Soaring with Florals Embellished & BBTB2

Happy Monday!  I hope this Monday morning finds all of our Midwestern Cricut friends safe and sound.... The weather channel and news channels covered some horrid storms and tornadoes though the middle of the US last night.  That is especially horrid in those areas already suffering though flooding.  I hope that everyone is well.

My friend and design team sister, the incomparable Donna Mundinger, selected the challenge cut this week at Bitten by the Bug 2.  Donna selected this lovely bird from the new-ish Florals Embellished cartridge.  I must say, Hello Kitty and the Disney cartridges have nothing on this bird!  There were A LOT of cuts to assemble for this bird!

First, I have a story to share with you about the Florals Embellished cartridge.  Back in March when I attended the Cricut Circle Crop in Atlanta I actually won this cartridge.  Madge, the fabulous crafter sitting to my right, won a screen for the Yudu Card Shop, but did not have a card shop machine.  Later in the crop I won a Yudu Card Shop.  Madge was a honey and gave me her screen.  I, of course, immediately gave her my Florals Embellished cartridge so that we both had prizes.  I did not tell Madge, until now(!) , that I really coveted that cartridge. 

A few weeks ago when I found out that Donna had selected to use the Florals Embellished cartridge, I immediately searched my usual cartridge sources for the best price on FE.  I found a good price and purchased the cartridge - and I am quite pleased that I did so.  I think this cartridge is going to be fun.

I used four cartridge to create this card: Just Because Cards (base card), Florals Embellished (bird and medallion), Plantin Schoolbook (a welded rectangle), and Martha Stewart Elegant Art (the border on the lower front of the card).  Using design studio I welded a rectangle to one end of my base card and a MS border to the other end.  I made sure that the rectangle and border were the same height/width, that way the center score line on the card remained the same.  I cut the base card in white cardstock, and then I cut the card front only in Basic Grey cardstock. 

I think I am going to love my MS Elegant Cake Art cartridge.  The cartridge has a lot of MS border cuts and different shaped edged mats.  Using your Gypsy, Cricut Craft Room, or DS you can resize and weld the border cuts to your cards or layouts.  Think of all of the MS border possibilities that this cartridge provides.  I feel like even though I may have paid $40 for the cartridge, I saved a mint in MS punch costs!

I layered the bird onto the medallion with pop dot, and I also layered the medallion onto the card with pop dots.  I used Stampin' Up ribbon without a bow.  I like the texture and the color of the ribbon, but a bow would have distracted from the bird.

I finished the card by adding doodle dots to the bird and medallion.  I also added the "post card" scrap and the thin strip of cardstock to the lower front of the card.

My goal for this week is to learn to use my new E2 Cricut machine with both regular and Imagine cartridges.  I will keep you posted on my progress!

Please do take a few minutes and pop over to BBTB2 and check out the teams' projects.   And remember, we would love it if you should decide to play along with us!!

Blessings Card with Ornamental Iron & Cindy Loo

I have been spending my days at home lately so I have no reason to feel like "Thank Goodness It's Friday" (TGIF), but I do!  This has just been one of those weeks where no less than three mornings I was convinced it was Saturday... Then I fully woke up!  Seriously. 

I made this Blessings card back on Monday, but I am just now getting it posted.  I used three cartridges - Just Because Cards, Cindy Loo (for the word Blessings) and Ornamental Iron (the frame).  I had intended this to be a sympathy card, but I realized given my color choices it would be a wonderful first communion card, Christening card, etc. 

I wanted to give you a close up of the Ornamental Iron frame.  This is just one layer of a multi-layer cut, but it works so well well as a decorative frame.  I used a muted color printed cardstock behind the frame and matted both on lime green cardstock. 

I used three different flowers and a brad to create the floral embellishment.

I ran the ribbon under the lime green layer, around the top layer of the card and tied the ends into a simple square knot.  I thought my edges were too small for a bow - though I usually prefer a bow!

