BBTB2: Cricut - Christmas Gift Bag for Her

What a challenge at Bitten by the Bug2 the next two weeks.  Use Pink and Gold for the holidays.  It is sure pretty in person but I had a hard time getting pink and gold onto paper.  Not to mention my Cricut decided it didn't want to cut correctly, even with a new blade.  I have some on order, but how does that help me today?  

So, for today project, I decided to go simple and have only two cuts.  A star and a title on a gift bag.  I had planned on adding quilted trees at the bottom but they would not cut.  The star I finally cut in vinyl, which always cuts smooth.  The gold is glittered but doesn't show up too well in the picture.  It is bright in real life.

Join our Pink and Gold holiday challenge at Bitten by the Bug2.  You can link up your project HERE.

Star:  Quilted Ornaments
Merry and Bright:  Artbooking
Paint and Washi tape

BBTB2: Cricut It's a Zoo in Here

This week at Bitten by the Bug2 we are challenging our followers to us a Cricut penguin on their card or project.  It may have started out as a winter themed challenge, but for me, I had to make mine part of a zoo layout.  We have season passes to the Oakland Zoo and there are just too many photos to scrapbook.  These particular ones are of my granddaughter and my sister from several years ago.  I re-arranged this layout so many times, and I am still not really happy with it, but it's done.  It looked better on Design Space.

Join in our challenge this week and link up to the Bitten By the Bug2 blog.

Cartridges Used:
Zoo Title:  Life's a Party
Turtle and Frames:  Everyday Pop Up
Lion:  Artbooking
Penguin and Giraffe:  Noah's ABC Animals

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 - 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 - 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 - 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 - 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, 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 - 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 - Just the Boys Fishing

Our challenge this week at Bitten By the Bug2 is to make a project (card, layout, 3D object) with either a monster or an arrow in a manly theme.  I used two pictures of my husbands recent fishing trip and an inspiration from a layout I saw on Pinterest to put my layout together.  I actually cut some of the pieces twice, once to change the size and again for a different color - I even had 7 or 8 background papers swap outs - I think that really busy arrow overlay just threw me for a loop.   Well - you can see I used arrows several different ways - it's just a fun layout.

The frames are from Artbooking, the Wish You Were Here is from Going Places, the little critter behind a tree is from Campin' Critters, the overlay is from Edge to Edge, and the Awesome title is from Boys Will Be Boys Arrow font.  The 2nd font is one of the new ones Cricut recently released, which I can't remember.

Join our challenge by using a cute little monster or an arrow on your Cricut inspired card or project.  Link it up to our blog over at Bitten By the Bug2 and see what the design team has made for you this week.

BBTB2: Cricut Back to School Layout - First Day of School

My granddaughter was two weeks short of the deadline for kindergarten, so she is going to Pre-K at the elementary school.  She is so excited and says her school is the most awesome-est place.  She is really having fun and meeting new friends.  Her mommy, my daughter made a sign and snapped a picture of her and that gigantic smile.

Michelle, from Cricut Crazy Scrapper, is our hostess this week.  She is a master artist in making layouts, and I'm sure she will have a great layout for you to view over at Bitten By the Bug2.  The other designers have some 'school is cool' projects too.  Come join us for our 'Back to School' challenge and link up your card, layout or project this week.   Enjoy!  -- Maureen

I used a lot of cartridges from Design Space for this layout. - Backpack is Doodlecharms, spiral paper and pencil are Family Album, 1st Day and Nametag are Artbooking, school house is Autumn Celebrations, ABC is Recess, apple is Paisley.  I added a strip of washi tape at the bottom and inked all the edges.

Also linked to Fantabulous Cricut blog challenge 284, back to school.
Also linked to the Heart to Heart challenge blog, For the Girls challenge

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

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 - 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.

Apple Blossoms

Can you believe my apple tree bloomed in the beginning of February.  By the end of February, most of the blossoms were done.  No wonder my apples are ready to pick in July!   I just loved the look of the blossoms and took a few pictures. 

The pictures are the perfect compliment to our BBTB2 challenge this week, hosted by Michelle, which is to use a Cricut flower on your project, card, or layout.   My flowers are not fancy at all, and I only use the one dimensional ones because they go into a book. Branch from Pagoda, words from Art Nouveau and overlay from Artbooking.  Go on over to BBTB2 and submit your flower project and see what creativeness my co-hostesses have come up with.

Winter in Idaho

In January, we took a drive up to visit with friends in Idaho.  The weather report between California and Idaho was favorable, so we just took off.  One of the days we drove up to McCall, Idaho.  It was beautiful looking at the frozen and snow capped scenery.   I took lots of pictures while driving, it was just too cold to get out at every scenic view.   The pictures resulted in a collage using the Cricut Artbooking cartridge for the framing and background.

Our challenge this week at BBTB2, hosted by Mayra, is to use a 'Frame" in our card or project.  I looked over all the possibilities, there are lots of fancy frames to select.  I went with this one with simple frames, it seemed to fit the bill.  I should have went with blue paper, but the green seemed appropriate to go with the trees.  I added a few embellishments with a snowflake, IDAHO from 50 States, and WINTER from Winter Frolic.  The tree is from CampOut.

If you are stuck inside the house due to the cold weather, what better day is it than to craft the day away.  Join our challenge at BBTB2 and link up your FRAME project.

So Charming

For this week's BBTB2 challenge, our sweet design sister Brenda, from http://friendscraftinwithfriends.blogspot.com/, has asked us to use the "charm feature" from any Cricut cartridge.  Well, I had an idea of a charm bracelet jump into my head, and below is the finished layout of my 'charming' granddaughter.  I did several searches for 'charm' on my Explore and "mycutsearch.com" to find charms I could use.  I picked out several and a border that looked like a chain to create my bracelet.  Join us at BBTB2 by linking up your 'charms feature' projects and cards.

Frame Tag - Don Juan
Mailbox, Baby, Heart Charms - Doodlecharms
Charming Word - Lovely Floral
Chain Link Border - Artbooking

 

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.



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

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.