Festive Holiday Lighting for BBTB2

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

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

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

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

Little Red Riding Hood Layout with Cut File

I was a day late in posting this week's Custom Crops project - Hey There Little Red Riding Hood.  Custom Crops challenged us to use the Jubilee cartidge.  While I have done cute house cards and layouts with Jubilee, I wanted to use something a little different for the challenge.  Then I found the tree and grass cut!  Forest.  And who is in the forest?  That wolf waiting for Little Red Riding Hood!

LRRH was created using Everyday Paper Dolls and the wolf is from Create a Critter!  I also used George for a circle and the photo mats and letters.  The cut file as well as detailed instructions are available by clicking the Custom Crops blinkie in the left column. 

This was a really fun layout and I hope that you too are able to enjoy it!

Fifty State Paper Doll Swap

I finally finished the paper dolls for the 50 State Paper Doll Swap I joined on the Cricut message board.  Someone kick me the next time I sign up for a swap that does not pre-list the conditions!

I had to make 50 paper dolls, 25 each from two states, Georgia and South Carolina.  We were supposed to make the dolls four inches tall and include accessories.

I made this cute beach scene to represent South Carolina - We do have a lot of fabulous beaches!  My accessories include a Palmetto Palm tree, the state tree, with a tag bearing the state tourism motto. 

For Georgia I had a brain block.  I could only think of Georgia peaches.  So... I made peach farmers.

The baskets were a bit more time consuming than I had planned.  I added a wheelbarrow as an accessory, with the title, Georgia - The Peach State. 

I cut a fill sheet of the peaches at .70 inches.  I used a copic marker and colored the stems and leaves before removing the peaches from the mat. 

I will put my swaps in the mail tomorrow and hopefully they will get to Jen by Thursday.

Circus Birthday Wishes

I am a bit late posting my BBTB2 project today.  I usually write my post before going to bed on Sunday evening and set the blog to post in the middle of the night.  Last night I was too tired to write.  I spend much of Sunday evening working on 50 paper dolls for a message board swap (more on this tomorrow).

So on to my BBTB2 project.  The challenge cut of the week is the elephant from the Everyday Paper Doll cartridge.  The elephant is really cute and I have been told that the trunk is extended in a "lucky" pose.  I used the elephant to make a birthday card for my nephew, Carter, who will be two later this spring. 

I added two train cars from EDPD as well as a scalloped border from Accents Essentials.  I wanted the card to be fun and bright - but I may have gone too far.  The Happy Birthday mini stamp is from a Dacie's set and was cut out with oval nesties.  All in all, not my best work, but I still love this cute elephant!

It's Snow Fun Layout

For some readers this winter has been filled with harsh, blustery weather. There has been an abundance of snow and ice, wintery winds and snow days for school children. And though most adults find the wintery weather tedious, children have ideas of their own on what to do with the white stuff.  In that spirit I designed this layout, It's Snow Fun, for Custom Crops.

The cut file uses only two Cricut cartridges, Winter Woodlands and Everyday Paper Dolls, and is available for download at Custom Crops at THIS link.  Full instructions for cutting and assembling the layout are available.  

You should note that this layout uses the mini gel pen holder and mini gel pens to create the blue outline snowflakes.  For those who have not used the mini gel pen holder, you remove the blade housing from your Cricut and replace it with the gel pen holder.  Your Cricut will then draw any image that you would normally cut.

Gypsy Spot Tuesday - Super Bowl Themed Challenge

This week the Gypsy Spot is getting ready for the Super Bowl.  The challenge of the week is to use the Gypsy (or just the Cricut or the Cricut with Design Studio if do not have a Gypsy) and create a Super Bowl party themed project.  I chose to create a center piece with which to cheer on the New Orleans Saints. 

This is the first time in the history of the team that the Saints have made it to the Super Bowl.  If that wasn't reason enough to cheer on the Saints, my husband and I lived in New Orleans the first year we were married (28 years ago).  And that same year, the Saints drafted a friend from college. 