I stamped a simple phrase inside the card using my Theresa Collins phrase stamps.  The phase is stamped on white cardstock, matted on a pink print and adhered to the inside of the card. 

I will be back tomorrow with a new project to share - it will be the third Saturday of the month and that means it is my day on Everyday Cricut (love Joy and Melanie and their site)!!

Toy Story's Woody Birthday Card

Hey there cowpokes!  I have a rootin' tootin' third birthday card for Carter, my adorable nephew to share with you today.  Carter really likes his rocking horse and his cowboy hat, not to mention his addiction to Toy Story, so this card is perfect for him.

Some of you may recall that when I made a Woody layout for Carter's scrapbook I forgot to look at the photo of Woody and I "sort-of" dressed him in his laundry day outfit.  I got it together this time and checked the photo before cutting.  My only edit was to change his shirt from yellow plaid to yellow with dots.  

My issue with this particular Woody, other than all of those teeny-tiny pieces, is the make up job.  I hope Carter understands that Aunt Susan was a bit heavy handed with Woody's stage make up!

I chose a few coordinating pieces of cardstock from my scraps to use a layered embellishments.  I added brads to the center of the design on the brown print.  I used a Stampin' Up happy birthday stamp on the aqua wood grain cardstock.

Inside the card I used Theresa Collins phrase/word stamps that came in a three sheet set from HSN.  I love this set because it has so many useful words and phrases for so many occasions.

I have completed a 12x12 scrapbook full of fun layouts and cute Carter photos to send for Carter's birthday party later this week.  I had forgotten how fun it is to scrap for a younger child.  Alas, maybe someday I will have grandchildren to scrap for!!

Easter Silhouette Card

Have I told you that I love the Martha Stewart Seasonal Art Cake Cartridge?  I really, really like this cartridge a lot, though I have not used it once for cake making!!  It has a lovely font and art work for every major holiday. 

Purple is not a color I work with often - and there is a reason.   Short story, I once had to do an entire scrapbook in a purple palette.  It wore me out on purple for quite a while.  :D

My daughter told me told me that the bunnies are creepy!  What?  Creep?  No way.  But yes, apparently the clothing on the bunnies that makes them creepy.  And of course my husband agreed with her, only he claims the creepy parts are the eyes.  Everyone's a critic!!  But okay, I probably should not have drawn in eyes....... Or the ears......?

My favorite part of the card is the background paper.  I like all of those Easter eggs.  In fact, I liked them so well that I cut out six of them to use the in the silhouette basket and the bunnies'  hands. 

The flower embellishement was created by layering two large white flowers with two lavender flowers and topping them with a crocheted flower and button. 

I stamped the inside of the card with a stamp I picked up at Hobby Lobby last year. 

This probably is not my best card every - I think it is curse of the purple.  After that purple scrapbook, purple and I just do not work well together!! 

Mother's Day 2010 Phrase Challenge

Happy Bitten by the Bug 2 Monday!  This week we are jumping ahead into mid spring with the Mother's Day 2010 Cartridge.  My sweet Design Team sister, Lori, chose this week's challenge cut - any phrase from the MD2010 cartridge.  I selected the word "Mom" as that is what I call my mother.

Using Cricut Design Studio, I cut "Mom" in two layers - the icon cut and the shadow.  The top layer (icon) was cut in a subtle print pretty pink; the shadow was cut in an aqua blue cardstock (though in the photo above the cardstock appears more blue than aqua).  I glued the cuts on a Bo Bunny oval, also cut with MD2010, and the corresponding base layer.

I used a dark cream cardstock and cut the top layer of matting, added scallops and tiny circles to create a semi-lace edge.  This was matted on an aqua blue rectangle, which was then matted on a lime green rectangle.  And finally all of the layers were matted on a smooth white cardstock card.

