PAPER ARTS

BBTB2 Monogram

2012-02-27T08:00:00.001-07:00

Our leader and ultra talented Donna is the hostess this week...and she asked the design team to create with monograms. Any cartridge, any lettering.... Anytime the subject arises for a letter, I head right to my Cindy Loo cartridge. I think the letterings on that cartridge are simply the best and I love the selections.

The coral card set was made for a sweet gal named Tia at my bank who took a few hours to correct some important paperwork ... I embossed the card base, used an MS weave punch, embossed the white mount and added her initial. The second card with the initial J is a birthday card.
Please visit our blog at BBTB2, enjoy the wonderful talented design team cards and projects and be sure to join in on our monogram challenge by uplinking your blog and specific card thru Mr. Linky and be sure to mention BBTB2 in your blog post. Remember...it's important that you have that awful word verification disabled so your visitors can leave a sweet comment. You canread the request in the challenge rules on the blog here.

Riley Cat

2012-02-26T11:29:00.004-07:00

I hosted the Card Camp this weekend and Riley had great fun moving from spot to spot, leaping upon work spaces to snoop and he became used to "NOOOO Riley, NOOOO". Last night he hopped into MY recliner and this is the look on his face as if to say "MOVE AGAIN????"

BBTB2/Nate'sABC's/Garden Boots

2012-02-20T08:00:00.003-07:00

SPRING BLING

Spring is almost here and I know we are anxiously awaiting green grasses, the blooms on flowers, bees buzzing around the sweet scents of spring, birds chirping....and weather that is pleasing.

I am the hostess this week for the BBTB2 challenge. I asked the design team to use Nate's ABC's and to design a card or project with the garden boot cut. There are boots on other cartridges ..Create a Critter, Everyday Paper Dolls, Freshly Picked. There are other boots that can be decorated with a garden theme. Please join in on our challenge. Upload your project to Mr. Linky, link back to your challenge card on your blog and give us a shout out. Make your project a new project to meet our challenge selection.

I want to comment on a problem I am encountering. As a design team member of BBTB2 I love to leave comments to those visitors who upload their card to our weekly challenges. Recently I am finding a topsy turvy very blurred word verification that must be entered in order to have my comment published. I have tried many times on several blogs but I simply cannot read that blurred lettering and I end up leaving the blog without a comment. That makes me sad because I want our BBTB2 visitors to know that I appreciate their participation.Blogger announced later last year that word verifs are not necessary and to quote a friend "be a friend to your visitors...delete your word verifs". I just want to explain why I am not leaving comments on some of the blogs.

I had some pattern papers laying around that I used because of the garden colors. The green of the grasses, pinks of the flowers. First, I embossed the boot cuts, then I added some pink jewels ... hence the title of Garden Bling. I am not much of a gardener anymore because of aged joints, but at one time I had a splendid garden full of vegetables and flowers. The little flowers added are a MS punch. The title of Garden Bling is cut from my favorite lettering cartridge....Cindy Loo.

Thanks for visiting, my friends. I always love your comments... be sure to visit BBTB2 and delight in the design team projects.

BBTB2/Love Struck/Couples Heart

2012-02-13T08:00:00.002-07:00

Happy Monday everyone.... Our BBTB2 hostess this week is the lovely Susan who asked us to design from Lovestruck cartridge and to use the couple's hearts. I do not have that cartridge, so I went to my first cartridge ever owned and created my design. George and Basic Shapes has the wonderful heart shape I need for this design. This is a hanging tag. The base of the tag is the letter O five inches in diameter... I cut 6 hearts 2 inches in size, and each was embossed with a different embossing folder from Cuttlebug. I glued the hearts side by side and then I punched two holes on the side of each heart, strung a ribbon through and tied a bow. I added a small fuchia punch heart, and a red jewel. The word "love" is cut from Beyond Birthdays cartridge. I had a dimensional flower laying around and I just decided this little flower would take away that blast of red hearts.

Here is a little bigger view of the tag which measures, in total, 5-1/2x5-1/2.
Please do enter our weekly challenge using a heart design. You do not have to have the selected cartridge, just make sure you follow the entry rules posted at the top of the BBTB2 blog. Make a new project, link your card and blog to Mr. Linky, and be certain to give BBTB2 a shout out.

Have a wonderful spiffy week.

Valentine Gifties

2012-02-12T10:08:00.003-07:00

Each year at Valentine's Day I take some gifties to my friends at my former office. They are my forever cherished ones. I saw the most awesome candy wrapper by my dear friend Sandi Kelly and try as I might, I could not duplicate the beautiful flower she created for her candy wrapper. I made 3 wrappers and just took on a simple Valentine design for each. I created the paper by typing sentiments in different fonts and I found that one sheet of 8-1/2x11 would create a cover for two candy bars. I added some MS punch edges, a few hearts, a ribbon and a jewel to each. I love the design and they will have to deal with all those lovely calories beneath the papers. The initials are from Cindy Loo.... this is one of my fave letterings.

This shows some of the candy bars, a small gift card folder that will accept a Starbucks gift card for my friend Gay. Each of my friends will get a ribbon string of hearts. I've tossed in 3 little bookmarks too.
This is Gay's birthday card. The hat (from Doodlecharms) and it sits above the card edge. I will have to get one of the larger envelopes to put the card in.
I can't wait until Tuesday to take my gifties into my friends.

Just Ducky

2012-02-11T15:36:00.003-07:00

I have been passing the time away playing in paper piles and I put together this little D is for Duck card. All designs are from Nate's ABC's. I added a lot of embossing and a little heart for fun.

BBTB2/SweetHeart/Tag

2012-02-06T08:00:00.002-07:00

Shelly is our hostess this week at BBTB2 and she has asked us to design from Sweethearts cartridge and to use the heart tag. If you wish to join in our challenge, you can use any tag from any cartridge. Just follow our challenge instructions posted at the top of our BBTB2 blog.

I almost want to name this project my "junky tag" because it just sort of was slammed together ... I cut a bunch of hearts with a shadow in black, I had the word "love" in a box lid (spare parts, ya know) The tag, the hearts and the key all came from Sweetheart cartridge. I did lay a gold ink pad over the key cut, sprinkled gold embossing powder on it, then gave it a good heat up with my embossing gun. I added a red ribbon and some gold thread, everything is embossed. I had this little box of black and white and red buttons so I decided "why not" and glued some on the tag. See?....junky.

I hope that you enjoy visiting BBTB2, because we truly enjoy creating projects to inspire. Please do join in our challenge. We want to see what you did with a tag.

BBTB2/Baby Buggy

2012-01-30T08:00:00.006-07:00

I am pleased to announce the winner of my blog candy draw (the little green tote). Congrats to Maureen. Please email me and I will get the necessary information to mail the tote. Thanks to everyone who visited and left a sweet comment.

Happy month end and happy blog hop to one and all. I cannot believe we have skipped right on through the month of January and now head for February 2012. Awesome time travel!!! I am pleased to tell you I am the hostess for the blog hop for BBTB2. I asked the gals to design with a baby carriage. I selected New Arrival but there are several baby buggies/carriages/prams on other cartridges. So if you would like to join up with our challenge, please do so. We are a Cricut Based design team so we ask that your design has at the selected cut from a Cricut cartridge and we ask that the project be a new design. Be sure to mention on your blog that you have joined in with the BBTB2 challenge. We love that shout out.

I hope that you have started your blog hop at the beginning with Heather right here.... from Donna's delights here you have been guided to my blog. Here is my card:

This is a side view so I can show the dimension for the carriage. Gotta love those popdots.

I cut several of the carriages from New Arrival in two different sizes. The base mount has been embossed with the BABY embossing folder from Cuttlebug. I used the smaller carriages for the background, the two different pattern papers were exchanged between the two smaller carriages that show, the larger carriage cut at 5-1/2 sits atop the base. I added a white ribbon for bling. The word "baby" was in a stash box so I am afraid I cannot tell you which cartridge it came from, but I do like the style of the word. Little punch hearts decorate the wheels, and the main carriage has been embossed.
If you leave a comment on my blog when you visit, you will be put into the draw for my blog candy. I make totes, by the dozens, to use up the drawers and tubs of stashed fabrics. This is just a smaller tote adorned with eyelet lace and some checkered ribbon. It is lined but has no inner pocket. I will do the draw on February 3 so check back after 2PM that day. If I do not hear from the named winner by February 5, I will redraw.
Now onto Krista's darling blog...where you will be delighted. Be sure to visit BBTB2 and follow along with the blog hop. Visit each designer on their blog because you will be in for a treat. Thanks for visiting.

BBTB2/Bloom

2012-01-23T08:00:00.004-07:00

FLOWER POWER

Our talented and sweet hostess this week at BBTB2 is Jeri. She always has such great choices for us to design with and this week she asked us to design from the BLOOM cartridge and to use a 6 petal flower. As an additional bit of challenge, Jeri says we have to show a wee bit of dimension on the flower. . If you do not have that cartridge (I don't) you can use any 6 petal flower from any other cartridge. . I went to my Walk In My Garden cartridge. One of my faves. I think every Cricut cartridge is one of my faves. Please join in on our 6 petal flower challenge. Mention on your blog that you have entered the BBTB2 flower challenge, and make sure the upload is a new project. Here is my card:

This is a side view so you can see the layering of the flowers. I cut two for each flower, the base flower is flat on the card base but the second layer has been popdotted as well as the flower center. I added a bit of bling with the jewel centers. The ribbon came from a gift box and I just had to add it to the fray.

The leaves are a Martha punch. Everything has been embossed which seems to occur on every single card I make. The sentiment is from Cutting Cafe in the "You're In My Thoughts Greetings, Inside and Out". You can see that set right here.

Thanks so much for visiting and if you leave a sweet comment, you know I will appreciate it so much. Please consider entering our flower challenge. We'd love to see your creation.

BBTB2/Numbers

2012-01-16T08:00:00.002-07:00

It's BBTB2 Monday Time.....Our talented leader Donna is the hostess for this week's challenge. She asked us to design with numbers...from any cartridge.

I had instant ideas on this challenge and I landed on the number 75. I am close friends with so many of my high school friends, we have reunion luncheons twice a year. Next year we all turn 75 so I made a birthday card for a dear friend although the card will sit for at least a year since the birthday is in December.

I used the numbers from Cindy Loo.... this cartridge has some mighty fine cuts but I absolutely love the alphabet and number cuts. The little turquoise design in the center above the numbers is from Cindy Loo as well. I cut three and made a flower. The base of the card was made from Wordle. I used to design a lot of cards using Wordle and then I sort of forgot about it. I had to email my friend DeeDee Campbell so she could jog my memory and she knew right off what I was looking for. If you haven't used Wordle, give it a try at www.wordle.net. You can have a lot of fun with this program which is free. I use the Word Clouds part of the program. The corners of the turquoise matting was corner punched with one of my fave punches. I've embossed most of the design and in the lower left corner I placed a Shrink Art birthday message. I have a box of these little trinkets that I made up a few years back. It is so much fun using a rubber stamp on the shrink plastic, then I cut it down, punch a hole and when I place the shrink plastic in the toaster oven, it is absolutely like magic to watch the little square curl up, uncurl, shrink down, leaving a very crisp sentiment.

Thanks for visiting. We'd love it if you join in on our numbers challenge. Just be sure to give BBTB2 a shout out on your blog, and we ask that your card be new.

