BBTB2 Challenge; Any Holiday

It's December 20th, are you ready for the holidays? I am for the most part and this project for the Bitten By The Bug 2 (BBTB2) Cricut challenge site is taking me one step closer! The challenge this time is...anything holiday!

I decided to create this gift tag of Olaf the snowman from Frozen. I got this free SVG cut file from Ovalery They have so many great cut files and many of them are free!

I sized Olaf at 6.5" and also cut a tag from the shapes in Design Space to accommodate him. I added some Stickles to add some shimmer!

I think he looks perfect with this plain black gift bag!

Now it's your turn, create a holiday project using your Cricut and link it at the BBTB2 site.

BBTB2 Ornament Challenge; 12 Days of Christmas Tags 2021 Day 3

Happy December! It's time for the next challenge at the Bitten By The Bug 2 (BBTB2)Cricut challenge site. The current challenge is ornaments. My hand is still in a brace so I had to create something easy and these ornament gift tags are surely easy!

I used the ornament shape from the CTMH Art Philosophy cartridge and a coordinating stamp to decorate it. The "to and from" are on the back.

I used a silver marker for the tops and both cranberry & honey inks for the flowers.

Be sure to link your Cricut ornament project to the BBTB2 site!

This is also a part of my 12 Days of Christmas Tags series. Be sure to leave a comment on this post as well as the other posts of the series for an entry for the giveaway. At the end of the series, I’ll draw a name to win one set of each 12 tags. Each comment is an entry. The more you comment, the more entries! Good luck!

BBTB2 Fun & Games Challenge

The current challenge at the BBTB2 blog is Fun and Games. I feel like this could cover so many things but I created a scrapbook layout of our hiking adventures during the Covid summer.

I cut the title and cattails from Design Space, Happy Trails and cattail. The rest of the embellishments are stamps. This is a simple layout, but adding these cool cuts with multiple photos makes it fantastic!

Be sure to create a project using the Cricut and link it to the BBTB2 site.

BBTB2; Something To Crow About

It's time for a new two week challenge at the Bitten By The Bug 2 (BBTB2) Cricut challenge site. Fall is in the air so the current challenge is perfect. The challenge theme is...Something To Crow About (or any bird). Check out the amazing projects made by the Design Team & create your own!

I uploaded this super cute scarecrow treat holder from My Scrap Chick and made this for the receptionist at work. 

I initially pulled out some ink pads because the yellow & green that I used for the flowers were too light. I needed them to have a more sunflower look. At that point, I figured, I may as well ink all the edges. It really does make the pieces stand out!

I used a "thank you" stamp to add the greeting. Super cute, right?!? And it was a freebie for the month of October, 2021. Grab it while you can!

Now it's your turn...create Something To Crow About and link it to the BBTB2 challenge site.
 

BBTB2; Patterned Paper

Hi there! There's a new challenge on the Bitten By The Bug 2 (BBTB2) Cricut challenge blog today. The challenge theme is...patterned paper. Now, this can be any paper project just be sure to use patterned paper on it.

Here's my project:

I used three different patterned papers for this sweet layout featuring my youngest granddaughter and our family dog, Gracie.

All of the circles were cut using Basic Shapes and I welded the title to the smaller circle. Both paws and the dog were also cut with the Cricut. The dog is from the Paper Pups set.

I did create a process video for creating the circles. Check it out here:

Be sure to create something using patterned paper and link it to the BBTB2 blog.

 

BBTB2; Witches & Ghouls

There's a fun new challenge on the Bitten By The Bug 2 Cricut challenge site. I'm normally not much of a Halloween gal except for cutsie Halloween. I love the pink & orange Halloween color scheme that seems to be the thing this year and it's perfect when you have two granddaughters! But my project sticks with the traditional orange & black combo.

This is how it started...

I used Witch Gnome and Without This I Would Scare People from Design Space. Both free as a Cricut Access subscriber!

As an afterthought, I probably should have used white for the witch gnome since the bag is a dark gray, but she's still cute...I mean scary!

I gotta tell ya, ironing HTV onto felt was hard. I don't know if it was the felt or the bulkiness of the bag, but it took awhile before it stuck.

Now it's your turn, create a project using your Cricut and link it to the BBTB2 site before the challenge ends. 

BBTB2; Celebrating Grandparents

It's my turn to host the current challenge at the Bitten By The Bug 2 (BBTB2) Cricut challenge site and I have chosen the theme as...Celebrating Grandparents!

I know Grandparents Day was officially September 12th, but we can still show off those projects that were made to celebrate grandma and/or grandpa!