I embellished the card with white and brown pen dots and something new - Cuttlebug Quill Daisies.  When I attended the Cricut Circle Crop in Atlanta a month ago one of the two purchases I made was this great set of Cuttlebug plates to create daisies.  Provo Craft has come out with three sets:  Daisy, Chrysanthemum, and Carnation.  I trusted my table mate, Madge, to select a set for me.  And she chose well as I love this Daisy set.

The quill sets are very easy to use - I may do a video later to show you how wonderfully easy this flowers cut and go together.  You cut the pieces using the dies in your Cuttlebug.  Then using the quilling tool you wrap the three layers one at a time, smallest to largest, to create this awesome flowers!!  Easy - easy!

I completed my card by adding a rectangle of the dark cream cardstock and a rectangle of the lime green cardstock to the inside of the card, along with a pink strip.  I used two different circle punches and punched four flowers from the Bo Bunny print used on the front to create flower embellishments.  I the used dark brown ink and stamped a Mother's Day sentiment.  I colored the flower and edge of the oval with Copic markers.

I will back with some fun new projects this week - cards, a layout and hopefully I will find time to make a video using the Cuttlebug Quill flowers.

Love Birds - Blog Hop - Blog Candy

Hello everyone! You may have arrived here from Julie's blog if you are following the BBTB2 blog hop. Either way, welcome!

I am finally back to blogging.  I was busy most of last week with one thing or another and the week finally reached its pinnacle on Saturday when Doug and I moved our younger son into his first non-university housing apartment.... On the third floor... With no elevator! (But mom, the rent is cheaper on the third floor!).  :-D  We manged to survive and Ian's apartment is adorable!!!  Far better than my first apartment!

So now that you know where I have been, let's move on to BBTB2!  It is time for the monthly blog hop and this week's challenge was selected by our wonderful Design Team sister, Maria, who asked us to use one or more of the lovely hearts from the Love Struck cartridge.  I chose the love birds.

I created a fold out card using Just Because Cartridge.  I cut an envelop, then used my trimmer to remove the side flaps.  I scored the two fold lines created a half circle fold down flap (see the photo above), a center 4 x 4 area, and an oblong oval flap (see the photo below). 

For the front of the card I cut the love birds heart from Love Struck in pale pink.  I cut the shadow in white. I used copic marks and highlighted random hearts and the birds.  I added satin hearts and a crystallized Prima rose to the front of the card.  I wrapped the lower flap with a dotted one inch ribbon and added an additional satin heart and heart stick pin. 

I added a white circle stamped with a simple sentiment to the inside of the flip down flap.

Inside the card I used Lacey Labels and cut a scalloped square, the trim for the square, and the old school Love Story style LOVE. 

I liked that this card was not my usual single fold card.  I enjoyed the more creative folds and style.  Now let's get on to the good stuff!  I have wonderful BLOG CANDY!  Thanks to Custom Crops I have a $25.00 gift voucher for one lucky winner.  Just leave a comment below before you hop on and you will be registered for the blog candy.

It is now time for you to continue along on the BBTB2 blog hop!  Your next stop is at the blog of our amazing Design Team sister, Penny.  I had the pleasure of meeting Penny in person last summer and I so enjoyed meeting Penny and her daughter, Krista.  Both are lovely and delightful!

I will be back tomorrow when I have a snowy layout to share.

Festive Holiday Lighting for BBTB2

Merry Monday scrappers!  It is our last week of Bitten By The Bug 2 for 2010.  We are going to have a  nice break for the holidays but before we bid adieu to 2010 our sweet design team sister Julie has selected a final festive holiday challenge - the Gingerbread Man from Just Because Cards.

I decided to use the Gingerbread people to dress up my dining room light fixture.  First I added faux greenery to the fixture.  Next I made a four to five foot long paper chain (while watching a movie) and added that to the greenery.  I purchased traditional looking Christmas balls and using wire ribbon I affixed the ornaments to the light fixture.  And finally I added the Gingerbread people. 