Caterpillar/WIMG

2012-01-09T08:00:00.003-07:00

Happy Monday, dear ones. Today I host Bitten By The Bug2 weekly challenge. I selected the darling little caterpillar from Walk In My Garden cartridge. I hope that you will join in on our challenge and if you don't have WIMG, there are many cute little caterpillars on other cartridges. Just remember to mention that you have joined in the challenge at BBTB2 (so your visitors will know where to look) and make sure you have created something new for the challenge.

My card style is a Gate Fold Card, one of my favorites. I've mounted each panel with a black cardstock and then a green pattern paper which has been embossed. On the right side I present the smiley little caterpillar who hovers over the left panel. His leg slips in under one of the flower petals and that allows the card to be closed. The flowers are hearts connected by a yellow flower center and all have been embossed. I added a yellow button on the flower center, and Caterpillar has a sweet red jewel for her nose. The sentiment outside and inside are from Cutting Cafe. I am on hiatus from The Cafe but I love Regina's printables so much, they always make their way into most cards I create. The outside sentiment is from The Cafe's printable here: The inside sentiment that says "I hope you feel better soon" is from The Cafe's printable here.

TFL, hope you visited me from BBTB2 because the designers always have something delightful to share with you to leave you with some inspiration.

BBTB2/Ice Skates

2012-01-02T08:00:00.004-07:00

Ballerina On Ice

Hello my dear followers. Happy New Year. I hope that each of you have a most wonderful 2012, a happy and healthy, safe and delightful 2012.

Heather has decided to step down as leader of Bitten By The Bug2. As you may know, Heather is a new proud grandmother and she will be taking care of her sweet new grandson, Blake. She has entrusted Donna Mundinger and I to take a sharing leadership of the blog. Donna and I are very excited. We believe that BBTB2 is a respected design team and we hope that we can inspire you to check in with our blog each week to see the wonderful cards from the design team members. Stay tuned because we are going to be doing a design team call in January.

Krista is our sweet hostess this week. She asked us to design with some ice skates. There are skates on many of the cartridges like Joys Of The Season, Christmas (Solutions), Celebrate With Flourish, Nifty Fifties....and quite a few others. For my skate cut, I selected Christmas (Solutions) and I just had to add the silhouette of the dancing skater from Winter Woodland (page 50). I added an embossed scalloped circle to mount the pair of skates upon, and I gave each skate a pretty blue ribbon that matches the ribbon on the skater. The snowflakes are MS punches. The dancer appears to be skating in front of a pretty window frame which is cut from Christmas (Solutions). And of course everything got a dose of embossing.

Thanks for looking... If you have come here from BBTB2 you will no doubt be inspired to make your own skate card.

Cutting Cafe Blog Hop

2011-12-26T15:49:00.005-07:00

Hooray I have drawn the wining name: Margie of Bellabug Creations. I will have Regina get you the printable set immediately. Congrats...and thanks to all that participated in The Cafe's Blog Hop. Regina, that sweet sharing Regina, is offering up a free set of printables. We designers were allowed to select the set we wished to design with AND offer that set to any visitor who leaves a comment on each of our blogs. This is a blog hop so be sure to hop along to each designer and leave your comments. Here's the Cutting Cafe blog for your inspiration.

I chose "You're In My Thoughts Inside and Out" printable. There are mega choices on this set. Here is my card. I cut a Nestie opening on the front of my embossed blue card stock and I set the Nestie cut inside that has the sentiment. I surrounded the opening with sweet flowers and a butterfly, and a few pearls to enhance. The sentiment has been embossed as well.

Regina will post our designs on Wednesday, and I will do a drawing my comment section on Friday. So check back after 2PM on Friday and see if you are the winner. Thanks for looking.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T22:18:00.004-07:00

To all of my design team sisters, for all of my wonderful bloggy friends and to each follower who visits here...I wish you each a Merry Christmas and I pray that your new year will be healthy, happy and prosperous for each of you.

My son and daughter in law share my Thanksgiving, and they spend Christmas with her family in Connecticut. For 21 years I have always fixed a family recipe of my mother's called "Stacked Tacos" and this meal is shared with my Uncle Jack. For the first time in 21 years the tradition has been halted due to his passing on December 6. Tomorrow I will sew, and my day will be filled with memories to soothe my sad sad heart.

My Lorelie Lap Quilt is finally finished. I started this early last year but last week I finally picked up the blocks and created this small lap throw. It's a bright and cheery fabric with darling Lorelie designs that I toned down with black and white fabrics of all patterns. I love this little quilt....

Merry Christmas one and all...

Cutting Cafe/Rain Rain

2011-12-18T10:10:00.004-07:00

THESE BOOTS!

It is me...back again. I took a wee break to get myself settled down and take care of things that I had to get through. My Uncle Jack passed away December 6th and life has been a series of weeping, anger, a struggle to understand all things .. In addition to feeling the void of my Uncle not being in my daily life, I felt the loss of mojo to create. Our Inspiration Post for Cutting Cafe on December 19 is from The Cafe's Rain Rain Go Away printables. Such a cute cute set to work with and as it so happens, I woke to rain this morning. Here is my card for the post.

I put the base card layer and the white mount through my Cuttlebug embossing folder as well as the Cafe's printable and the darling little rain boots. I added a CK Edge Punch, and some cute little red jewels for the flower centers. Hope you will take a peek on Wednesday to see the design team's contributions for this inspirational post at The Cafe.

Neglectful me...

2011-12-10T20:02:00.002-07:00

I don't think I have ever neglected my wonderful blog like I have recently. My cherished Uncle Jack passed away on December 6th and I am busy doing all the things that a niece can do in such a sad time. I'll be back, my friends.... don't stray from me.

Sewing Seams

2011-11-26T07:59:00.003-07:00

A rag quilt has great personality with the little blocks and frazzled and frayed seams sticking upward into the quilt top. Making a rag quilt "by hand" means sewing seams together so the seams are on top, not beneath the project and then when that is all done, you begin the process of clipping a hundred gazillion snips to make fringe on each exposed seam layer. It's a hand breaker and most of the time my hands feel like they have been hammered. Thankfully I have an Accu-Go quilt die machine and delight of all delights, one of the die cuts (yes, just like Sizzix only bigger) is a rag quilt die cut which amazingly enough cuts every single little fringe piece on all 4 sides. I used sheeting for my quilt backing and actually to achieve a wonderful "matching" I ran the denim block and the sheet block through the die cut at the same time. This little wonderful Accu-go can cut about 5 layers of fabric at once. Once the 2 layers have been die cut, then you sew a big X from point to point which anchors the two fabrics nicely. When the stack has been done,the next process is to sew those fringed seams together with the fringe on the right side. It gets a little tedious trying to make the little fringes behave, to make sure each snip stands up and is not sewn into the seam. Actually at this point you are sewing 4 layers of fabric, and you sew your seam just about 1/2 or an inch beneath the clip of the fringe. I use a small stitch on this process. And most importantly, it is very easy to have a little fringe escape and get sewn in the backside. Rip out time.... When the intended rows of rag quilt blocks have been sewn together, then you sew one row to the next and you continue this process until your quilt has been assembled. The backside is nice and neat with lined up seams and pretty fabrics, the top side is a jumble of cute blocks and fringe. Next is the fraying process which is done in the washing machine....and cotton, denim...they fray like champs. Warning: your washer will be a hotbed of frayed threads and clumps. I remove the quilt, clean out the washing machine, and then I take the quilt in the backyard and shake it about 10 times. After the quilt is dried, you have....voila'....a cute frayed rag quilt. Thank heaven for my Accu-Go because otherwise....there would never be a rag quilt creation in this sewin' gal project bin.

Kuddos to my friend LeAnn who brought me the old levis to work with.

Cutting Cafe BOGO Sale

2011-11-25T07:25:00.003-07:00

I always chuckle when I see the word "BOGO" and I have to stop and think..... it's a wonderful little silly word that means..."buy one, get one"... and if you stop by Cutting Cafe right now, you will see that Regina is having a BOGO sale. If you buy one of her darling printables, you get one free.. How's that for a deal. Here is the link:

Cutting Cafe/December Delights

2011-11-20T08:35:00.004-07:00

Oh how I love Cutting Cafe. You can see the shop right here. Regina's shop has endless choices for all themes and occasions. Our inspiration post at Cutting Cafe blog this week is such a fun group of sets to design with.

We had a choice of December themed images and printables. I selected two: I fussy cut the darling penguin and his cute little red hat. The hat has 3 red jewels added because of course any design conscious penguin wants a wee bit of bling. You can view the Penguin set right here. For my second choice, I printed the 3 calendars from December Daily Numbers Sets.

The top most calendar has been set on an embossed Nestie cut...I've embossed just about everything .... I added a wee star (Don Juan, page 28) ..the center of this sweet star has a gold jewel. I punched a circle, and then a smaller circle so I could highlight the Christmas date of 25.

Regina will post the inspirational projects on Wednesday so be sure to visit the site right here and you will delight in the designs offered. Thanks for your visit.... we are getting nearer to the day of Christmas celebration and I hope that each of you have a safe and wonderful holiday.

Cutting Cafe/Thanksgiving Set

2011-11-13T20:18:00.003-07:00

Thanksgiving is one of my most favorite holidays because my son and daughter in law come home for our celebration of the holiday.

Our inspiration post on Wednesday November 16 at Cutting Cafe is featuring a wonderful set called Thanksgiving Day. It has so many fantastic images and printables to make those cards to send to family and friends. When I see this set, I always head for that precious little turkey fella all dressed up in his top hat. Here is my card for the inspiration post.

I printed off the backgrounds for Happy Thanksgiving and Gobble Gobble. Those have been section into two different layers. I embossed and mounted the printables on brown and cinnamon cardstock. I put a black cardstock layer on the white base card, added a brown and white plaid ribbon. I added a second layer of embossed white cardstock. The little turkey fella has been colored in with my Copics. I have a hard time coloring with my hand problem but I hope turkey fella is presentable. I added a ribbon and the gobble sentiment was cut from my Stamped Cricut cartridge.

This is sort of a preview of my take on the inspiration challenge, but I hope on Wednesday you will pop over to the Cutting Cafe blog and take a peep ...er peek at the design team cards and projects. I think we are a pretty awesome group of gals with great ideas. Working with Regina's printables is fun and the cards we can create are pretty awesome. Thank you for visiting my blog.

Cutting Cafe/Christmas Sentiments

2011-11-09T06:44:00.003-07:00

Regina's new Cutting Cafe set called Christmas Sentiment Shapes is awesome. It creates a quick and so easy printable that gives you an immediate holiday card. Just add a few little embellies and you have something wonderful to share with someone.

I selected the Tree and the cute Stocking for my two cards. The printable has a shadow cut as well but I opted to just design with the basic tree and stocking and then I added some jewels, ribbons, stars. The base card has been embossed with a dotted embossing while the Nestie mount under the printable has been embossed with a Sizzix holiday greeting. I added a plaid red ribbon and a red and white polka dotted ribbon. The stars are Sizzix die cuts.

Here is a highlight of the tree shape. I added some zig-zag red jewels down the treet.
This features the cute Christmas Stocking. I added a star and a ribbon. The tree and the Stocking have been embossed as well.
The printable from Cutting Cafe will let you design some wonderful cards for your family and friends. You can see the set right here. Thank you for visiting me and if you've left a comment, I appreciate it so much because as you know we bloggers glow when we get some feedback on our creations.

Cutting Cafe Inspiration/Jot It Down

2011-11-06T08:00:00.002-07:00

Our Cutting Cafe inspiration this week is from the Jot It Down printable series. This set will allow you to design so many different projects. I made a small little scrapbook of sorts.... with a few pages for notes, and places to add some small photographs that you cherish.

