, even more, they love the eggs.    I actually had planned more Cricut cuts to go on this layout, but it just didn't work - the background is busy and some of them were lost.  Sometimes, less is more - which is hard for me......  Cluck Cluck - have a great day!

Chicken:  50 States
Freshly Hatched Egg" Photo Fun - Celebrations
Wire background: Teresa Collins Basics
Chicken and Child: Nursery Rhymes
Feed Sack:  Old West (used pens in the Cricut)

BBTB2: Cricut - Father's Day Hike with Family

These pictures are a few years old, but still make a great layout.  In 2015 we had all the family up to the ski club for a nice weekend that included a hike on Donner Summit.   Who would have thought I would use pink on a Father's Day layout? Well, it works - only because there is pink in my pictures.

Dinosaur Tracks for the title - First time using this font - I think it's cool. I inked the edges too.  Going Places cartridge for the compass and the Family icon.  Artiste for the gear behind the journal tag.  

This was really a fast layout - I knew how I wanted the pictures to go on the page, finding the icons was pretty easy, and the cuts were not complicated.  (although I did cut that compass a few time on flimsy paper which didn't work at all).

Join our Bitten by the Bug2 challenge this week where Susan is our hostess.  The theme is Father's Day.  Link up your wonderful creations to the blog and join the fun.  See the creations by Susan and the rest of the design team, they don't disappoint!

BBTB2: Be a Mermaid Tag Using Gelli Plate and Cricut

It's Summertime at Bitten By the Bug2.  Our 'hot' challenge this week is to show us your summer-themed cards and projects.  Link them up to our blog and show us what Cricut projects remind you of summer.

When I think of retreats and mermaids, my mind goes to the beach. Our group of crafty girls got together last year for our 6th annual retreat.  We were at Dillon Beach, in Northern California where we rented a house with a great view of the ocean.  We had a large living room area which we cleared out and put in our tables and chairs so we could craft all weekend.  We made quite a mess - we all bring at least 4 tote bags of supplies and paper - it's amazing.

These are the tags that I created for the event.  I used the 'Mermaid Iron-on' icon for the saying and added words using the Easton font.  I then used the 'Print then Cut' feature to print on plain paper and glued it to my tag.  The Mermaid saying is "always be yourself, unless you can be a mermaid. then always be a mermaid."  The painting on the tag was done using a Gelli plate with a template I created from the Scallop Pattern on the Mermaid Party cartridge.  I first used a turquoise blue print and then a slight bit of white to top it off - it was supposed to resemble ocean waves.  I really loved how it turned out.   I also attached a second tag that had rick rack wound around it as part of the swag items.   I really liked working 'out of the box' on this one.

Have a Great Summer Everyone!

Linked to the Hiding in My Craft Room Challenge - #303 - Summer
Linked to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Cricut Graduation Cards 2017

Here in Northern California graduation for high school and college is near the end of May and into June, much later than other parts of the country.  It's earlier than it used to be - we used to go to graduation ceremonies in mid-June.   I have 3 graduation parties coming up, and today I am sharing two of the cards I made.

The male-inspired card is for a nephew that is graduating from Chico State with a major in Finance.  I thought the suit cut was apropos.   It comes from the Suburbia cartridge.  You can't see it but I added Glossy Accents to the hat and tie, and Stickles to the handkerchief in the suit pocket and on the wording.

The girl card is for a niece that is graduating high school.  The orange and black are school colors.  I added Stickles to make the word shine.  It turned out really nice, and I'll probably use this file again.  I used print and cut for the girl grad, just makes it less time consuming.

Entering these cards in the following challenges:
Fantabulous Cricut Challenges - #302 Graduation
Hiding in My Craftroom - #302 Any Holiday
DL Art - Thankful Thursday - #205 Boys and or Men

BBTB2: Cricut Best Friends Forever

It's my turn to host the challenge this week at Bitten By the Bug2.  I didn't go with a particular themed Cricut cut, I went with a wide open theme - Friends Forever / Friendship.   You can link up your cards and projects all week at our BBTB2 blog and see the wonderful creations made by our Blog Team.

I have a layout of my grandchildren with their friends.  The oldest is 6, then down in age until 2.  The parents of these kids have been friends for years, and then they all decided to get married and have kids.  The kids all know and love each other - and can get into a bit of trouble at times - what kid doesn't?   Here they are all patiently awaiting a movie to start.  I hope we can get them to do this same pose in 10 years, wouldn't that be cool?

