BBTB2: Cricut - School Days - Smile It's Picture Day

It's my turn to host the challenge at Bitten by the Bug2 this week.  If it's not near a holiday, I like to think of a theme or cut from Cricut that hasn't been used before.  I think I came up with a good theme this week - "Use a facial feature, face, smiley face, or the word 'smile' on your card or project".

I scanned the Cricut Access files to find an idea or two and decided to create a scrapbook layout of my granddaughter's kindergarten picture.  There is a Smiley face and an apple with a face that fit the bill.  I will fill in the blank journal tags with responses from my granddaughter.  

Cartridges used:  Artiste, Phrases, When I was a Kid, Create a Critter, Feeling Groovy.

Link up a card or layout or project to Bitten by the Bug2 using a face or smiles HERE.

BBTB2: Cricut - Hiking the Amazon

I did it again - forgot to post my project for Bitten by the Bug2 on my own blog.  So here it is a few days late.  Our BBTB2 challenge this week is Springtime Sports.  You may think of baseball, golf, beach volleyball, or amusement parks.  Join our challenge by linking your post to our blog HERE:

Well, I thought of those, but don't participate in any myself; I do love to watch baseball and go to amusement parks like Disneyland!  So I choose something a little different today.  It's a hike - I do consider it a sport and an enjoyable hobby.   On our trip to Ecuador last month, we spent a few days in the Amazon at a lodge.  It was truly beautiful, very tropical, and they had planned several activities for us including a zoo, visiting a local family, canoe rides, and a hike/zip line in the jungle.  My husband wasn't feeling that well that day, so he recuperated by the pool while I joined the group hike.  What an amazing feeling to hike nature unlike anything in the US.  We saw lots of huge insects, a tarantula, heard sounds of the jungle, sweated, and learned about the trees and history of the land.  The hike included a basket zip line (my first) and a suspension bridge.  

We wore boots due to the muddy trails because of the rain the night before.  They were comfortable and I never slipped in the mud like I would have in tennis shoes.  Therefore, the boot is featured on my blog post today.  It says Adventure Seeker, as I truly thought I was ready to see all of South America after that wonderful breathtaking hike.  My background is a Cricut cut Make It Now project that I 'repurposed'.   I added drops of watered down ink and clear Nuvo drops to look like rain.  The results are really better in person.

Cartridges Used:

Palm Leaves:  Botanicals

Boot:  April Showers

Adventure Seeker:  3 Birds on Parade

Mat:  Once Upon A Princess

addition of watered down orange ink and Nuvo drops

BBTB2: Cricut - Shirley's Craft Cottage Wooden Sign

My daughter's aunt by marriage sends the grandkids lots of homemade items and crafts.  She is a really special great aunt.   She even has an Etsy shop where she sells jewelry called ShirleyHawkCreations.  I have a few pieces and get lots of compliments.  I created a few signs in the last few weeks and wanted to share this one too.  I used a free SVG from a blog I saw on Pinterest (where else?) called "A Girl and a Glue Gun.com".  The SVG originally said "crafting is life", but I was able to reword it and put in "Shirley's Craft Cottage" using Cricut's Brush Script.   I want to use this file again and make myself a t-shirt.

The SVG was one color, and that just would not do.  Here is what I did.   I cut a piece of redwood to about 7.5" x 9.5" (fence board is 7.5" wide, that was my limit).  I lightly sanded the rough parts,  painted it turquoise, and let it dry.  Then I cut the SVG on my Cricut in vinyl (not mirrored).  I applied the vinyl using transfer tape.  I then painted the board white.  After it was almost dry, I peeled off the vinyl.  Little bits of the turquoise came off, but that added to the charm.   I then sanded the edges and lightly in the middle to give an aged effect.  I watered down acrylic paints and filled in with color.  After that dried, I then gave the entire piece a coating of washed light brown.  I really like how it turned out and I think this crafty friend will also.  .

I'm using this project as my design team entry for Bitten By the Bug2 this week.  Our challenge is to be creative with our die cuts - use them in unique ways, use embellishments on them, color them up, etc., almost anything goes.   Link up your project HERE at BBTB2.  Our talented hostess for the week is Laura from Handmade Papercrafts By Laura.

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BBTB2: Cricut - It's Springtime

Today we had a nice day, by evening it rained, Friday I am going skiing, and Saturday it will be 80 degrees.  Is it Spring, Winter, or Summer? 

Our Bitten by the Bug2 challenge this week is "Spring - Anything Goes".  I had such a hard time picking just one thing - flowers, birds, outdoor activities, Easter - the list goes on.  I decided to showcase a  fuchsia photo from my last vacation that just turned out really nice.  I put a bird  on top of my title - Spring, added sequins and lots of inking.

Join us at Bitten by the Bug2 to see all the great cards and layouts by the design team.  You can link up your Spring cards and projects.

Cartridges used:  Storybook, Serenade, Ribbons and Rosettes, Jasmine-Oval Font

BBTB2: Cricut - It has to Rain to have a Rainbow

As I write this post, it's raining and blowing in my neck of the woods, I hope Spring makes an appearance soon, as I am ready to get working on my backyard this year.  All this rain lead me to create this rainy day card with Hello Kitty.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow - One of my favorite songs has been incorporated into my card today.  The title just jumped into my head after staring at the screen for a bit.  Now my card can be used for any number of occasions, as I was originally thinking of a get-well card.  Our challenge theme this week was chosen by our long-time designer at Bitten by the Bug2, Carolyn, from Card Creations by Carolyn, and she wants everyone to use a Cricut 'Umbrella" cut on our card or project.   Hop on over to the Bitten by the Bug2 blog and link up your project or card HERE.

Kitty - Hello Kitty Greetings
Rainbow and card base - Wild Card 2
Font:  A Perfect Day writing font
Background Inking:  Ranger Oxide Inks - 2 different blues