I selected a 12x12 double sided paper and I cut the sheet in half. I folded each half and stacked them which gave me 8 pages to design on. I added two eyelets and threaded lime green ribbon through to bind the sections together. The front of the little scrapbook has a rubber stamp title.

This is a stand up view. Isn't it wonderful when the backside of your paper is as pretty as the front side?
I've added some of the wonderful printables. This view of the two pages side by side will allow some cherished memory notes and a small photograph.
Another area to write some notes. I've added a punch heart, and Nestie mounts.
I think these two pages would be wonderful to add some photographs.
That's it... my little quick and easy creation using the Cafe's Jot It Down. You can see that set right here ...and be sure to check the Cutting Cafe inspiration blog on Wednesday. The design team will have some wonderful things to inspire you.

Cutting Cafe Inspiration/Circle Sentiments

2011-10-30T08:00:00.004-07:00

Our inspiration post at The Cutting Cafe Blog this week is to design using big sentiments. I love them all and it is always hard to settle for one. I decided to use the big sentiment for the baby set right here. Here I am again, making a door hanger.

I used my Cricut to cut 2 big circles with my double sided papers. (There are circles on many many cartridges, but I used George and Basic Shapes to cut my two.) Then I sit for 10 minutes trying to decide which side of the paper to show. That's the hardest part of making my card designs.... All 3 layers have been embossed with the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug. I added a small round and square EK Success Punch and then I mounted the precious little Onesie on top.

I've added groups of flowers in white and pink around the whole design. I used my Crop A Dile to place a brad and I strung bright green ribbon through for the ability to hang from a door knob or on the wall. Be sure to check out the Cafe's Inspiration blog on Wednesday. You'll see some wonderful things, I promise.

Cutting Cafe Giveaway

2011-10-29T06:58:00.002-07:00

That awesome Regina at The Cutting Cafe is offering FREE printables. You cannot pass this offer up. The free sets are available until November 2 2011 at Midnight. Hurry on over and get these darling sets. You can read all about it here.

Cutting Cafe Inspiration/Think Pink

2011-10-23T08:00:00.002-07:00

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Our inspiration post on the Cutting Cafe blog this week is from the Think Pink breast cancer printables. I've made a lot of cards using this wonderful set.....

I fussy cut that beautiful pink ribbon that has been dotted with printed flowers. The ribbon has been embossed. The base card mount has been embossed with a delicate floral design (Cuttlebug), the printed "hope" has been cut with a square scalloped Nestie, embossed with Swiss Dots folder and mounted on a pink cards stock. I've Nestie cut one of the round sentiments from the set, embossed it, pop dotted it on the card and added a darling little pink paper ribbon. My friends all know that if they get a present and it was wrapped with a wonderful ribbon, give it to Carole. And so it was with this beautiful pink ribbon that adorns the card as a final effect. I love this card... I hope you will take a peek at the Cutting Cafe blog here and just take a look at the fantastic inspiration from our design team.

Cutting Cafe You Is

2011-10-20T08:46:00.003-07:00

Regina at The Cutting Cafe has a wonderful new printable (but aren't they all wonderful?)...and it is called "You Is". It is from the book/movie "The Help". Honestly, I think I may be the only person I know that has not read the book or seen the movie and my friends are raving about both. Until I move to that venue, let me share with you my take on the darling printable set. There are many options to select in this set, but I chose the larger square sentiment. I love making door hangers or signs and this is my creation.

I mounted the sentiment several times on different colors of papers and I've edged several layers with an EK Success Edge Punch. The round sentiment was put at the top of the sign and adorned with a MS layered butterfly and a MS tiny turquoise jewel. I've embossed the upper layers. I love this hanging sign.
Thanks for taking a peek and please visit The Cutting Cafe right here to view this wonderful printable.

Cutting Cafe/Boxes

2011-10-16T07:22:00.002-07:00

Our Cutting Cafe Blog inspiration post this week is centered around the wonderful array of box sets that Regina offers...and with all the cute options, it is really difficult to settle for just one creation. So.... as you can see, I've tossed in a few different designs with box sets.

This is a view of 3 different sets:

Ah, I love Halloween designs. These darling little boxes decorated with a bat and a ghostie are just the ticket to give little Halloween candies to friends. The two die cuts are Sizzix cuts, the little bat has been cut twice and lifted, and ghostie has 3 layers that are pop dotted. I put some jewels on each box for a bit of Halloween bling. I know my friends will gobble up the candy and keep the little boxes. This little set came from Tiny Box with sentiments...and you can see that set right here.
I sound so silly when I hear myself saying "oh this one is my favorite".... I guess I should admit that is true for the single moment. But I do love this darling little Tooth Fairy set. You can view that right here. I created a small box and decorated it with butterflies which are punched from a MS punch ... the inside of this box has tiny little envelopes that can hold those precious baby teeth. I've tied the bundle with a sweet yellow ribbon.
This is just a simple box pattern that has double sided paper, a scalloped mount that has been embossed and some punch stacked flowerettes with jewels in the center. I love putting a new paperback in one of these boxes for a gift.
Please visit The Cafe blog on Wednesday when Regina posts our inspirational endeavors. There are so many talented design team sisters who create awesome cards and projects for your inspiration.

Cutting Cafe/Halloween All Around

2011-10-09T07:12:00.003-07:00

This week at The Cafe we are haunting down the Halloween halls with cute little creations to feature the October festivities. We were asked to create from any of Regina's Halloween printables and it is one hard task to settle down on one. I selected Halloween All Around as my target and the two cards shown are the end results.

Bad to the Bone is first up. I printed off the round sentiment and shaped it with one of my Nestie round scallops dies. The base paper and mount are embossed, the cute little skull has been embossed and just for bling, I added a colorful ribbon tab. The skull's eyes are black jewels, and the sentiment was cut from Mickey Font.

Sharing the space is EEK, the cute spider printable has been embossed and mounted on several colorful layers of paper, also embossed. I added a little strip of a ribbon and the lettering has been cut 4 times for a thick effect. EEK was cut with Mickey Font as well.

Thanks for looking. Be sure to check in at The Cutting Cafe on Wednesday because Regina will post all of the creations from the design team. It's Halloween (eye) candy for sure.

Cutting Cafe cuties...

2011-10-08T18:47:00.003-07:00

I love creating with little things. I had some spare images from Regina's Cutting Cafe printables and so I made some cards and some tags. The ghostie tag is a Sizzix cut however the Owl and Candy Corn are from Halloween Mini-colored set printables, and that darling little pumpkin face is from Halloween All Around.

The little tags will be so handy

For all my little giftie bags of candy.

I love this time of year....

Be sure to take a peek at The Cutting Cafe printables. You'll love 'em...

Tutorial: Calorie Free Birthday Cake

2011-10-05T19:10:00.003-07:00

I've had some requests for a tutorial on making the "calorie free" birthday cake. This is a cute little do-dah and so easy to put together.

In the main tutorial photographs you will see cuts from the round scalloped Nestie dies, however you can also use your Cricut.

I have shown the Nestie sizes. I cut four sizes. The larger size is the "plate" where the cake sits. The very top has a small round scalloped punch. The flower or embellishment will sit on this.

Supplies:

Pattern Papers: Two paper pattern designs. Cut two for each size except for the largest.( That is the plate.)

Cardstock: Cut two for each size. One size is sandwiched between the pattern papers and you may use one of the extra white cuts as a layer between the pattern paper layer.

Two plastic scotch tape rolls

Two white cardstock strips to cover the scotch tape rolls.

Glue gun.

Gold Paint (optional). I take a brush and edge all layers with gold paint. I tried a Metalic Pen but had problems getting a nice edging because of the small scallops.

Stickles - Icicle

Cricut Cuts: Accent Essentials (or any cartridge that has a scalloped circle cut). I cut the largest (plate) at 4 inches, and then each layer is decreased by a 1/2 inch.

The plain cardstock is sandwiched between two pattern papers for each size. This will give the cake layers a nice sturdy layer and the underside pattern paper looks nice.. I alternate the two patterns for each layer.

The largest scallop (the plate) is kept white cardstock and embossed. I emboss all layers with my Cuttlebug swiss dot folder.

I cut two embossed strips of white cardstock. Those are glued to the scotch tape rolls.
Embossed rolls. Looks like a layer of whipped cream between the cake layers.
Now the stacking begins. I tried glue but found the adhering is best with my glue gun. The scotch tape roll has a hollow center so I concentrate on getting the glue on the edge of the roll.

When all layers have been adhered and the glue has cooled, I add the Stickles to the seam of each layer. This not only covers up some of the glue but it strengthens the bonding. The very top of the cake has two options: Flower Punch with jewel, or a small flower embellishment.

The loose cuts are Cricut cuts.
This is a close up of the finished little cake.
I create a small box with an open Nestie cut, add some transparency so the little cake shows once in the box. If you have any questions, please email me.

Cutting Cafe/Halloween Mini Set

2011-10-03T07:43:00.003-07:00

Ahhh, Halloween. I love making cards for the time of year... The Cutting Cafe is THE place to shop for all things Halloween. The group of cards below are designed using the Halloween Mini-colored set from The Cafe. As always they seem to fall together in the blink of a ghostie's eye and soon you have a nice stack of cute cards to share. I used a small punch to punch out the darling little images which have been mounted on 2 graduated sizes of round scallop punches (EK Success). The card base and pattern paper are embossed, so are the images. The sentiment is one of my fave little Halloween rubber stamps. TFL... and take a peekaboo at the Halloween Mini-colored set at The Cafe. It's a sure winner...

Cutting Cafe/Monsters

2011-10-02T07:31:00.004-07:00

Who knew?.... Monsters can be cuddly and sweet. This little fella is sending hugs to someone to get well...and I will send this to my sweet daughter in law who just had surgery.

This printable from Cutting Cafe is from the A Bunch Of Monsters set and there are some darling little printables to design with. Take a look right here. The inspiration post will be featured on Wednesday, and you can enjoy the creations of the design team right here.

I have embossed the Nestie mount and sweet Monster as well as the round sentiment which came from here. I love mixing and matching up printables from The Cafe. The little "Get Well Soon" circle is a tiny rubber stamp. I added the ribbons for bling. Thanks for looking...and be sure to take a peek at The Cafe's wonderful design team creations.

Giving Back...

2011-09-30T08:18:00.007-07:00

SHARING IS CARING

I think we should all share, we should all give back in some way. I love sharing my paper arts and sewing adventures with good causes. In the past I have made handmade journals for the Oncology Unit of a hospital, totes and journals for Open Arms orphanage in So. Africa. I love to make dog and cat cards for fund raising at the shelters, ... in this instance I have made so many fun things that will be donated to a craft show and some of the proceeds will go to 3 very good causes. I used to do craft shows.... for about 20 years but I just became weary of the process of it all so now I participate but in not so direct ways. I had more fun bouncing around from one design to another, this idea, that idea, some of this, some of that... and in the end result, I now have a few little tubs packed with fun stuff. I used a lot of Cutting Cafe printables in my fun adventure.

There are cards, some tags, door hangers and bookmarks. A fun array of things to offer. The hanging signs are fun...but my most favorite is the little birthday cakes....these are made with Nestie shapes, the center or middle of each layer is a cover scotch tape plastic roll. I've added some die cuts and jewels and Stickles. Calorie free too.... I made a few see through boxes that the little cake can be presented in.

Cutting Cafe Valentine Cards....