Here are the cartridges and supplies I used:

Best Friends Title:  Once Upon a Princess (sliced)
Ticket for journaling:  Movie Night
Popcorn:  Carousel
Film Strip:  Photo Fun Holiday Memories (sliced)
Flicks:  Nifty Fifties
Stickles

BBTB2: Happy Birthday Challenge - Flowers Make Me Smile

Hi All,   It's been a few weeks since I've posted.   Just family stuff getting in the way.  I am not really happy with today's blog entry, but at least I was able to find time to get my Cricut Explore running again.  My mojo is definitely not back.  Perhaps it was the background paper - I am trying to use up older papers and I thought this looked similar to the inspiration card.   I saw this wonderful card by Wendy Cranford, a Stampin' Up Demonstrator, on her YouTube Channel and thought I could reproduce it using my Explore.   Here is the link to her video HERE.  It was an easy card to put together, but different in some ways.   I used the following cartridges:

Flower:  Bits and Pieces
Leaf: Create a Critter
Tag:  Sentimentals
Stamp by: Stamps of Life
Sequins and Stickles for added bling

This week at Bitten By the Bug2 our challenge has a fun theme:  Birthdays!   That leaves the possibilities endless.  Come join in the fun and challenge yourself and link up a birthday project to the Linky.

Maureen

BBTB2: Cricut Art Nouveau Butterfly

Yesterday was the best day, the jasmine in my neighbor's backyard and my lemon tree are in full bloom, making the smells absolutely intoxicating.  The weather was the hottest day yet this year, and we are all looking forward to the weather heating up the pool, so we can swim.  I planted my annuals and rearranged a few things in the yard and it's beginning to look like my vision.

My card today is a design based on our theme at Bitten By the Bug2 for this week, insects, bugs, butterflies, and bees, your choice (selected by Emily, from Mollie's Motif.   I stepped a little out of my norm and brought up the Art Nouveau and Art Deco cartridges.  This card will go to a good friend celebrating a big milestone birthday next week.  I decided not to put a sentiment on the front, but will decorate the inside with a big number 60! hahaha.   Come and join our challenge at BBTB2 and link up your insect/bug Cricut creations.

Also linked to Cut It Up - Challenge 121 - Wings

BBTB2: Cricut - Spring Fling - The roses are blooming

Our hostess for the week is the talented Caroline, from Card Creations b y Caroline, and she wants us to show our spring colors and use any Cricut cut with spring flowers - daffodils, tulips, roses, anything in bloom.  Link up your card or project to our Linky at Bitten By the Bug2.    I used roses, since they are in bloom in my yard right now.  I have about 10 rose bushes in various colors in my yard, they do really well here.

I used my Cricut for both of my cards today, the roses are from Spring Fling, and the overlay for both cards is from Antiquities Cards.  My butterfly was created with paper made on my Gelli plate, and then die cut from a Stampin' Up die belonging to a friend.  I added Stickles as dots on the lattice for a little sparkle.

BBTB2: Cricut: Candyland game, so Much Fun!

I used the Family Album cartridge and altered the gameboard to make it similar to the Candyland game.   I added color to the gameboard, changed the banner to say Candyland, and added icons simular to what the board has.  This was a really fun layout to make, and the picture was great too.    I taught my granddaughter to play the game using the same game board that her mother played on.  Notice the tape holding the cover together, yep, it's 30+ years old.

Join our "Sweet" challenge at Bitten By The Bug2, our hostess is Valentya, from "Flourishtina.com" and link up your sweet cards and projects to our Blinky.   Have a sweet week sugar!

Cricut cartridges:

Gameboard background and banner:  Family Album
Strawberries:  Preserves
Hard Candy:  Sweet Shop
Ice Cream:  Doodlecharms
Candy Wheel:  Holiday Cakes
Candy Cane:  Merry and Bright
Font:  Cricut Keystone

BBTB2: Cricut Easter is for Chocolate Bunnies

Happy Easter, Happy Spring, Happy Day!

Doesn't it feel great to see all the kids about, the nicer weather, and longer days?  I know I come alive when Daylight Savings time starts.  I made 3 layouts this week, and worked on my scrappy quilt -  that's pretty good for me.  Oh - and I cleaned a bit of my craftroom - that doesn't happen often enough, and worked pulling weeds in the yard.

This week at Bitten By the Bug2 our challenge by Susan, from Busy with the Cricky, is to use an Easter related cut on your project or card.   Submit your entry to our Linky page and enjoy all the posts from our designers and followers.

