Two for Tea at Just Buggin’

As they say, better late than never.  Does that work even if your REALLY late? 

I made this Valentine card for this week’s challenge at Just Buggin’ which is “love ya’.”  Just don’t forget that you need to include at least one cut from your Cricut.  Every cut you see is from the George cartridge.  I used Design Studio to get the dimensions that I wanted.  Of course the pot’s belly and the lid are hearts, the base is a triangle, the handle is a D and the spout is a J.  I made one like this last year and hand drew and cut the handle and spout.  This time, I wanted to try to use my Cricut for everything.

If you'd like to play along, go to the Just Buggin’ challenge blog to get some inspiration, make something and then link it up on the JB blog!

I added some Basic Grey pearl swirls and regular pearls colored with a Copic, as well as the embossed sentiment from Hero Arts!

I’ll be back with something else I’ve been working on today!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Challenges:
Delightful Sketches and Challenges -- love
Stamp Something -- Love something
Stampin For the Weekend -- Valentine’s
Flourishes -- be inspired by your favorite drink

Botanical Butterfly

Hi everyone!  Guess what?  It’s Flutter By Wednesday!!!  Be sure to scroll down for some Just Buggin’ and Squigglefly news!

I had a hard time getting a good photo tonight.  It was just too dark. 

The challenge this week at Flutter By Wednesday is open.  So all you have to do is include a butterfly, fairy or angel on your project.

If you'd like to play along, go check out all of the other lovely DT blogs by clicking on their links on the right sidebar and then go to the Flutter By Wednesday challenge blog to link up your card.  We also have new guest designers for February.  Please help us welcome Alex, Brandi and Randi.  Stop by and check out their beautiful creations and give them some love!

Card Details:
Medium--watercolor
Image--Inkadinkado
Paper -- Basic Grey Wisteria
Additional -- Ribbon, Pearls painted with Sharpie

Challenges:
Flourishes -- cut it out, pop it up
Stampin’ For the Weekend -- sketch
Stamp, Scrap and Doodle -- open

Before I left for Utah, I had decided to rearrange and reorganize my Creative Space.  Well, it started today.  I spent most of the day moving boxes and furniture to make room for the new floor plan.    Then I spent some time unpacking a few things so I could get my card done for FBW.  I’m so happy to be back in my room with things a little bit more accessible. 

I took some pictures tonight and will take more along the way and share the transformation with you sometime!

In the meantime, I’m going to have a lot of extra things around here that I will need to get rid of.  What will I do with them?  I’ll be thinking about that and come up with something! ;-)

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Just Buggin’ Challenge

It’s another challenge a Just Buggin’ today.  I haven’t unpacked my Cricut so I didn’t get time to make something.  Our challenge this week is to make something with the theme of “Love” using at least one Cricut cut somewhere on your project.  You can make anything you'd like as long as it fits with the current challenge.

I’ll try to get it done sometime during the week.  I have it all designed; I just need to cut everything out and put it together!

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Squigglefly

I’ve got some Squigglefly news for you today as well.  We all feel very honored to have Mel McCarthy of Mel Stampz as our guest artist for February.  She is a very talented designer and I can’t wait to see what she does with Squigglefly’s wonderful images!

That’s it for now.  See ya’ tomorrow!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Flutter By Wednesday with no Card :-(

I didn’t get a chance to get a card made this week for the Flutter By Wednesday challenge. I feel really bad but it’s been quite a stressful week here at my sister’s house in Utah.

I do have some other things to share with you though. First of all, did you all notice that this little bugger was hanging out on my post last week for FBW? If you read the challenge post on the FBW challenge blog, you know that this meant that I had candy to share!

I had originally planned to be home by now and to have made some headway into my creative space reorganization and gather some things to share with the winner. Since I haven’t gotten home yet, I decided to give away this stamp set instead!

You knew it had to have something to do with butterflies didn’t you?

The lucky winner is Craft Princess! Please send me your address and I will get this ordered for you. I will be ordering it online and ship it directly to you!

Now, the challenge this week at Flutter By Wednesday is to include some type of embossing on your project as well as a butterfly, fairy or angel.

If you'd like to play along, go check out all of the other lovely DT blogs by clicking on their links on the right sidebar and then go to the Flutter By Wednesday challenge blog to link up your card.

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Today is also a new challenge at Just Buggin’. The challenge this week is Monochromatic. Make a monochromatic project with at least one die cut from your Cricut. You can make anything you'd like as long as it fits with the current challenge. The creations by the design team are being posted each day of the week so check every day for inspiration. My day is Tuesday so I’ll be posting my creation on Tuesday.

That’s about it for today! See ya back here in a day or two!!!

Blessings,

Christine

A Buggy Sewing Tag

It’s my day on the Just Buggin’ challenge blog and I have something fun to share with you today.