Some tags, die cuts, and a hanging sign

Bookmarks: These are oodles of fun to make and are simply wonderful to use up all those small scraps of papers. I have a tutorial further on in the blog on how to make these darling bookmarks.
Maybe these little phrases can be used to slip into a card.
Cutting Cafe birthday sentiments.... I used Nesties to make the 2 layers. Everything is embossed.
Here is a picture of the little birthday cakes...and some of the see through boxes.

Door hangers.... and some packages of die cuts.
Thanks for walking through my Giving Back Adventure.

Cutting Cafe/Spooky Sentiments

2011-09-27T08:13:00.004-07:00

I love making Halloween cards and once I get started, I create until my stash of cards overflows. This set is from Regina's Cutting Cafe in the Spooky Square Sentiments set. You can see that set right here. I've embossed most of the card, added decorative edge punching, Nestie mounts, some ribbons and jewels for some Halloween bling. That cute broom and witch's hat were cut from Paper Dolls Dress Up, Page 36. The cute bat is from a Sizzix die. I love these cards.... Be sure to take a peek at the set...and heck, look at ALL of Regina's wonderful offerings. There is something for every occasion.

Cutting Cafe/Welcome Fall

2011-09-25T07:19:00.002-07:00

Our Cutting Cafe inspiration post this week will be created from the Welcome Fall set. I love this set...and you can create so many different designs using all of the printables and images. My card has been made up of many layers.... the base card is brown cardstock, the first layer to that is a rust colored cardstock that has a Martha Stewart giant doily punch design which is in the center of the outside edge. On that layer I applied a most beautiful dark rust ribbon that had gold threads running through it ..unfortunately it has become mostly hidden. Then I started to apply the layers of sentiments which are mounted and embossed. The colors are from my Copic stash. The last bit of bling is the big rusty gold ribbon. You can review the printable set right here. The Inspiration Posts will appear Wednesday right here.

Please check The Cutting Cafe Blog on Wednesday and be prepared to be inspired. Thanks for stopping by....

Cutting Cafe/Christmas Bingo

2011-09-24T07:20:00.002-07:00

When you really think about it, Christmas isn't all that far away. In the blink of a reindeer's eye, it will be upon us. I am doing some door hangers for a craft show. I will be donating some die cuts, cards, and creations...and in the mix I used some of Regina's sets from The Christmas Bingo. There are so many to select in this printable set. Here are three.

I cut chipboard and pattern papers with a Nestie square scallop, and after I added the cute Bingo card, I fussy cut a tree, a Santa Face, and I used a wee punch for the holly leaves. I added an eyelet and strung some ribbon through for hanging. You can see this cute set right here.

Cutting Cafe/Love Door Hanger

2011-09-23T07:40:00.003-07:00

The Cutting Cafe has a wonderful background printable that can be used on cards, banners and yes, even a little door hanger like this one. Not only can this printable be used to create at Valentine's Day but all year long just to say "I love you". I simply used a square scalloped Nestie to cut some chipboard, I covered the front and back with the printable, added some punch hearts that are embossed and to those I added some sweet little red jewels. The fancy corner is from a Sizzix die cut. The eyelets are heart shaped and a red ribbon has been added for the hanging factor. You can see the Cafe's printable right here.

Cutting Cafe/Dad Stuff

2011-09-22T16:00:00.002-07:00

This is a door hanger any Dad/Father/Papa would be proud to hang. It is created from a background print of Cutting Cafe called Different Ways To Say Dad. I am doing some volunteer projects for a good cause...and this is one of the quick and easy creations. You can see the set here.

Cutting Cafe/Fall Time Bingo Set

2011-09-18T18:53:00.002-07:00

I delighted in making these cards with The Cutting Cafe's Fall Time Bingo Set printables. They fell together with such ease and all I really had to do was add a small die cut to enhance the theme of the specific bingo card. You can see the Cafe set right here.

Here are the 5 cards I created.

I used background papers that were given to me by my dear friend Margie. She gifted me with several paper packs but I grabbed up this particular pack because the color themes went so well with the bingo sets. And as always, emboss emboss emboss is my motto.

The coffee cup and the leaf came from Stamping Solutions. The pumpkin was cut from Happy Hauntings. That cute tree was laying in a box lid and I can't seem to track down the cartridge source.

Here are two of the cards. I love how the edge punches enhanced the over all look.
I love the FALL bingo card and the punched leaves just look perfect on the card.
Please take a look at The Cutting Cafe for all things wonderful...Regina's printables offer something for every kind of card or sentiment you would need.

Thanks for visiting.... I hope you each have a wonderful week.

Cutting Cafe/Thoughts of You

2011-09-15T10:55:00.005-07:00

LittleN has won the sticker packages.... please email me so I can make arrangements to mail them to you. Congrats.
Regina at The Cutting Cafe has an absolutely wonderful printable set for sympathy and related thoughts. Here is the set. In my recent reorganization of the craft room, I ran across a sheet of dimensional white daisies. I bought these years ago and I just knew I was going to rush right home and create something wonderful. As so often happens, the sheet was covered up with other projects and then eventually it made its way into a drawer full of other goodies. Here are 4 cards I made using the daisies and some of the thoughtful sentiments from The Cutting Cafe. One card has the sentiment outside while the other 3 have inside sentiments.

In sorting through drawers, stacks, closets to reorganize the collection of delights, I ran across some stickers. I actually had plans for these, but like many other things, they were put in a drawer. Now I would like to offer these up for blog candy. Just leave a note on this post if you want to be in the draw on September 20th. There are two sheets of hearts and one sheet contains beautiful red and gold guilded vellum hearts. There are 3 sheets of flowers and finally there is a package of vellum sentiments. Thanks for visiting...

Cutting Cafe/With Gratitude

2011-09-11T19:46:00.004-07:00

I get so much inspiration working with anything from Cutting Cafe. Regina offers printables for literally everything you would need to use for cards, scrapbooking and other creations. This printable is called With Gratitude. You can see that set right here.

My card is a myriad of sentiments all piled on one card front. I love the array of blocks applauding someone being thoughtful. There is a lot going on with this card but I think when it comes to saying "thank you", this is right on!....

Thanks for your visit and if you have left a comment, I appreciate it.....

Cutting Cafe/Baby Girl

2011-09-11T11:13:00.004-07:00

When I see something precious to use in creating a baby card, I hop right to it. This is one of Regina's new background printable. You can see the set right here.

The cards were created with such ease and yet I think they display so beautifully. I cut the mounts with a Nestie, all layers have been embossed. I threaded a pretty pink ribbon through the top printable, tied a bow and added some ribbon roses. I love my baby girl cards. Now I just have to find someone to send them to.

All Above Love/Cutting Cafe

2011-09-10T14:56:00.003-07:00

Oh how I LOVE anything Regina offers in The Cutting Cafe. Here are just 4 cards I put together so easily using the It's All About Love set. You can see this darling set right here.

These cards are A2 size, the front of the card has been embossed and I used a EK Success round scallop punch to allow for an inside punch die cut of lips and I've added a small heart punch to overlap the opening. The round sentiment on the front are from the Cutting Cafe set, a heart has been set in the center of the sentiment, and the mounts are all embossed.

This is a close up of just one of the cards.
TFL, hope you will take a peek at this darling set from Cutting Cafe.

More Cards

2011-09-09T11:37:00.005-07:00

More slam-dunk card creations. These were created at the same time as the previously uploaded group. It's just mega fun to pull up leftovers and create something.

Card Frenzies

2011-09-07T19:59:00.003-07:00

I have stacks and piles of paper leftovers and I am always amazed how quicky I have a finished stack of cards just using the this n' that things.

I love these two cards....so girly girl.... I used a lot of embossing, a lot of edge punches and the pink rosettes are perfect for that girly girl touch.

This is a gate fold card. I embossed each side, and I added a Cutting Cafe circle sentiment and a heart punch...both embossed as well. You can see the Cutting Cafe set right here.
Another gate fold style, this one in red, white and blue colors to celebrate a birthday. A large punched flower is placed on the left outside fold and it extends over the other fold. I used a rubber stamp for the inside sentiment.
This is a Easel style card.... done in lavendar and purple and just right for a Mother's Day Card.

The sentiment is a rubber stamp from Michaels. Lots of embossing, some edge punching and a lovely lavendar ribbon with a small ribbon rose.

Thanks for stopping by. I have a lot more Slam Dunk cards to show you too.

BBTB2/Rock Princess/Dripping Heart

2011-09-05T08:00:00.003-07:00

I have a wee bit of news to tell you this Monday morning. This will be my last post as a designer for Bitten By The Bug2. I have been on the design team for BBTB/BBTB2 since October 2007 and I have loved every single challenge over the years. I loved creating with the selected design, I loved the month end blog hops. I have met so many wonderful visitors and bloggers who came to see my cards...and I truly cherished every single comment left by each visitor. As you can imagine, as a designer we thrive on the sweet visits and comments. But now it is time for me to take a break from the design team so I can pay attention to a few other things in my life.

With that said, Heather is the hostess this week on BBTB2 and she asked the designers to use the Rock Princess cartridge and to design with the Dripping Heart design. If we didn't have that cartridge, we could select something that has a similar design. I used Home Accents and I snapped up that wonderful butterfly cut on that cartridge. I love this cut....it is delightfully artsy. Be sure and join in on the challenge. Remember you don't have to have Rock Princess and you can make a new card using a cut that is similar to the Dripping Heart.

Here is sort of a side view of the layers involved in the butterfly. I cut the larger butterfly at about 4-1/2 inches, and then the next 3 layers were cut 1/2 or 1/4 smaller. Each layer has been embossed with Swiss Dots which gave a better final result. I added some jewels for bling cuz every butterfly has gotta have some bling. The butterfly sits on 3 Nestie layers, and the rubber stamped sentiment "Cherish" is a layer beneath an open slot.

A full view of the Butterfly.

TFL, I hope you will come back and see me just for my cards. I will still be on the design team for Regina's The Cutting Cafe for the current term, and I will add cards that I make along the way. I just finished another round of "Card Frenzy" so I will upload those a little later this week.

Cutting Cafe/Think Pink

2011-09-04T13:52:00.004-07:00

This week at The Cutting Cafe, we designers can pick a printable that we would like to work with. I love everything that Regina gives us to design with and I love bringing something back up to the top from previous designs on our Cutting Cafe menu of choice. The two cards I am featuring here are from the Think Pink series. I have made many cards using the printables shown because I think they are beautiful and just perfect for when we need a card with such an impact. You can see the set right here.

I fussy cut the beautiful pink ribbon that is dotted with precious little flowers. To enhance those I added some tiny pink jewels... and of course my trademark embossing is on many layers. Along the one ribbon you can see the word HOPE and so I brought out one of my most favorite rubber stamps for my sentiment. A Martha Stewart fancy edge punch details the side of the card, and the sentiment sits on an oval scalloped Nestie.

Thanks for looking. I hope you like my pretty Think Pink cards.

BBTB2/Heritage/Tree

2011-08-29T08:00:00.003-07:00

A WINNER for the blog candy: I am happy to announce that BeeCherryLady has won the draw on the little handmade Scarecrow bag. Leah, please email me with the deets so I can make arrangement to mail the little bag. Thanks to everyone who stopped by and left a comment. Happy Monday, Happy Month-End and Happy Blog Hopping!....I am first out of the challenge list at the BBTB2 blog, and if you have come my way from there, welcome to my offering for our challenge. Julie , our hostess, has selected the Heritage cartridge and she asked us to design with the curly tree. I cut two samples to make sure the paper and blades were going to behave on this curly tree and once I had everything in sync, I cut a smaller tree and a larger tree out of the brown cardstock. I was very happy when all the cuts were perfect. That pretty entry gate and spooky little house in the background were also cut from the Heritage cartridge while the cat and little ghostie came from Happy Hauntings. The crescent moon came from New Arrival. There are 3 layers of background mounts. The yellow top mount has been embossed and snuggled into a decorative corner on the white layer. The house sits upon an orange plaid Nestie shape. Cute little black cat that sits upon the tree top has a jewel collar.