I used three different cartridges on my Gypsy to create this center piece:  Everyday Paper Dolls, George, and Sweathearts.  This was the first project made with my new blue Expression and I have to say, I was having some difficulty with the mat sliding.  If this continues to be an issue, I may have to switch back to the regular Expression.

Before I close I am going to confess that my husband is from Tennessee and Peyton Manning was quarterback for Tenn prior to being a Colt.  So in our home this Super Bowl is truly a win-win.  We will be happy no matter which team wins.  But let's be honest, the Saints made for a better center piece.  Geaux Saints!!!!

New Project and Cut file

Have you been by Custom Crops this week?  There is a new look to the shopping index (I think it is much more user friendly), new projects, a big PINK sale going on this week, and new articles and cut files.  I have two new articles with cut files this week:  Three Alarm Fun and Giving Thanks layouts.  

Three Alarm Fun is a great layout for your little fire people!  It is made primarily with Everyday Paper Dolls and features the cute, cute, CUTE fire truck.

Giving Thanks is a traditional Thanksgiving layout it.  It features Pilgram silhouettes from A Child's Year, as well as a few cuts from Doodlecharms.

If you would like the cut files and instructions just click the Custom Crops blinkie to the left and you will see the projects on my list of articles.

Happy Scrapping!

Opposing Team Fire Starters

Have you been by Custom Crops this week and checked out the new projects and products?  I have one new project which posted on Monday, Opposing Team Fire Starters.  This cute project was created for my husband's 50th birthday party. 

Like all football fans Doug has a favorite team.  And like most fans he has a least favorite team.  In his case, the least favorite team is the Atlanta Falcons.  Through a suggestion made by my younger son and some brainstroming, the football fire starters were born!

The cut file and complete assembly instructions are available at Custom Crops.  Just click on the blinkie on the left and you will see the project on my list of projects.

My friend Kathy pointed out that the men at Doug's party reacted to these football players with more enthusiasm that she had ever seen them respond to any paper crafting project.  She said it was as if they finally found a reason to appreciate the cricut!!!

Prize Tags for the Cowboy Chili Cookoff

Wednesday is the annual Cowboy (or should that be Cow-person??) Chili Cookoff in my office.  Each year three awards are presented:  Best Tasting Chili, Fire Chili, and Wimpiest Chili.  I was asked to make gift tags for the awards and this is what I came up with. 

The base tag was cut with Winter Woodlands.  All of the paper doll pieces were cut with the original Paper Doll Dress Up, except for the fire in the chili pot.  The fire came from Everyday Paper Dolls.  Have I gone on and on yet about how much I like the new Everyday Paper Dolls cartridge??  I really enjoying the various cuts and fun, fun projects that can be made with both paper doll cartridges.

I am making White Chicken Chili for the cookoff, complete with avacado and sour cream on the side.  And just to be honest, I am going for the wimpiest award.  I like my chicken chili, but I do not like it with anymore than a hint of spice.

I'll let you know if I come home with the stick horse award!!!

Projects with Cut Files

Have you been by Custom Crops this week? There were several new projects posted last Monday (the day of new article releases at CC), two of which were mine. I had a cute layout using Everyday Paper Dolls and Plantin, as well as a recipe folder and recipe cards using A Child's Year.

The recipe folder and cards are easy, but time consuming to cut and assemble. I made two dozen of the cards and as the folder does not hold nearly that number of cards, I will have recipe cards to go with the gift as well as leftover cards for my personal use.

The layout is just one of those fun layouts that I like to do. Sadly I no longer have little children to scrap onto this layout. I hope it keeps well because I am hopeful for grandchildren some day! I made both the aliens and the space kids in both genders, a boy and girl of each. The great thing about Paper Dolls is you can personalize so many aspects of the characters.

The cut files and complete instructions are available at Custom Crops. Just click on the Custom Crops blinkie to the left and you will see the project names under my bio.