I made a traditional layout this week, making it a little fancy by adding lots of bling (gems, washi, and flowers) that I got from Queen and Co. at the Scrapbook Expo.   I inked most of the cuts, used a Cuttlebug folder on the basket, along with adding the lamb medallion on the front.  Little gems look like eggs in the grass.   I probably will insert pictures of the grandkids hunting eggs.     Enjoy - Maureen

My cuts are as follows:

Chocolate bunny - Create a Critter 2
Chick - Easter
Basket and eggs  - Doodlecharms
Title of Happy Easter - Miss Kates Cuttables
Grass - Artbooking

BBTB2: Cricut, Hiking Donner Summit

It's Arbor Day at Bitten By The Bug2.  Kelly from Kelly's Concoctions is our hostess this week.    Use a tree cut cut from anything Cricut and submit it to our Linky page.

Here is my take on trees.  This is a layout of my son on a hike we took last summer. That's Donner Lake in the background.  We were hiking the Mt. Judah trail on Donnet Summit. It was a gorgeous day, a 6 mile hike, and spent with family.  Who could ask for more?

Cartridges used:
Rocks:  Dino Play
Tree limb:  Christmas
Great Outdoors:  Artbooking
Circle:   Free image
Canteen:   Outdoor Man
Trees:  Frozen

Come join and celebrate our Arbor Day challenge at BBTB2 this week by linking up your card or project.

       

BBTB2: Cricut - Garden Soup Signs for the Veggie Garden

Spring - Time for planting the annual veggie garden.  Time to get some fresh air, plan the yard and break out the shovel.  This year will be special because for the last 4 years we have been on water restrictions here in Northern California.  Not that I'll be wasting water, but we'll at least be able to use it.  (oh yes, the rates are higher too).  I'll be able to plant more vegetables, and hopefully will have a good crop.  It's a little too early to get the plants in the ground, so I made a few signs for the yard - all using my Cricut Explore.   I'll protect them from water by encasing them in clear contact paper.

My trio of signs is from the Garden Soup cartridge.  I inked edges, colored the trimmings, and put fine little stitching with the Signo white pen.

This week Michele, from  Cricut Crazy Scrapper, is our hostess.  Join in the challenge she selected, which is to cut a sign or a banner using Cricut cuts.   Link up your project to our Bitten By the Bug2 blog, it's fun and challenging!

BBTB2: Cricut - Special Delivery - It's a Grandson!

It's my turn to host the challenge at Bitten By the Bug2 this week.  My daughter had her third child, a boy, in February.  It's a natural that I selected Baby or Baby Shower cuts for the challenge this week.  I put together a layout of #3 grandbaby captured from a picture of his first few hours.  I want to make sure the 3rd one doesn't get left out with the pictures and scrapbook pages/mini albums.

I used several cartridges for this layout plus some special baby ribbon.  The title, Special Delivery, is from '1st Few Years', the Stork and ABC Tag are from 'Wrap It Up', the duck safety pin is from 'Baby Steps', and the safety pin with the star is from 'Storks Delivery'.  I put the stork and his bundle through the Cuttlebug, something I have neglected but want to use more often.  I inked most of the pieces and used the Explore to write his name on the tag (hidden).  For the first time, I sewed a zig-zag stitch on the photo mat.  It was weird sewing on paper, but pretty easy to do.  I added some doilies to the background and called it done.

Join our challenge of 'baby or baby shower' this week at Bitten By the Bug2 by linking up your project or card.

Also linked to Fantabulouscricut.blogspot.com - Challenge #297-Anything Goes
Also linked to http://cutitupchallenges.blogspot.com/ - Challenge #118 - You got me in Stitches

BBTB2: Cricut Happy Birthday Tiigger

I was a little late in getting my Bitten By the Bug2 card ready for this week, so I perused the Make It Now Projects in Design Space.  There was the cutest Tigger Happy Birthday card from Pooh and Friends.  All I had to do is change the font since I didn't own the font used.  The card was already the right size and in colors I would use.  Even though there were 12 mats of colors, I had it cut and together, with a bit of inking, in about an hour.   Sometimes the design takes longer than the production.  All cuts but the font are from Pooh and Friends.

Join our hostess, Susan, from Busy with the Cricky, and all the other design sisters by linking up your birthday card (remember to use a Cricut cut) to the Bitten By the Bug2 blog.  We love looking at all the beautiful artwork.

Piglet:  How do you spell L-O-V-E?
Pooh:  You don't spell it, you feel it.