Now I ask you to hop right over to our newest design team sister, Agnes, and see what delight she has created for you to view. You can find her right here.

Join our challenge. You don't have to have the Heritage cartridge, just pick any tree and make a new card for us to see. Link up your blog post with our Mr. Linky at BBTB2, and be SURE to mention on your blog that you have entered the BBTB2 contest.

Now onto the blog candy tub. I sewed up a cute fabric Halloween baggy for some darling little hands to hold. I embroideried a little scarecrow on the front and the orange checkered ribbon is just perfect for toting full of candies and precious treasures.
If you would like in the draw for the Halloween bag, please leave a comment. I will do a drawing on September 2nd ...so check back after 2PM to see the winning name. If you are the winner please email me as soon as possible so I can make arrangements to mail the bag to you. If I do not hear from the winner by September 4, I will do another draw.

Thanks for visiting, and I hope you join our fun fun challenge at BBTB2.

Cutting Cafe/Ribbon Sentiments/Giveaway

2011-08-28T08:58:00.003-07:00

Here I am, September 3 on the dot to announce the winner in the draw for the Cutting Cafe Ribbon Sentiments. I am pleased to announce that Sharon has won. You can see Sharon's work right here. Sharon, please email me so I can arrange to get the printable set to you. Congrats and thanks to all that visited and left a sweet comment
Sunday and I have a wonderful giftie for your viewing pleasure. Regina at The Cutting Cafe has a darling printable with 48 images called Ribbon Sentiments Banner Set and Shaped Card.. This set includes "ribbon sentiments" and I have used two for the cards shown below. I had the little dress die cuts laying around from play time off the Nifty Fifties cartridge. (That's in my era, and I had dresses just like these). I think these cards are girly girl kinda cards and I have the peeps in mind that will receive them one day. Here is the link for this set.

As you can see, my trademark mega-embossing is featured. My edge punches gives the frilly look and a little ribbon has been added to the dresses.

If you would like to be in the draw to win this darling printable set from The Cutting Cafe, just leave me a comment. I will do the draw on September 3rd.... Please check back on that date after 2PM, and if your name has been drawn, email me very soon so I can get the set to you.

Cards Cards

2011-08-25T13:19:00.003-07:00

I had a pack of K&Co papers for children....and this pack happened to be in the pinks and soft girly girl colors. I could not resist taking the cover and cutting up the darling little blocks of big fat alpha letters and oh so critters, flowers and such. I just saw some girly cards coming out of the mix and here is what I came up with.... a lot of edge punching, a lot of embossing.

I added some buttons, some computer generated sentiments, and a ribbon or two. Hope you like...

BBTB2/HappyHauntings/Digistamp

2011-08-22T08:00:00.003-07:00

Happy Monday to each of you who visits here. Heather, our BBTB2 leader, is the hostess for this week's challenge. We also have a nice sponsor that allows us to enhance our designs to another level. Heather asked us to design from Happy Hauntings and to use one of the frame cuts. Our sponsor is Stamping Boutique and we were given our choice of some of darling Halloween digis to design with. I loved the costume shoes, just waiting to be glitzed up for the properly dressed witch or monster. You can see the Halloween digi collection right here.

Here is my card: The three darling shoes were colored in with my Copic markers, some Stickles added to parts of the shoe and socks and the sentiment is a rubber stamp.

I put the design frame around my favorite pair of shoes. Some jewels bling up the frame.

Some little ribbons dress up the witchy shoes.
Tiny black stars give the socks some extra design.
Thanks for your visit and if you leave a comment I will love it. Please...join up with our BBTB2 challenge. You don't have to have Happy Hauntings, you can use any frame....Just be sure to mention on your blog that you have joined our challenge and make sure your card or project is a new one. Have a wonderful week.

Cutting Cafe/SomethingBorrowed

2011-08-17T14:10:00.000-07:00

Regina has such a lovely printable for Wedding congratulations with wonderful sayings to use. .... I made several cards using the sentiments. The basic dress is cut from Dreams Come True but the panel of the dress is cut from Sweetheart cartridge. I embossed just about everything but that blue ribbon. The cuts are mounted on some Nestie shapes which I always love to add to my cards. You can see this printable here:

BBTB2/Baseball

2011-08-15T08:00:00.001-07:00

Our hostess this week at BBTB2 is our talented design team sis, Karen, who selected Life's A Party as the cartridge. She asked us to design something with the baseball....and if we don't have that cartridge, we can use any baseball for our project. I do not have the LAP cart but I did find a baseball and some extras on A Child's Year. (on page 40)

The sentiment was computer generated except for "ballgame" which was cut from Don Juan cartridge. The silhouette of son and father are from A Child's Year, along with the baseball and bat.

Join in with our challenge. Make a new creation, and be sure to mention on your blog that you have entered the baseball challenge. We love to see what you've done. TFL...

The Cutting Cafe/Mini Animals

2011-08-13T13:55:00.004-07:00

If you've visited me you know that I love to whip up a big batch of easy to do cards basically in the same theme. Regina has one of the cutest little printable sets of mini-animals. I did about 45 cards yesterday using the set, and so I thought I would share a few of the cards. You can see this darling set right here.

Cutting Cafe/DressShapedCard

2011-08-12T18:26:00.003-07:00

A girly-girl card....all done in pinks, embossing, ribbons and hearts.

I love this set from Regina's wonderful printable selection at The Cutting Cafe. This printable makes a darling dress card. Instead of a card I applied the shaped dress to a card front, added a lot of lacy paper edging, some ribbon and the title "Sweet" is cut from All Mixed Up cartridge.

TFL... you can see the printable right here.

Cutting Cafe/School

2011-08-11T07:33:00.003-07:00

We are having a lot of fun at The Cutting Cafe Inspiration blog, posting darling little projects and cards created from Regina's wonderful printables. Our August 7 inspiration was to use a school theme for any project. I came up with a collage kind of card because I love making something that I can pile on the goods. Check out The Cutting Cafe, leave a comment on the School post and you might be a winner of one set from the Cafe's selection. THIS is a wonderful opportunity to win something you can use over and over again. My choice for the Inspiration came from School Days and you can view that printable right here. The designer projects are just nothing short of wonderful and inspiring.

Bookmark tutorial

2011-08-09T13:51:00.000-07:00

I love making bookmarks and this quick and easy style is one of my faves. I used to make this kind of bookmark about 4 years back and the sample got lost in piles of projects. I was tidying up my workspace and I found a tattered dog-eared sample. So I am back again....making some fun and cute bookmarks.

You will need: Double Sided Cardstock, ruler, die cut, glue. (It isn't necessary that you use double sided papers but it does give extra design for the inside.)

Double sided cardstock. Cut a square 4x4.

I place a ruler in the center...or at 2 inches.
I fold up both sides ... often the sides will meet right on, sometimes there is a small space and that doesn't matter.
You need to anchor the folded point. I have used die cuts, or just plain little strips of some of the cardstock like shown below.
Now you decorate the front of the bookmark. I love making glitzy bookmarks but one word of caution...If you put thick die cuts, popdotted designs,ribbons, jewels...they look great but the book will not close nicely once you put the bookmark over the page edge to mark your place. Once I used a darling little bookmark that had a cute popdotted owl with jewel eyes and after I closed the book, the jewels poked a nice hole in the pages before the bookmark. So struggle as I might to not bedazzle my creation, here is a flat little bookmark sporting a cute duckie on a nestie round that was embossed.
Now you make some. You will be delighted how quickly these are put together. I love making them from many different papers.

BBTB2/PDDU/Pie

2011-08-08T08:00:00.002-07:00

Happy Monday to all. This week our BBTB2 hostess is Krista who asked us to design from Paper Dolls Dress Up and to use the pie as our main decoration. PPDU has more little extra die cuts than I could possibly use but I do know that if I need a tiny little sumpin-sumpin for a design, that is the cart I look at first.

Here is my card: I cut the pie from PDDU, the apple as well as the card title are from Plantin Schoolbook. I found a little harlequin corner laying around so I added that in the upper left corner, and I embossed the card base with two different embossing designs. I found some squares of pre-backed pattern papers so I added those beneath the pie...The pie and apples are embossed as well. Apples have some red jewels for bling.

Thanks for visiting...and if you leave a comment, I will appreciate it. Join our challenge. Use Do a new design with a pie from any cartridge, link it to our BBTB2, and be sure to mention on your blog that you have joined our challenge. It's that wee bit of fame that we love to see.

BBTB2/LockerTalk/School

2011-08-01T08:00:00.005-07:00

Welcome to our BBTB2 Monday challenge. Our hostess this week is sweet Lori who has chosen Locker Talk as our cartridge of choice, and we are to design using anything school related. School is about to start soon and when I am out shopping, the aisles with school supplies are crowded with moms and pops and kiddies all buying their supplies. I remember (so so long ago) how exciting it was to shop for school.

Here is my card: I cut the entire design from Locker Talk except the little sunflowers are dimensional stickers that I received as a gift when I was in Tucson. I cut away half of the front card fold and "hung" the design from that. You can see my usual embossing on just about everything.

I hope that you've been to Bitten By the Bug2 blog and looked at the wonderful projects from my design team sisters. I always love the way each of us creates something so different.

TFL, love your visits and comments. Please...create a school themed card and upload to our fun challenge. Just make your card a new creation and be sure to mention in your blog that you have entered the BBTB2 challenge.

Cutting Cafe Great Stuff

2011-07-28T17:38:00.002-07:00

Regina has a new blog site for Cutting Cafe and it is fantastic. AND she has another one of her fabby giveaways....go here to read all about it.

BBTB2/BlogHop/SweetTreats/IceCream

2011-07-25T08:00:00.002-07:00

Congratulations to Karen ...she has won the blog candy. Please email me, Karen, so I can make arrangements to mail the purse pouch to you.
Happy Monday....Happy month-end. It's blog hop time at BBTB2 and wait til you see the lovely creations our design team has in store for your inspiration. Our hostess is Maria and she asked us to design from Sweet Treats and to use the ice cream cone on page 35. Any ice cream cone will do if you would love to join in on our challenge. Just make it a new creation, and please mention on your blog that you have joined in the BBTB2 challenge. In the blog hop lineup, you should have landed on my blog from design team sister Carri V.

Here is my card. I had some wonderful double sided cardstock ...the sheet I selected for this design has colorful circles on one side and a pink diamond plaid on the other. I did a lot of embossing, mounted the cone on a Nestie decorative circle, and some ribbon and jewel bling are added to enhance the yum-factor.

My blog candy is my usual. Sewing stuff!.. When I am sewing, in between projects like Quilts and embroidery and totes, I will grab up small swatches of fabrics and make little projects like this small purse. This is about 8 inches x 4-1/2 and can be used for all sorts of things. It is lined, and the closure is velcro. Just leave a comment and I will put you in the draw. Check back after 2PM on July 29 to see whose name appears as the winner. The winner should email me no later than August 2. If I do not hear from the winner by that date, I will draw another name.

In the tradition of the blog hop, I now direct you to that oh so multi talented Donna Mundinger who will delight you with her designs. You can see her inspirational design right here.

Thanks for stopping by.... I love your visits and comments...