Using Design Studio, I cut six Gingerbread People, three men and three Gingerbread Women.  I used Everyday Paper Dolls to create hair for each Gingerbread person as well as aprons for the women. I used Peachy Keen face stamps to add faces, black eyes and red mouths.   And though you cannot see it in the photographs, I embossed the hair so that it looked more like frosting.  I added red Stickles over the mouth stamps and a bit of white doodling to the aprons and buttons.

This may be the last of the BBTB2 pre-holiday projects, but it is not the last of the Busy with the Cricky pre-holiday posts.  I will be back with a couple of more holiday projects to share!  Be sure to drop by Bitten by the Bug 2 and check out the other Gingerbread projects!

Everyday Cricut Hostess Set with Thanksgiving Seasonal Cartridge

It's the third Saturday of the month and that means it is my day as the Saturday designer at Everyday Cricut!  Melanie and Joy have returned to Christmas holiday projects, but I wanted to share one last Thanksgiving project.  Besides I am doing a week of Thanksgiving projects here at Busy with the Cricky and I did not want to change my theme!

My featured project at Everyday Cricut is a four part Thanksgiving hostess set:  place cards, wine glass tags, decorative plate pumpkins, and Yudu printed napkins (previously featured here). 

Please head over to Everyday Cricut for more information and additional photos.   Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!

Gather Together Bountiful Card

I have a confession.  I have never sent out a Thanksgiving card.  And it has only been since I have been making cards that I have sent out Halloween cards.  But this year I will be mailing a few Thanksgiving cards to some family members.  Today's card is the first of my Thanksgiving themed cards.

The base card was cut in a fall print cardstock using Just Because Cards.  The three matting layers were cut with my 12 inch trimmer.  I used the Stampin' Up ticket punch on the corners of the matting.  And then I used my new obsession - PEEL OFFS!  I trimmed the top mat with peel offs and the main image is a peel off.

I found a great sheet of gold peel off fall leaves and I chose this two leaf flourish peel off for my card.  The peel off was affixed to orange metallic cardstock and then trimmed even with the edges of the peel off.   The leaves were then affixed to the matting layers.

The card was finished with orange organza ribbon and a cardstock sentiment.  I added a square of rust paper inside the card, topped with a square of white cardstock on which to write the greeting.  My family will be quite surprised with all of the cards coming their way!!

3-D Merry Christmas Card with Peel-Off Embellishments

I don't know about all of you, but I am SOOOO glad that all of the political ads will no longer be on the broadcast media today.   I can turn on the stereo in my minivan or the TV in my scraproom and not want to pierce my eardrums.  And with the end of the campaign season comes a focus on the coming holidays.  Speaking of broadcast media - we do all realize that some crazy radio station is going to start playing Christmas carols any day now??  Give me Christmas carols over campaign ads any day.  Hey - maybe there should be a new rule that all political ads must be sung carol style??  :-)

So on to today's Christmas card!  This card began with the center green and gold circle and it's attached gold leaves.  This piece was purchased as an open circle with the gold accent center, two gold stems of leaves, and two flowers.  I just spent the last hour trying to find the link to exactly where I purchased topper piece, but alas I cannot find it.  As soon as I spotted this embellishment I knew I was going to use it to make a Christmas card.  I added a gold peel off around the green portion of the topper and an additional flower and gem center.  I also spread out the leaves a bit and began the process of selecting paper. 

As I said above, the center of the circle was open so I began by selected paper that looked nice as a background in the middle of the circle.  I cut a 3 inch circle of this pretty red/burgundy/pink color and attached it to the back of the green circle.  I then added peel offs to the center of the circle, a single drum (from the drummer boy) and the Merry Christmas phrase.

I found this pretty antique looking paper in my stash.  I cut a large square of the red/burgundy/pink paper and affixed a small square of the antique-look paper on top.  I trimmed the edges with gold peel offs.  I then attached the circular embellie to the front of the card.