This year, I decided to make these color changing cups for my mom, myself and my granddaughters' other grandma - sorry guys, no grandpa gifts this year!

I purchased the circle image & words from Design Bundles (Keychain Bundle) and the hearts wrap was a freebie from the Ambitious Crafter Company, but you could just cut out a variety of types & sizes of hearts. Since I used a variety of colors for the hearts and I wanted to use scraps, I cut the hearts separately and not in a wrap form. I adhered them to the cup randomly. They are hard to see, but there are also little tiny circles/dots all over too.

I love how they turned out! I used scraps of two different pinks, black, white and holographic red vinyls.

Now it's your turn, create something to celebrate grandparents and link it to the BBTB2 challenge site and please let us know how you used your Cricut.

 

BBTB2 Challenge; Under The Sea

Time for a new challenge at the Bitten By The Bug 2 Cricut challenge site. The current challenge theme is...Under The Sea. Everytime I read or say the challenge theme, I hear Sebastian from the Little Mermaid singing. Is it just me? 

I tried a technique that I've never done before and I really don't know how I feel about it. This is a Peek-a-Boo Glitter Glass. Basically, you add small vinyl cuts along the outside of the glass and then by using Mod Podge & glitter, you cover them up. The way it works is that you only see the vinyl cuts by peeking into the glass, not the outside. Now I've seen these before but never make one - seems easy enough. Was it? I'm not sure.

What do you think? I think I'll give it another try, I'm just not sure if my choices were the right ones on this. I sealed it with two coats of spray Mod Podge with the hopes that the glitter will stay put. If you decide to try one of these yourself, remember when washing the glass, do not submerge into water when cleaning. Clean the inside of the glass only since soaking it in water will cause the glitter to loosen and fall off. The last thing we need is loose glitter!

I used the shells from Stretch Your Imagination and Shellabrate from the Idieh Design sets. I definitely love the "shellabrate". I love puns and this one is perfect!

Now it's your turn...click over the the BBTB2 site and link your Under The Sea project before the challenge is over.

BBTB2; Great Outdoors Challenge

It's time for a new fun challenge on the Bitten By The Bug 2 (BBTB2) Cricut challenge site. The current challenge theme is...The Great Outdoors. 

During the summer of 2020, I decided to take every Tuesday off to go hiking with my kiddos. Let me tell you, I am not normally someone who hikes but when my nephew stayed with us for awhile, we wanted to do something while he was here so... See the original post of the adventure HERE. Be sure to read it, it's actually pretty funny!

Since I am making an album on these hiking trips, I created this base page before I had any of the photos printed:

Here's the finished layout with photos & journaling:

I used a SVG cut that I uploaded into Design Space. I cannot remember where I got the free SVG. I really need to keep better tabs on this sort of thing so I can give proper credit.

The image did not include a base so I created one by grouping the greens and brown images together and then I duplicated it. On the copy, I welded the images together and then contoured out the letters so it was a solid base.

I hope you get a chance to join the challenge and create a Cricut project using the challenge theme. Be sure to link it up to the BBTB2 blog before the two weeks!

BBTB2 Recycle Challenge

I am so excited about the current challenge at Bitten By The Bug 2 (BBTB2) Cricut challenge site. The challenge theme is recycle. Now, I feel like I'm always recycling but then I realized, I don't think I'm actually recycling - I think I'm upcycling! 

So the way I understand it is that recycling is using something bound for the trash & using it a whole new way and upcycling is basically giving something an updo. Is that right? What's your opinion on this? Does it even really matter? LOL Either way, it's fun!

Well, it took awhile to figure out my recycling project for the current challenge and this is what I came up with:

I recycled a couple of old jars into super cool lanterns! I watched a YouTube video on the Plaid YouTube channel and was instantly inspired to make my own version.

Turning this:

Into these:

Aren't these fabulous! I know it's too early for Halloween, but you know it's just around the corner and I thought these will be perfect for my porch.

How I made them:

• Remove the label from the jars
• Create a mixture of Mod Podge & food coloring to get the color you want (I used gloss Mod Podge and red & yellow food coloring to make orange)
• Pour the glue mixture into the jars and swirl around until you get full coverage
• Turn the jars upside down to drip out the excess glue; let dry overnight
• Once dry, use multiple Halloween images in Design Space* to create the pumpkin faces & words with black vinyl
• Wipe the outside of the jars with alcohol before adding the vinyl
• Decorate the jar rims with fabric scraps or twine like I did
• Drop a battery operated tea light in & enjoy!

More photos:

Once they start drying, the glue mixture becomes transparent - so cool!