Tucson Delights

2011-07-21T16:30:00.005-07:00

Our annual "card over" in Tucson was last weekend and oh my did I have fun visiting with my dear friends Kris, Deb and Sandy. We created cards and projects, laughed, ....and had the most wonderful meals. Here is a photo of the four of us at our set up table. We each had ample space at the dining room table not only for our work space but to load up with our tubs of papers and card making gear.

Here are some of the 93 cards I made. I go prepared and that is how I can "slam dunk" so many cards together. These aren't the same kind of cards I make for my design team projects, they are fun cards that I sell and they are easy peasy to put together. I have my cardstock folded and inside the flap I slip in a pattern paper cut, an embellishment, a sentiment and anything else I think might look ok on the card.

This little batch of cards used a package of Quickutz dies of cute cats.
Kris had a basket full of neat little sticker embellishments that she was sharing. I can really put a card together using those .... here are a few.

Kris had 3 challenges for each of us to work on if we wanted. I had a lot of fun doing these. Here is a picture of the Easel Card Calendar. The challenge card is the green paper with yellow flowers, and it was so much fun, I did about 5 more. Kris gave each of us 12 small 2012 calendars to use on this project.
More sticker embellishments....
More fun stuff....
I have tubs and tubs of embellished die cuts that I sell at scrapbook workshops. I dug into one and pulled out a package of dinosaur dies. Here are 4 cards using those. Sorry I didn't flip the dino cards....
I didn't want to put everyone on overload with the 93 cards but you can get an idea of some of my fun. Now I look forward to next January when those 3 neat gals come up to my house and we do it all over again. It's an annual thing and so so so much fun.

BBTB2/Jolly Holidays/Penguin

2011-07-18T08:00:00.003-07:00

Melissa is our hostess for our BBTB2 challenge this week and she selected Jolly Holidays for the cartridge and asked us to design with the penguin and umbrella. We can select any penguin and since I do not have the chosen cartridge, I went to Create A Critter. That cart has a darling little penguin and the umbrella. I had designed the card before my weekend trip to Tucson so when I got home today, I had to put it all together. Here is the card.

The penguin, igloo and umbrella as well as the sentiment are all cut from Create A Critter. This cartridge has some really darling die cuts to design with.

I hope you will join in our challenge, and link your card from your blog on our Mr. Linky. Please make your card a new design and please take the time to mention on your blog that you have joined our BBTB2 challenge.

Cutting Cafe Inspiration Posts

2011-07-12T18:49:00.003-07:00

Regina does a monthly inspiration post for the design team to show off their wonderful creations. It is a myriad of wonderful talent and great ideas to make some pretty terrific projects. Here is the link where you can see all of the projects:

I chose the groovy printables for the Surf Board. I used two pattern papers and since I am cutting these by hand and not the svg cuts, I used a flower punch on the top of the surf board.

I added a sun and some waves from Life Is A Beach cartridge, and of course I did a lot of embossing. The title is also alpha letters from LAB.

I love the round sentiments from this set..... I mounted it on a Nestie cut and added a sun punch and a jewel. A little sunshine needs a bit of bling.
The surf board sits on the face of the base card. It opens up and features a cute sentiment from the Surfboard set. The card itself opens and allows for a personal message.
TFL.... hope you take a look at Cutting Cafe's inspiration posts.

BBTB2/JOTS/Mitten

2011-07-11T08:00:00.002-07:00

Happy Monday.... it's a hot hot July in Arizona, but that is to be expected. It was a pleasant challenge coming in from sweet Penny who is our hostess this week. She wanted a sort of Christmas In July theme and so she asked us to design from Joys Of The Season and to use the mitten cut. I had fun making this card although when I started out, I had no idea what I was going to do.

The mittens of various sizes are cut from JOTS and the title "Winter" came from Gypsy Wanderings. As always, I did a lot of embossing.

I added a wee bit of bling bling on the blue polka dotted mittens.
A blue jewel dots the i' on the title. And I love those decorative edge punches too.
I hung some small mittens on a clothesline.
We hope you will join in on our mitten challenge. Remember, you don't have to have the selected cartridge. You can create with mittens from any cartridge. We love to see your creations. Please make your project a new project and please mention on your blog that you have entered our BBTB2 mitten challenge. Often when I see a card linked to our blog and I go to that blog to leave a comment, there is no mention that the card was entered in the BBTB2 challenge.

Cutting Cafe/Color My World

2011-07-07T15:10:00.003-07:00

I couldn't resist pairing one of Regina's Cutting Cafe sentiments with this darling little wormie. You can see the printable set right here. That cute worm is from April Showers, and I think that arrow is from Stamping. The background is also a Cutting Cafe printable right here.

BBTB2/Starfish

2011-07-04T08:00:00.006-07:00

Happy July 4th.

God Bless America!....

Heather is our Mostess Hostess and she asked us to design from Life Is A Beach, and to use the starfish on page 65. I have a lot of fun when I am knocking around in Life Is A Beach cartridge because it has a lot of darling cuts to design with. I hope you have come to visit me from the BBTB2 blog because it is always a delight to see the creations our design team presents. And a hearty welcome to Mona who was our guest designer and now is a cherished member of our design team sisterhood.

Here is my card.

I cut several individual starfish as well as a border option. ... By the time I started piling on all the cuts, most of the starfish became hidden. I used my EK Success edge punches and I embossed just about everything on the front of the card. I couldn't resist adding some cute little seahorses with a wee bit of bling. I like the sentiment and perhaps the little scene might look like the family of seahorses are romping under the sea in a serene retreat from rough seahorse life.

TFL, and I love it when you leave a comment because then I know you were here to visit a spell. Have a wonderful July 4th week. I hope you will join up with our Starfish challenge by linking your new card from your blog through Mr. Linky....and be sure to mention you have joined our challenge at BBTB2.

Cards Cards

2011-07-03T11:08:00.003-07:00

Did you all read that it was 118 degrees in Phoenix yesterday?.... and along about 4 or so a nasty hot hot hot wind whipped up our world. I felt so sorry for all the people who have to work outside in the awful heat, and my heart breaks for those sweet dogs, cats, horses and critters who are left outside to fend in the heat.

Just havin' some fun making card packs. This little birdie on a swing is cute, it's from APRIL SHOWERS.... and I love the cat face which isn't new...it's from Doodlecharms. I love that cart.

TFL.... remember tomorrow is reveal day for the challenge on BBTB2. Hope to see you there.

Cutting Cafe Wonderfulness

2011-07-02T09:47:00.004-07:00

BOGO

I wanted to tell you all about this news at Cutting Cafe where you can buy one, get one free. In tradestore lingo that is known as a BOGO. Here is the link to Cutting Cafe where you can read all about it.

Cutting Cafe/Smiley Faces

2011-07-01T20:51:00.003-07:00

More cards...more cards...I just can't stop making more cards. These were designed using Cutting Cafe's darling little smiley faces with wonderful sentiments. There's an downturned smile as well for those times when you just plain forget to send a card, or if someone isn't feeling well....Take a look at the Cutting Cafe printable set right here.

I had some black and white gingham paper which was just perfect to set the bright yellow faces upon. The round faces were cut out using my round scalloped Nestie and they are set upon a round sentiment. I had some yellow ribbon with cute little lady bugs on it, and I decided to use some on each of the cards. I used a MS punch for that cute little lady bug sitting on each card.

Hope you like....

Cutting Cafe/Elephant Shape Card

2011-06-30T10:01:00.003-07:00

Happy Thursday. I decided I would give it a try to cut out one of the precious shaped cards from Cutting Cafe. I have some serious arthritis in the hands and I am not really efficient at cutting the shapes out...and so far I don't have the software to have my die cut machines to do the job. Mostly when you see me do one of Regina's lovely printables, it's a sentiment based card. However, here is the elephant shaped card. I embossed her, added a pink heart and a pink ribbon and the inside says "Don't forget I love you". I will send this to my son and daughter in law. You can see the set at Cutting Cafe right here.

BBTB2/Watermelon/BlogHop

2011-06-27T08:00:00.005-07:00

A BLOG HOP WINNER: Thanks to Treva for joining in on our month end blog hop. Treva, you have won the draw for the little embroidery heart tote. Please email me quickly so I can make arrangements to send you the tote. Thanks to everyone who came to visit and leave a sweet comment and join in on our month end BBTB2 blog hop.

Heather is not only our Leader in all things BBTB2 but she is our hostess for this blog hop challenge. She selected Stretch Your Imagination as the cartridge and we were asked to design with the watermelon cut. I love SYI, it has fun fun cuts on it and although I didn't use the "stretch" option on this card, I have used it many times and always love the end results.

Hopefully you started out at Bitten By The Bug2 blog site so you can see all of the projects submitted by our team for your inspirational viewing. In the typical blog hop fashion, I hope you have come to my blog by the way of Carri V.

Here is my card. I cut three regular shaped watermelons and then to give each a wee bit of blitzy difference I used an oval Nestie to get the light rind. And of course the watermelons have been embossed. I cut the title from Blackletter and everything was set upon various layers of cardstock and pattern papers. The cute red and white polka dot paper, however, lost its pattern when I applied the "melon" mount. A gold star was added for no other reason than to break up all that red and green.

In the fun of it all, now I ask you to visit Shelly's blog to see what a cute project she has in store for you. You can see her blog right here.

Now for the blog candy part of the month end blog hop. Today I am offering up another little tote which is sewn with pillow ticking fabrics of white and light blue. In the center I have embroideried a pretty heart design, and there is a red and white polka dotted ribbon at the top front. The tote is lined with dark blue fabric. Please leave a comment if you wish to be in the blog candy draw which I will do on July 1st after 2:00PM. Please check back and if your name appears as the winner, please email me quickly so that I can make arrangements to mail your gift. If I do not hear from the winner by July 3, I will draw another name.

Also we would love it if you would join in on our watermelon challenge. You don't have to have SYI, just use any watermelon cut in a new project, connect it to our blog thru Mr. Linky AND be sure to mention on your blog that you have entered the challenge. Often I see cards linked but when I visit the blog to say thanks for joining our challenge , there is no mention at all that the card was shared with our challenge.

Cutting Cafe/July 4th

2011-06-23T19:05:00.003-07:00

July 4th is a special day for many reasons.... one more reason - - my darling daughter in law has a birthday on July 4th....I love Regina's July 4th stuff. Oh heck, I love anything Regina's Cutting Cafe. Here are two cards that can be found in the set right here.

Recipe: Cutting Cafe: July 4th Printables here.

Cricut: Stamping (Star) Independence (1776)

RIP Heidi SweetFace 1997-2011

2011-06-21T09:46:00.002-07:00

My Heidi Sweetface was put to sleep this morning and I cannot even begin to express my sadness. She was a sweet dog who loved me, loved visitors, loved treats and kept me company each day. She turned 14 on February 1, 2011 and her age started to show. Her back legs were stiff, she was deaf but there was always that House Guard Heidi when a cat would sashshay past our patio window. Last night was the night that sweet Heidi's body began to say "let me go, I will be fine". I am not fine. No no no, I am not fine.

Heidi on her 13th Birthday

BBTB2/Cloud

2011-06-20T08:00:00.002-07:00

Our lovely talented hostess this week is Susan. She asked us to design from Celebrate With Flourish and to use the cloud cut. My Gypsy has never allowed me to load CWF and when I tried again, I was told to update my Gypsy ... I did so and after 2 hours of the upload gauge still clocking in full upload mode and a message that said not to shut down the Gypsy, I finally decided I was going to wing it. I found that I could discontinue the upload on the computer but my Gypsy would not shut off so I resorted to the reset button and I was greatly relieved to find it worked and shut the G down. (Whew).... I went to the Expression to see what had worked and I was told to now update the Cricut from the Gypsy. Everything seems to be ok and my Gypsy could now recognize some of the newer carts I had purchased BUT the Celebrate with Flourish was not loaded, and when I tried the old method of just cutting direct from the cart in the Expression, the E was telling me "cart error". Sigh.... People ask me why I have an Expression and two Baby Bugs. This is why. I had a lovely backup which allowed me to cut the selected challenge.