The inside of the card is white with a single Christmas red poinsettia embellishment.  This card will probably go to one of my neighbors as it is both heavy and textured (and the USPS does hate those lumpy cards!).  

I will be back tomorrow with yet another Christmas project to share.

Dreaming of a White Christmas

I have a quick little card to share today, White Christmas.  This card was created by combining elements from the WINTER FROLIC cartridge.  I used the White Christmas word phrase, cut in several layers, the triple circle accent cut, and the stars.  Using Design Studio, I welded the word phrase shadow cut to the circles to create a shadow base on which to build the top of the card.

I cut the top two word phrase layers white bazzill cardstock, the bottom layer in light blue Core'dination cardstock..  The circles were cut in SEI winter blue cardstock.  I used tiny pop dots to build the layers, at times cutting the pop dots in half to fit behind the tiny letters.  The stars were cut in two different types of metallic silver paper; the base layers in a flat silver and the two accent top cuts in a lined texture silver. 

I mounted my card topper on a rectangular mat of black metallic. The bottom mat is the same flat silver that was used to cut the stars.

The card was finished with icicle Stickles on the word Christmas and on around the circles.  There are also icicle dots on the blue circles.  The word WHITE was highlighted with a mixture of icicle Stickles and waterfall Stickles.  I swirled the two colors together to give the word WHITE a frosty cold feeling.

The card is finished with a length of blue snowflake ribbon with a little bow.  The ribbon is distributed by Michaels. 

Blog Hopping, Blog Candy, and a BBTB2 card... WOW

Happy blog hopping BBTB2 Monday!  I have a lot of information to share so I should get typing.  Welcome to the monthly BBTB2 Blog hop.  You probably arrived here from Karen's blog.  If not, think about jumping over to BBTB2 and starting the blog hop at the beginning (after you finish reading my post, of course!).  The challenge cut this week was selected by my wonderful design team sister, Penny Shuberg.  Penny chose the apron cut on the FROM MY KITCHEN cartridge. 

I decided to use a recipe card cut from the same cartridge as my base card.  I welded a rectangle to the recipe card and scored down the middle of the weld to create the card.  I used Basic Grey's kitchen line of paper.  Ironic, huh?  The base card was cut using the cupcake print.  This worked well because the back side of the paper is a nice solid medium pink - perfect for the inside of the card.  The base card was topped with two matting cuts and wrapped with a ribbon before the apron was attached with pop dots.  I printed a recipe for Pasta with Shrimp and Crabmeat that I am going to mail to my son's girlfriend.  Crissie is learning to cook and Aaron loves seafood!

 

In addition to the bow near the bottom of the card,  I also added a scalloped tag to the upper right corner of the card.  I used one of my favorite products to create the top layer of the tag - the Amy Chomas mini gel pen holder and glitter pen set!!  I love Amy's products, the gel pens and holder as well as her embossing kit.  Awesome products!!!  With the gel pens you simply remove the blade housing from your Cricut and replace it with Amy's gel pen holder loaded with a mini pen.  The Cricut will then write your image instead of cutting.  Cool, huh?

In addition to a new BBTB2 project here, I also have a new cake recipe to share on my sister blog, Busy with the Cricky Cake.  Be sure to check the cake blog today for the recipe and again tomorrow to see the completed decorated cake.

Did I mention BLOG CANDY?  Yes, indeed there will be blog candy this week!!!  Amy Chomas is sponsoring my blog hop this month and is providing  FABULOUS blog candy: an Amy Chomas Mini Gel Pen Holder and Pen set!!!  Seriously!  This is a great product and I love it.  Anything with Amy's name attached is sure to be fabulous!!

Leave a comment below to register for the blog candy.  You should go by Amy's site and see her fabulous projects using her products.

Now that you have left a comment (you did leave a comment didn't you?), your next stop on the blog hop is at the blog of the AMAZING Lori Warner.  Lori is a very gifted designer and a wonderfully nice woman - have fun at her blog!!!  Have a great day and remember to visit Amy's site!!