I have done much in this vintagey/collagey style yet but I love it! I want to get a little more proficient at it. I used a variety of inks and stamps for this tag. The center stamp is a Tim Holtz stamp, the thread spool (which I embossed) is Papertrey Ink and the embossed lace, the buttons and a ribbon knot (hiding somewhere) are Artistic Outpost. The string is MS and the lace is from Wal-Mart. The buttons and ribbon are from my stash and I’ve had that tiny spool forever!!!

My Cricut tip for today: Use Design Studio to change the proportions of your cuts. This tag would normally be a lot longer at this width but I widened it in Design Studio to be in better proportion with the stamps.

If you would like to play along with the Just Buggin’ challenge, you have until midnight tonight (est) to link your creation at the Just Buggin’ challenge blog!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Inky Paisley

Our challenge this week at Just Buggin’ is Inky Fingers -- use ink to alter your die cuts. I’ve been wanting to use this cut since I got the Stretch Your Imagination cartridge a long time ago. It just really appeals to me.

I started with the DP from Cloud 9 Design because of its paisley design. Once again, I didn’t keep track of the sizes. I think the large square (also from Stretch Your Imagination) is 3 inches and the paisley-a little over three. The sentiment is at 2 inches and from Calligraphy Collection. I added some Dew Drops colored to match with a Bic marker.

My hint for today’s Just Buggin’ challenge: I love using ink on die cuts because it creates the illusion of dimension.

If you’d like to join in on the Just Buggin’ challenge, you have until tonight to have your project posted to the JB blog.

Blessings,

Christine

Just Buggin’ Santa’s Helper

The challenge this week at Just Buggin’ is Santa’s Helper. Make a Christmas gift for someone special using at least one Cricut die cut.

I chose to alter a chocolate box from last Christmas.

Here’s what it looked like last year! The truffles were yummy!

And here’s what it looks like ready to be filled with my dark chocolate fudge (recipe below).

I cut the base of the card with a cut from the Storybook cartridge. The original cut wasn’t in the right dimensions so I used Design Studio to change the proportions to 9.762 x 5.576 and smaller sizes in blue and Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses DP. That worked perfectly to fit on the top of the box. The sentiment and hat are cut with the Winter Woodland cartridge at 3 inches.

I added some lace and pink tiny pom pom fringe and some Basic Grey buttons.

If you’d like to play along with the Just Buggin’ challenge, you have until tonight to link your project up to the Just Buggin’ blog.

Okay, now for the recipe. If you like dark chocolate, you’ll love this one. If not, substitute semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips.

Dark Chocolate Fudge

3 cups Ghirardelli 60% cacao chocolate chips
1 can sweetened condensed milk (Eagle Brand type)
3 tbls butter
2 teas vanilla

Melt all ingredients together in double boiler or microwave. If using microwave, check often to be sure it doesn’t burn. Pour into a buttered 9x12 pan and cool for several hours. (I don’t have much patience for the cooling step.)

That’s it! You can add your favorite kind of nuts, candied cherries (or other dried fruit), crushed candy canes or anything else you like. My favorite is pecans and mini marshmallows!

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I haven't left for Utah yet. I was going to go on Sunday but the weather was a little iffy so I didn't go. I'll be going tomorrow morning so I probably won't be around the blog world until Wednesday evening. I've got the next four FBW projects done and the posts scheduled and the next three Just Buggin' projects done and scheduled. It feels good to have all those done so I won't have to worry about them while I'm in Utah. Like I said before, I'll be working on my niece's wedding scrapbook and a gift for a blogger friend while I'm in Utah. Talk to you Wednesday night!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Just Buggin’ Frosty Kisses

Our challenge this week at Just Buggin’ is to Happy Holidays.  Make a Christmas project using at least one Cricut die cut.

I decided to make a tag for a gift jar of Hershey’s Kisses.  However, I’ve eaten all the Kisses since I made the tag so I’ll have to get more for the gift!

I cut the tag with the George cartridge and the sentiment and snowman are cut with Winter Woodland cartridge.  This cartridge has so much fun stuff on it.  I’m pretty much finished with winter theme projects for this year but I can’t wait until next year to use some of the other features and cuts.

The cuts themselves are pretty self-explanatory so I’ll get into assembly.  The larger tag is cut in a wine colored cardstock as well as the shadows of the sentiment and snowman.  The DP tag is Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses (in keeping with the Kisses theme – tee-hee).  I used a glue pen to glue the layers together.  Glue pens are very forgiving and a great tool for small die cuts.  When the glue is wet, you can move it around a bit to get it in the correct position and after it has dried, it is tacky and becomes repositionable.  I use glue pens a lot with Cricut die cuts. 

I added a lot of Stickles (on the letters, hat band, scarf and buttons) and little black rhinestones for his eyes.  I then tied a big pink bow to top it all off.  I love these big bows.

My hint for today’s Just Buggin’ challenge:  Think big! I used oversized die cuts and ribbon for huge impact.

If you’d like to join in on the Just Buggin’ challenge, you have until tonight to have your project posted the the blog.

