BBTB2 - Cricut - LOVE this kid - picture frame

I brought a plain $1 or so wood frame at Walmart and created something a little out of my comfort zone for a friend who just became a grandma.  I used my Cricut Explore to make a stencil for the wording "Love this kid" using the "Retro Script" font.  The embellishments are ones that I had in my stash for the last several years - a die cut gears (only used a portion) and various buttons and ephemera.  The photo that went inside just made the whole project perfect - a baby boy wrapped in his new light blue blanket that had his name on it.  I so love it when a project comes together.  This is one that I won't be able to replicate again, it's one of a kind.

Join us for this week's challenge over at Bitten By the Bug2, where our theme is Valentine/Love - anything goes.  I am sure you have created something that you would love to share that you have created for a loved one.  Link it up to BBTB2 HERE.

BBTB2: Cricut - Frozen Skaters with Warm Hugs

As our BBTB2 design team sticks with winter themes for our weekly challenges, I am getting a little bit of my grandson's 1st birthday album scrapped.  There were lots of candid shots, so I grouped some together and incorporated the theme for this week.  Susan, our lovely leader and hostess for the week has selected an "ice skate" cut to be incorporated into our designs.  Check out Susan's blog at Busy With the Cricky.

I used the Frozen cartridge to cut the ice skate and the 'Warm Hugs" saying.  Artbooking was used for the "Frosty Fun" saying, and A Child's Year cartridge was used for the two ice skaters.  I love using cuts for the first time, there are just too many to choose from, and I'll never be able to use them all, but I'm trying.  The snowflakes were 3D embellishments from my stash.  I added a little silver Stickles to the top of the boot.

Link up your ice skate card/project/layout at Bitten By the Bug2 this week.  We are having a give-a-way drawing for everyone who submits a project during the month of January - it just might be you.  Enjoy - Maureen

BBTB2: Cricut - Frozen Snow Much Fun layout

I can't  believe it's been a year since we celebrated my Grandson's first birthday. I can believe that I haven't scrapbooked the party pictures yet. Michelle, from Cricut Crazy Scrapper is our hostess this week for the BBTB2 challenge for this week.  Her theme matches perfectly with my birthday Winter Wonderland party layout, which is "snow much fun or anything related to snow".  My son-in-law donned the Olaf costume and danced with the kids, they loved him.

I purchased the Frozen cartridge and I just love it.  The images are best done using print and cut on the Explore.  I hope to try all the cuts on this cartridge when making this album.  I also used the Winter Frolic cartridge for the title and mountains.

 I have been doing a little scrapbooking and quilting during the last week or so.  Both my husband and I came down with the worst cough/cold/fever ever and I just stayed indoors and didn't have much energy to do anything.  Everyone has it, no one wants it.  It lasts forever.  It rained for almost a week here in the San Francisco bay area, we saw more water than we have in years, and it's then that our sump pump decided to give out.  We needed a specific size for the space and had to order one, it should be here this week.  Our backyard looks like every leaf and pine needle from my neighbors blew in.  We spent Saturday (actually a clear day between storms) raking leaves, trimming, and making a dump run.  I am ready to get over this cough, it is getting better every day, hope I don't catch something else.

Won't you join us over at Bitten by the Bug2 and link up your Snow related cards or projects?  We love to see your creations.  There is a prize for the month of January as well - all submissions will be given a chance at winning.

Quiltville Mystery 2016 - En Provence

I discovered Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville blog a few months back. I am just getting back to quilting after a long hiatus. (20 years).  The mystery quilt for the year had been announced but the clues not started. I was intrigued.  Then I was infatuated.   The colors were growing on me.  I vowed not to consider it until I finished the bear paw top I was working on.  I kept following the blog, comparing my stash to the colors of the mystery.  Oh no, I was getting hooked.  Then I brought the magenta (mine is more coral) fabric and committed. This will definitely be something significantly bigger, bolder, challenging, and spectacular than any quilt/baby quilt I have done before. The mystery is solved, the resulting quilt is amazing.  I am starting on my 2nd clue, I'll make it through some day.

Here is my picture for today's linkup.  I'll check in as I finish each clue and as I start assembly.   Linked up to Quiltville's blog, mystery-Monday Link Up - Click HERE.  

BBTB2: Cricut - The Graceland Tour

A few years ago, 5 of us went to Nashville/Memphis primarily so the guys could go to the 49er/Titans game.  The girls went on historic civil war tours that day.  A side trip to Graceland, George Dickel/Jack Daniels distilleries, and finding good eats/music were also on the itinerary.  It was a fun trip, we sure want to go back and explore some more.  So when Laurie  from http://craftysisterscreations.com/ came up with the theme of celebrating Elvis' birthday, I had to dig out a few layouts I made of our trip.  These were made with the Cricut Expression, when fonts and cuts were limited to what I owned.  Our challenge at Bitten By the Bug2 is to show us your projects/cards as they relate to anything Elvis - a song, his house, a saying, etc.  Come along and rock-n-roll with us this week.

Quilting: Bear Paw in Rainbow Colors

Since I am not working at this time, I needed something to fill the hours - after all - one can only go out shopping and to lunch with the girls so often.  My sister has been quilting for a couple of years now and I caught the bug again because of her.   I have several quilt projects to work on already, have joined several quilting blogs and even have the material to start a mystery quilt.  I wanted to get this top done before starting another one.  I started this the 2nd weekend in November and finished the top last night.  This is my biggest quilt project to date and I am pretty happy with how it turned out.  I love rainbow colors, the fabric came in graded colors, all of which was so beautiful.  I don't know what color the backing will be, or how it will be quilted, those are the next steps.  I will send it out for quilting at a local shop.   Here it is, look for a finished version in a pretty setting hopefully soon.

BBTB2: Wooden Frame - Cricut words - Happy to Be Part of Your World

I have been making a few presents using my Cricut Explore and am sharing one of them today.  I used the Hadley font to cut out the saying from Cricut matte finished black vinyl. (They love Disney, so I went with this modified version of the song lyrics).  I wish I would have had gold or silver, but the black really stands out.  These are relatives of my husband and I just loved the picture so much I wanted to create something for them.   I got the wooden frame from Walmart and also brought some from Scrapbook.com on sale.  The flowers are Prima.  I used a glue gun to attach them.  I used 3 coats of matte finish Mod Podge. I added glitter after the 1st coat and Stickles after the last.    It took a long afternoon to complete the project.

My resolution for this year is to purge!  I am already cleaning out closets of old stored kids stuff and keeping only the best of the best - some of it is 30 years old.  I found a box of Precious Moments statues, lots of my son's old tshirts I am saving to make a tshirt quilt, a taped together Candyland game, and many unfinished or leftovers from craft projects.

What better way to start off the new year than with celebrating anything NEW.   I am hosting our Bitten By the Bug2 challenge for the first week of January 2017 - how exciting.  My challenge to you is to use some new Cricut supplies, or make something new, or use the word NEW in your card or project -  It really is wide-opened this week since we want to start the new year with lots of new creativity and have you show it off on our blog.  Link up your card or project HERE.    Happy New Year 2017 Everyone!!!