I had some lovely double sided papers in the scrapbins so this card was created using those papers. I embossed the cloud and the sun and the sentiment. I popdotted 3 layers of the circle part of the sun....and since this was a bright sunny day, I added 6 jewels.

I used my cute little Brother sewing machine just used for paper sewing and zig zagged around the one paper mount.
A bright bright sun indeed....
Recipe: Cricut: Celebrate With Flourish

(Sentiment, Sun and Cloud)

Papers: Scrapbin

Embossing Folder: Swiss Dots

Jewels

Thanks for stopping by. The design team sisters always do such wonderful creations on our challenges and I know you are inspired. Please join in on our challenge with a new creation using the cloud and please mention on your blog that you have entered your card to our BBTB2 challenge.

Cutting Cafe/Butterflies

2011-06-17T20:36:00.003-07:00

I love butterflies....and I certainly do love anything Cutting Cafe. So when Cutting Cafe does butterflies, well that's a winning ticket. Here is a card I made that was so so simple. The butterfly is cut from (perhaps) Indie Art. It actually was in my famous box lid where all extra cuts land.... So I grabbed it up, and added a cute little Cutting Cafe circle sentiment. The base card is pattern paper cut with a Nestie shape. .... and most everything is embossed. I added the black body on the butterfly. TFL....and if you would like to see the Cutting Cafe set, please butterfly-flit right here.

BBTB2/Gnome

2011-06-13T08:00:00.001-07:00

Happy Monday.... almost the middle of June already and I was just saying "oh my, it's June 1st". Theresa is our wonderful BBTB2 hostess this week and she asked us to design with the Gnome on Freshly Picked. I hope you have come to call from the BBTB2 blog where enjoyed the wonderful creations from our design team. I didn't have Freshly Picked cartridge and I couldn't find a gnome on any other cartridge.... so Theresa gave some additional options. We could use a bird bath, we could alter an elf.... ...and that is what I did. I went to Paper Dolls Dress Up and I cut the basic body shape.... then I hopped over to Santa's outfit and cut the beard, the clothing came from one of the other PPDU options and the hat is from the Witch. I cut a birdhouse from Independence Day Seasonal... The fence and bird I believe are from Happy Hauntings but actually I grabbed this up from a box lid of spare dies and that is also true of the shaped frame. I added some strips of green and some punched flowers.

These little fellas are guardin' the garden.... And they don't seem to mind that they really don't resemble a true gnome.

The inside has a little poem.

Thanks as always for stopping by and if you leave a comment, I will love it.

Cutting Cafe Monthly Inspiration

2011-06-12T20:16:00.006-07:00

Monday, June 13 is the Cutting Cafe Monthly Inspiration. So many wonderful projects will display for your inspiration. We are told that a new set, Tie-riffic Dad, will be released so be sure and check for this wonderful new set. There might be a free offer, so check it all out right here.

My project for the inspiration is a note pad cover. I chose to use the wonderful background printable that says Father, Dad, Papa and many other endearing titles , a classic automobile printable and one of Regina's great printable sentiments. I have embossed the mounts, and the brown decorative star was cut from Stamping Cricut cartridge.

The inside cover has a pocket so that you can slip in envelopes, notes, or other papers.
TFL, and do do do visit Cutting Cafe for the designer creations which I am sure will inspire you.

Cutting Cafe/DAD

2011-06-09T11:13:00.003-07:00

A three letter word that is said with so much love. Here is a simple card I made using two of Regina's Cutting Cafe printables, You can see the shirt and tie set here. The printable letters can be seen right here.

Sadly my father passed away many years ago but the memories of having a wonderful father never leave me.

BBTB2/Pooh&Friends/Cloud

2011-06-06T08:00:00.005-07:00

Happy Monday my dear sweet visitors.. Today our hostess at BBTB2 is sweet Shelly who asked us to design with the cloud on Page 39 from the Pooh & Friends cartridge. I do not have that cartridge but we can design our projects with any ole' cloud so I went to my newest cart, April Showers. Such cute little images this cartridge has given us. I decided that a pretty scene of a wonderful spring day would be my design....with the frothy swirly clouds floating by, a lovely bright yellow sun, some flowers and of course a watering pail. I cut the flowers and the water pail from April Showers as well, the sentiment letters are from Cindy Loo. The sun cut was grabbed up from one of the Box Lids. And I went heavy on the glorious embossing as well. Some bling was added to the flower centers and along the rim of the pail. Please join us in our cloud challenge. Link your creation up to our BBTB2 blog, and be sure to mention on your blog that you are submitting to our challenge.... we kinda like that bit of fame.... TFL...

Cutting Cafe/Bingo Cards

2011-06-04T07:40:00.004-07:00

If you are checking in on the BBTB2 blog hop, please scroll down. The drawing is tomorrow so you still have time to get into the running for the little red book tote.

Meantime..... here is a card I made using Regina's Cutting Cafe set called Bingo Card Month Set and you can see it right here.

The card is made up of several elements I just grabbed up.... those are the most fun to make.

I had a packet of vellum quotations so I thought this "live for today" snippet was just the ticket for cards showing some months of the year. I had a sheet of stickers for silver wings of all shapes. I had been saving this for just the right moment and this card was it.... I added the Cutting Cafe month cards, then I used my Blackletter cartridge for some of the sentiment.

I believe that the word "flies" may have come from Calligraphy Collection. I love how this card turned out.... I hope you do too. TFL, and as my friend Jeannie says "I thrive on your comments". Truly.

BBTB2/Celebrations/Cake

2011-05-30T08:00:00.004-07:00

The Blog Candy winner is.........JESSICA. I will get the necessary info and get the little red book tote mailed out this week. Congrats, Jessica, and to each one of you who left a sweet comment, thank you so much. I appreciate everyone ....

Happy Monday....can you believe May is just a few days from being over and we will be in the month of June.

Welcome to the end of month BBTB2 blog hop. I am the hostess for this blog hop and I selected Celebrations cartridge for the die cut, and I asked the gals to design with the birthday cake. I love this little cake. I cut the candles from Celebration cart as well but I hand colored them with my Copics just to give 'em a wee bit of oomph. I used some MS edge punches for scallops, I embossed almost everything, and the sentiment is a rubber stamp. A sweet little blue bow has been added for a final embellishment. I believe I am the first stop on the blog hop and from my blog please hop over to Donna's wowzer blog to see her take on our birthday cake challenge. Click right here for Donna.

Please join us in our cake challenge. You can use any cake from any cartridge. When you link your blog with the challenge entry, be sure to tell everyone that you are joining the BBTB2 challenge.

Now...here is my blog candy. It's one of my little totes I make with some left over fabrics. This tote is about 7-1/2 long and 9-1/2 inches wide. Not big but this would be a cute little tote for a little girl who likes bright red and colorful flowers. Leave a comment and on June 3rd I will do a random draw. I will post the winner after 2:00PM that day so check back for the name.

Please contact me no later than June 5 so I can make arrangements to mail the tote ....if I don't hear from the winner by June 6, I will do another draw.

Thanks so much for visiting. Hope you have a splendiferous week. I plan to.

Cutting Cafe/Tooth Fairy

2011-05-28T11:40:00.003-07:00

I don't think there is enough time in the day to do everything that I want with the Cutting Cafe printables. Oh that Regina, she gives us so many wonderful images and sentiments to create with. One of the new printables is Tooth Fairy Box. How cute an idea is THAT?.... You can see this set right here.

Anyway in one of my dresser drawers there is a plastic container with all of my son's baby teeth. I've looked at the little container many times over the years when I have had need to rummage around in my old old jewelry box and I always say aloud, to no one in particular, "I gotta do something better with these". I can remember each time he lost a tooth so this little plastic do-dah holds some mighty wonderful memories. Along comes Regina with a great printable. Here are two boxes, one girly, one boy...and of course the boy Tooth Fairy Box will replace that silly plastic container.

And just cuzzzz I loved making these, I made a few more. I used a very simple box cut ....cut the cardstock 6x6 and scored all four sides at 1-1/2 for the box, and 1-1/8 for the lid. I love the little Cutting Cafe sentiments and images so they are here and there on the boxes... I cut some 2-1/2 inch envies from Calligraphy cart, applied one of the circular toothy sentiments on the front and each box will have about 5 envelopes like these.

TFL.... I think this printable is just the cutest thing evahhhhhhh.

Cutting Cafe/All About baby

2011-05-27T09:41:00.002-07:00

I am in the Box Lid Card Frenzy mood again. I MUST get that studio tidied up. I keep everything...every little tidbit of paper and each die cut that I hadn't use for something....and then suddenly I am aware that I am surrounded by stacks. When that happens, you see these posts of cards that I put together in nothing short of a record ... I found the Cutting Cafe pile of the darling little round sentiments. "Cute As A Button" can be used on so many cards...babies, pets, children growing up. I had one sentiment that I did myself on the computer.... I cut some faces from New Arrival. I used the blackout cut and drew in my own face, and I added a MS bow punch ... then I grabbed up the chipboard button designs, added a wee bit of tied twine and the cards were done. You can see the set from Cutting Cafe right here. It's a cute one. Go see....

BBTB2/Florals Embellished/Flying Bird

2011-05-23T08:00:00.002-07:00

Donna, oh that super talented gal, is our hostess for BBTB2 this week. She has chosen the Florals Embellished cartridge, and the flying bird on page 61. I don't have that cartridge...and in fact somehow the existance of it escaped my scrutiny. At any rate, I found a flying bird on Indie Art. I cut three bright and colorful birdies, cut a moon, some stars a cloud, added some jewels to the stars and cloud, a few on the blue bird and called this creation "girls night out". ... Little Blue Bird with all her bling seems to be the leader and I am sure this flying trio will have a great night in the sky.

Hope that you all have been able to visit all of the design team blogs and see the wonderful project they offered in this challenge. And I hope that you will join in on the challenge. You don't have to have the cartridge selected...just pick a bird, flying or not. And be sure to mention on your blog that you are entering the BBTB2 challenge.

Cutting Cafe/Belated Birthday Wishes

2011-05-22T15:50:00.002-07:00

Whenever I have a card idea rattling around in my head, I automatically hover over Cutting Cafe printables to close the deal. These two cards are a result of finding 2 little unfinished elephant die cuts .... I believe these darlings were cut from Sugar N' Spice. Elephants are supposed to remember everything but these little cuties forgot birthdays. You can see the set right here.

Recipe:

Cricut: Sugar N' Spice

Sentiment: The Cutting Cafe

Cuttlebug Embossing Folders

Pattern Papers

Cutting Cafe/Calendar Set...

2011-05-19T18:42:00.003-07:00

I LOVE this set and I have made a lot for friends who delight in receiving them. You can be sure that when January 2012 arrives, I will be Susie-On-The-Spot with a new year's set for all my friends. This is the second post for this particular Cutting Cafe printable. Everytime I repeat a project, they just seem to turn out all brand new because of different papers and embellies.

You can see the set here....

BBTB2/ForeverYoung/Sunglasses

2011-05-16T08:00:00.002-07:00

Heather is the hostess this week for our BBTB2 challenge. She asked us to design with the sunglasses on the Forever Young cartridge. I really have a lot of fun when I pull up the FY delight....it has great cuts and among them the wonderful sunglass diecut.