Blessings,

Christine

A Just Buggin’ Butterfly

I did it again!  I forgot to post my Just Buggin’ project.  I send these projects to Samantha a week before the challenge which makes it almost two weeks before I need to post.  From now on, when I post it on the JB DT gallery, I’m going to make a scheduled post as well. 

I sometimes struggle for inspiration with these challenges and this one was no exception.  But usually, by the time I get it done, I’m quite happy with it and this is no exception. 

Our challenge this week was to use layered Cricut die cuts on your project.  This is a 12x12 home dec project.  Once again, I used Design Studio to design this project so I can’t give you any measurements.  However, I’ve been keeping track so I will be able to for future projects.

I used the Home Accents cartridge for this project.  I cut the butterfly in blackout three times.  Once in blackout dark blue and then in matching DP and light blue with the flourished trail trimmed off.  The Inspire sentiment is from the Home Accents cartridge and the flourishes are from the Storybook cartridge.

The DP is K&Co. and I watercolored the background paper.  I colored some flat back pearls with Bic markers to match the cardstock and added them to the flourishes and to the butterfly.

I hope you enjoyed!  Thanks for stopping by!!!

Now I’m going to create and schedule my post for next week!

Blessings,

Christine

Please click here to get in on a chance to win my Baby It’s Cold Outside giveaway!

Just Buggin’ for Gingerbread

I forgot to post my Just Buggin’ challenge this morning. Oops!  I guess better late than never, huh?  I was even feeling really bad that I didn’t have something to post for you today.

I made a cute little gingerbread card.  I used cuts from the Stretch your Imagination cartridge.  I use Design Studio when I’m designing my cards so I’m not sure what size my cuts are.  The gingies are about 2-1/2” and I cut a couple at about 1 inch for the card base.  The house is the birdhouse cut in shadow at about 4 inches.  I like to put a non-detailed image behind smaller images to give them a sense of cohesion.   I doodled icing stitches around the gingies and added pearl eyes and ruby buttons.  I added a few cookie buttons to the corners.

That’s about it.  Sorry again that I was so late.  A new Just Buggin’ challenge starts tomorrow!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Fairy Moon

It’s Wednesday, so that means it’s another Flutter By Wednesday. Yay!!! Our challenge this week is to use a circle or circles on your card.

I just couldn’t resist this set from Clear Art Stamps. There are all kinds of cute fairies to believe!!!

Isn’t she just adorable? I watercolored her to match this beautiful Basic Grey Two Scoops DP. I also added a little glitter glue to the moon and stars to give them the added sparkle that a fairy always needs! The sentiment on the base card reads “Thank You.”

I’m addicted to these easel cards, can you tell? I need to get off this kick a bit! Try some different things.

If you would like to play along with the Flutter By Wednesday challenge, you can go check out all of the other lovely DT blogs by clicking on their links on the right sidebar and then going to Danni’s Dreams to link up your card. Danni has also mentioned that since the holidays are right around the corner, angels "flutter by" too so feel free to add angels to your creations for the holidays.

Challenges:
Card Patterns -- sketch
Flourishes -- thank you
Creative Card Crew -- favorite things (fairy)
Stamp Something -- thank you
2 Red Bananas -- I am thankful

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Today is also a new challenge at Just Buggin’. The challenge this week is Sew It. Use some kind of stitching (machine, hand, faux) as well as a Cricut cut. You can make anything you'd like as long as it fits with the current challenge. The creations by the design team are being posted each day of the week so check every day to be inspired. My day is Tuesday so I’ll be posting my creation on Tuesday.

Blessings,

Christine

Just Buggin’ a Bird

This is my first challenge as a member of the Just Buggin’ design team and I tell you what! There are some very talented ladies on our team. They amaze me with each and every creation.

Our challenge this week was Triple Whammy! You need to use at least three die cuts on your project. I have nine and they are all from the Winter Woodland cartridge.

I love making a kind of scene when I use the Cricut cuts. I think overlapping images gives the card some cohesion.

I used all S.E.I. Winter Song patterned and solid paper. I cut out the window using the blackout feature in the dark red a little larger than the light blue cut. I then cut the three trees in the darker blue to layer under the window.

The cardinal is two cuts: one in the red floral print on the tummy and one in the light red. I hand cut a little off the tummy so the red floral would show through. To bring the cut to life, I scored, using a stylus and ruler, the lines that would make up the feathers on the birds wings. I cut the sentiment twice (once a little larger and in blackout) and added glitter to the top cut. I didn’t have gems to match so I colored some white pearls with my Copics.

I have found that the easiest way to add fine glitter to small areas is to use a glue pen. I have two sizes of tips so it is very simple to choose the right size for the job.

Thanks for stopping by to see my creation today. You still have today to join in the challenge so what are you waiting for? Go create!!!

Blessings,

Christine

Just Buggin’ You with Some Good News

I made the Just Buggin’ Challenge Blog design team!!! Yay!

Blessings,

Christine