What are you going to recycle using your Cricut? Please link your project at the BBTB2 challenge site. Be sure to include how you used your Cricut to create your project.

*Happy Pumpkin Face Decal

Spooky

Bat

Spooky Face

Boo

Bitten By The Bug 2; Oh Baby Challenge

 

The current challenge on the Bitten By The Bug 2 (BBTB2) challenge blog is...Oh Baby. For this challenge, we're teaming up with Double Trouble. Because of this, we are dropping the "must use a Cricut" rule to allow for any die cut as long as it meets the current theme.

I hope you join us and/or Double Trouble for this fun challenge.

My project:

I made a tunnel card! This card needed lots of foam adhesive and I think it turned out so cute! I used various cuts in Design Space of stars, clouds and a moon. It's so easy to search for these images. Even though there are lots of layers on this card, I still feel like it fits the "keep it simple" theme described under Thing 1. Do you agree?

WELCOME to Challenge #88 - Let the Troubles Begin 

This Challenge runs from 

Monday,  July 5th thru Sunday, July 18th

"Mood Board - Oh Baby" 

Thing 1:  Trouble Maker 

says, "July 12th is "National Simplicity Day" which promotes the concept of unnecessary clutter in our lives and the idea that less is more. As liberating as this may seem clutter is an accepted way of life when you have babies... so we decided to keep it simple.  

"Simply use My Mood Board for inspiration and create a project for a Gift Card, First Birthday, Invitation, Congratulations, Announcement, Thank You Note, Scrapbook page, etc."  

You can stop here... 

OR  

play along with Twisted Sister's optional twist below to earn another chance at our random draw.  

Thing 3: Twisted Sister says, "What! Eliminate clutter? Does that mean I have to scrap my scrapbook space? I don't think so! 

My stash is essential and dies are important to this challenge. Let's use at least one die or Cricut cut in creating your project and don't be afraid to use more than one, e.g., frames, sentiments, objects, borders, etc."  

You can stop here...
Or
If you use a die or Cricut cut on your project you will earn another chance in our Random Draw and can share it with Double Dare's Dare below.

Thing 2:  Double Dare

says, "Bitten by the Bug 2 is a challenge that usually requires the inclusion of a cut from a Cricut, however, we CUT a little Baby Die'al with them."

 
For this challenge only, our partner is accepting the use of cut items from punches, dies, and any digital cutting machine, but NO fussy-cutting! You need to have a baby project and use Twisted Sister's optional twist to enter.  

You earn an additional chance at the Double Trouble Random Draw" when you enter your project HERE for Bitten by The Bug 2 "Baby".
and/or 

if you use a Cricut Cut you will get another chance at the random draw. Don't keep us guessing, let us know in your post.  

Play along with Double Trouble

And of course, BBTB2 by clicking on either or both of the links!

BBTB2; Masculine Project Challenge

It's my turn to host the current two week challenge at the Bitten By The Bug 2 (BBTB2) challenge blog. I chose the challenge theme of...masculine. I know we've all been making great masculine projects with our Cricuts for Father's Day, now let's show them off!

I made these simple, inexpensive & cool customized drink coasters using some mini pallets I found at the Dollar Tree and of course, my Cricut.

I filmed a quick process video so you can see how quick & easy this project is. I hope you decide to do something like this on your own!

Since I didn't have any wood stain and I wanted these to have some color, I thinned out acrylic paint with water and sponged it on. They look great! I then did a "D" search in Design Space and this simple "D" from the Split Monogram set popped up. I did have to unlock the image to stretch it out a little in order to fit the pallet but other than that, it was that simple!

Check out the video to get more details:

I wrapped them up with a six pack of hubby's favorite beer to make this the perfect Father's Day gift!

Be sure to click over to the BBTB2 site to check out the Design Team projects and to link your masculine project as well. Please be sure to mention how you used your Cricut for your project! 

Bitten By The Bug 2; County Fair Challenge

The newest challenge at the Bitten By The Bug 2 (BBTB2) challenge site is...county fair/fair. I know it's summer and the perfect time to celebrate the county fair, but you know what...? Since my kiddos have grown up, we rarely go to the fair anymore. I struggled with this challenge but then had an AH HA moment...Quilts! 

One thing I always love about the fair are all the crafty exhibits. My mom is a quilter so we always loved these entries.

I used the Tile Stencils in Cricut Design Space and added paper scraps from the Sunday Afternoon paper pad from DCWV. I also have a stitch/sewing stamp set that I got the sentiment from and the flower quilting.

I hope you're inspired to create something with this week's challenge them and link it to the BBTB2 Cricut challenge site before the due date.