I used FY for all of the the cuts on my card. The sentiment "chic" is artfully shaped, and I love the cute little silhouette girlie with the red jewel on her belt. My sunglasses were set upon with a wee bit of red jewel bling. I've added ribbons and most of the card has been embossed. Thanks to Martha for the edge punch.

Where were these sunglasses in the fifties when I wore wild and crazy sunglasses?
Here's a close up of chickie girl with the blingy belt.
TFL. Do join in our challenge. You don't have to have Forever Young.... any sunglasses will do. Link your card up to BBTB2, and be sure to mention that you are joining in the BBTB2 challenge.

Cutting Cafe/Cupcakes.

2011-05-16T07:00:00.002-07:00

Woot Woot..... another wonderful giftie from Regina and The Cutting Cafe is being offered. A while back I posted a card I did using one of her new cupcake files. You can see my blog card right here. Here's the cupcake scoop! Regina is having the Monthly Inspiration with darling projects and cards done by the designers. This month you can win ay 3 sets from The Cutting Cafe by leaving a comment and you can also buy one get one free of equal or lessor value on all of the sets offer. Not kidding...what a deal because The Cutting Cafe rocks when it comes to darling printable images and sentiments. The offer is good until Wednesday May 18 at midnight. See the fine details at The Cutting Cafe here.

Spring Cards

2011-05-14T07:51:00.004-07:00

Many of us got emails from one of the companies that sell Cricut carts and this offer had a free Your Story if you bought a cartridge. I have a Your Story and I love it, but I have a friend who pays big money for little digital scrapbooks so I thought how great it would be if she had a machine that could do a few for her.

I bought Cindy Loo and April Showers. Once everything arrived I could not wait to get those carts into play. I had some 12x12 sheets of printed cardstock that had the words "spring" across the center. I cut the pages down so that I could fold them in such a way that the panel of words would end up on the edge. I was able to make 4 cards....and since I used the printed papers for the cards, the inside is a lovely robin's egg blue.

Cindy Loo has darling images and so does April Showers....and on the AS cart I went right to that sweet little birdie in a cage. I thought about making a blue bird but the birdie just sort of disappeared into the paper. I did the first cut at 2 inches, using green paper. The second cut was yellow. The overlay for the bird was yellow and I did some distressing with yellow chalk inks for a little definition. I added a little punch daisy and leaf, and on one card I added a sentiment from April Showers. I had already cut some garden boots in blue with a pink overlay so I added those on two of the cards. Quick and easy cards and they will make a cute gift pack.

I LOVE the alphabet section of Cindy Loo.. I have most of the alpha carts and I really like each one ...I find that I mostly use Mickey Mouse Font or Don Juan for my letterings but now I have a new fave.... Cindy Loo. I had extra sets of photos from the County Fair and my blue ribbon quilt as well as a set of photos taken of the Porch Cat, Tabby... Just for giggles I got my Your Story up and running. I bound the two sets in the little 4x6 binders. The titles are the darling Cindy Loo cuts. Thanks for taking a peek at my fun little last minute projects.

I

Cutting Cafe/Cars

2011-05-11T08:50:00.002-07:00

Regina has a cute cute printable set featuring cars and quips. There are so many instances the printables can be used. I selected this red car and out of the numerous sentiments, I selected "You're Going Places"....I added a rubber stamp that says "Adventure" and I shall use this for a graduation card. Take a peek at Regina's car printables right here.

BBTB2/Simply Charmed/Strawberry

2011-05-09T08:00:00.001-07:00

Oh so talented Jeri is our hostess at BBTB2 this week and she chose Simply Charmed as the cartridge. We were asked to design with the strawberry. We would love to have you join in on our challenge, and remember...you don't have to have Simply Charmed. Use any cartridge that has a strawberry. Please remember to mention on your blog that you have entered your card in the BBTB2 challenge.

For my base card, I used a 5x7 size. I cut away half of the front fold so that the main design could "hang" from a sturdy upper card strip. I strengthened this upper "flap" by adding a red scallop strip, a white scalloped strip and some pattern paper. I cut 4 strawberries; 3 small, and one larger for the focal point. The title is also from Simply Charmed. Everything has been embossed with the Cuttlebug. Finally, I added a green jewel on the leafy stem.

I hope you have viewed all of the cards from the design team. If you haven't as yet, just click here and you can see the cards. The team is so so talented, and I love how each of us on the team has their own take on the challenge.

Making Pretty Boxes

2011-05-05T09:12:00.005-07:00

You've heard me speak of and show my "box lid frenzy" creations which is where I attempt to empty out the lids of extra small papers, die cuts and sentiments. I also have a "box frenzy". I love making little boxes and fortunately I have a friend who loves getting them to gift out.

Here is a stash that she will pick up tomorrow, along with a big sack full of little totes and handsewn items she will give to the Open Arms Orphanage in Africa. Like anything I dive into, once I am making these boxes, I find it hard to stop... With each paper change, it is like making a new box all over again. I add flowers, stars, sentiments...ribbons, brads.

Here is how I do this: You can use any size of paper you like but for purposes of this tutorial, I am using paper cut 8x8. In this instance I selected a wonderful pink pearl 8-1/2x11 cardstock and this makes a sturdy gift box. I cut two 8x8 bases. On the first I score on all four sides at 2 inches. This is the box itself....The score lines will make the flaps on the box. The second box base I score at 2-1/8th inches. This will make the lid.

Fold up at all score lines. Use a bone folder to make a nice crisp fold.
On the box and box lid you will make cuts on the two sides opposite each other. Cut up to the score line. This will create flaps that you will fold up and glue inside to form the box. Do not cut on all four sides of each as this will cut away the part of the flap you need to glue inside the bases. (However, if you should cut away that small flap, fear not. You can save the project by creating an outside decorative flap to glue each panel and create the necessary flaps.
I fold down all 4 of the smaller flaps and swirl some glue. I find it is easier to glue everything so that when you start to fold the box together, it is uniform.
Pull up the flaps, place the smaller cut flap inside, line it up all edges and hold to secure the glue. I have also used double sided tape but I feel glue is a wee bit more secure.
Here is a finished box and a tag to accompany. The tag comes from the extra paper I cut away from the 8-1/2x11 cardstock. The flower is a simple punch in several layers, and two buttons for the center. I added some Nestie corners just cuzzzzzzz.
I am always thrilled to give my box creations to Patty and I had a lot of fun making them.

TFL

Cupcake At The Cutting Cafe

2011-05-04T10:23:00.002-07:00

Who doesn't love a cupcake?.... I certainly do. Paper cupcakes are fantastic. They are not only so pretty to behold but they are wonderfully calorie free. This cute card shaped cupcake is from The Cutting Cafe. I love the larger cuts, and instead of creating an entire card with the printable, I mounted it on a card base. The decorative edging is from an EK Success Edge Punch. That big fat ribbon was in my Big Ribbon Jar. (I love ribbon, ...I have two big big trays of ribbons, and I had a huge jar of smaller bows and made up ribbon styles and I have a big jar of ribbons that came from packages.) I put the cupcake wrapper through one of my Cuttlebug embossing folders, and of course everything else has been embossed as well. The sentiment is a clear stamp. TFL.... and if you want to see more of the darling cupcake printables, check out The Cutting Cafe right here.

2011-05-04T08:25:00.000-07:00

Last week I was absolutely thrilled to be able to visit with my friend Carol Sheetz, her two darling daughters and her mother in law. I was happy that Carol could wedge in a visit during their busy trip to AZ. This is the second time Carol and her family have come to see me and let me tell you, to have a bloggy friend face to face is pretty exciting. Here is the pix of Carol and I.

Now if I can just visit face to face with my many other cherished bloggy friends.

BBTB2/Preserves/Apple

2011-05-02T08:00:00.004-07:00

Our talented and loved BBTB2 leader, Heather, is our week's hostess. She asked us to design from the Preserves cartridge and to use the apple core die cut. I do not have that cartridge so I went to my much loved Doodlecharms cartridge and cut the apple. I love this cartridge...it has everything.
Here is my card.

I cut a Nestie opening in the front of the base card and placed the apple mid-center. I found some cute red with white polka dot paper, cut the sentiment from Blackletter and created the card.
We love it when you join in our challenges. We can use any apple so find a cartridge, make a card and do enter our challenge. Please be sure to mention that you are joining in on the BBTB2 challenge. Thanks for stopping by.
Recipe:
Cricut: Doodlecharms, Blackletter
Nestie (card front opening)

Doodling

Rubber Stamp

BBTB2/HomeDecor/Crown

2011-04-25T08:00:00.003-07:00

Our talented BBTB2 hostess this week is Julie. She asked us to design from Home Decor and to use the crown. I hate to admit this but I put this card together in about 2 minutes using papers and sentiments that were laying in one of my well-known box lids. The Crown die cut was also in the box lid and I cannot find which cartridge I cut from. For 2 weeks now I have been once again on a tangent to get those lids cleared out and so far I've made about 120 simple cards. The paper is from a doggy themed pack and the cute dog with the alert little ears is an image I cut out from another part of the paper. The sentiment is from Paper Pups. I've pop dotted the doggy house, the cute little dog and the crown...and of course I added some bling to the crown and the collar. Hope you've taken a glance at the BBTB2 blog to see the design team contributions to our challenge and I hope that you will do up a card and post it on our blog to share. Please mention that you are sharing the card for the BBTB2 challenge.

Thanks for looking, thanks for stopping by and if you've left a sweet comment, many many thanks. I appreciate you.

Box Lid Frenzy

2011-04-23T07:49:00.005-07:00

Ah, the famous stack of box lids containing paper parts, die cuts, sentiments and "stuff".... Now and then I attack those lids and start putting together simple cards. I tell myself when I have extra things to take the time and make a card right then instead of tossing the spare parts in those lids. But soon the lids are full again and here is my latest "attack". If I find 4 die cuts I make 4 cards with that die, and you will see that in some instances I found 10 or so stamped sentiments and those became cards. Basically I pull out a die cut, grab some papers, a sentiment and the card is formed just using stuff laying around. It's fun and I accomplish a lot in a short time.

Cutting Cafe/You Color My World Cafe Set

2011-04-20T15:17:00.004-07:00

Regina has a new set out that is wild and colorful.... I had about 1000 ideas on what to do with the colored "patches" and I finally settled on a gate fold card with 2 stacks that has a square scallop of the printable on top of a light pink, a lavendar and a fushia block . I placed two lightweight lavendar ribbons under the mounted blocks and that allows me to tie the card together. There are so many darling little sentiments in this set but I chose "I am wild about you".... it fits the wild and wonderful patterns. TFL and take a look at this darling set here.

BBTB2/Pineapple

2011-04-18T08:00:00.003-07:00

Karen is out hostess for our BBTB2 week's challenge. She asked us to design from Wall Decor and to use the pineapple cut....however, if we did not have Wall Decor we could use a pineapple cut from any other cart. We hope that you will join in on our challenge too. Here is my card.

I used Life's A Beach cartridge. I cut the pineapple, the hibiscus flowers and the word Aloha all from this fun fun cartridge.

Thanks so much for stopping by. Please visit BBTB2 here and see the delights the girls have created.

I cut everything at least twice, ...and each of the flowers and the title have been popdotted.
Recipe: Cricut: Life's A Beach (flowers, sentiment, pineapple)

Background Paper: Polka Dots. The entire card is a folded pattern paper in a 5x7 size.

Jewels

Embossing