At the bottom of the garden Hummingbird card

We're baaa-ack!  The Bitten by the Bug 2 design team is back from our lengthy holiday break!  Our Design Team sister Karen selected the team's first cut for 2011 - the Hummingbird from the Lyrical Letters cartridge.  The hummingbird is a single layer cut.  I used two cartridges to create this card, Lyrical Letters and Lacey Labels.

I am almost embarrassed to tell you that my scraproom is such a horrid mess that I had to hunt for the unopened Lacey Labels cartridge so that I could cut this design.  I should insert a photo of the scraproom, but modesty prevents me from embarrassing myself further.

I cut the hummingbird twice and heat embossed both the parent and baby birds with holographic embossing powder.  Finished the card with a wide Stampin' Up ribbon and pixie stamps.  Please do go by and check out the BBTB2 DT designs - they are wonderful!!

I will be back tomorrow with another Spellbinders card.

DVD Set Update and Another Vegas Layout

While in Vegas earlier this spring, one of the many things I noted was a Disney-like attention to detail.  Any of you who have visited one of the Disney theme parks will immediately understand what I mean by Disney-like attention to detail.  That is actually a phrase we use at our house to explain near perfection in attention to detail.  My husband and I have actually looked at one another and whispered, "not quite Disney-like" when visiting an attraction.  Well let me assure you (and thank the Vegas designers), Vegas had a Disney-like attention to detail!

In this layout I used photos taken in and around The Venetian.  I LOVED The Venetian.  Very, very nicely done. And our favorite meal of the week was in the mall area of The Venetian. 

I used subtle colors for the basic layout, but picked up on the deeper hued water and brick for accent color.  I lucked upon some matching brads in my stash.


DVD UPDATE: I wanted to offer an update to those of you who have pre-ordered the It's A Kid's Life DVD set.  The pdf files are being written and tweaked and video files have reached the "burning" phase.  I am pushing to get everything to the post office by Saturday as I will be at CHA all next week.  Worst case, they will ship on Monday (by my production staff:  my dh, dd, and MFK - my friend Kathy)!!!  I apologize for missing the Wednesday ship date I had hoped to meet, but I was called into my real job a bit more than anticipated after two weeks of "unwellness".   The good  news is everyone should have their dvds before I get home from Chicago! 

We Have A Winner and Two New Cards

Congratulations to random blogger comment #3, Bonnie! Bonnie is the winner of this week's blog candy. Bonnie I sent you an email so please watch your inbox. Also, I am still waiting to hear back from Karen on my earlier mini-blog candy.

I went to a Stampin' Up open house today and made THE CUTEST make and take card! Steph always has such great ideas to share.

This afternoon I worked on Monday's BBTB challenge... No peeking until Monday so I cannot share yet. I also worked on two cards. This first, the Happy Halloween card was designed using Lyrical Letters and Wild Card. I like the simplicity of the uncluttered design and the black and orange papers.

The second card is a collage of leftovers. Each element on this card was leftover from a previous card or project. I decided to combine them all together and made this leftovers card!

Window Shopping Card

Have you been by the Christmas with the Cricut blog yet? I continue to find daily inspiration there. These three ladies are multi-talented! Last week there was an amazing Santa's village scrap page that I adored. That layout inspired this card: Window Shopping.

I used the Dreams Come True cartridge along with Joys of the Season and Lyrical Letters for this design. The window layers and the dress came from Dreams Come True. Joys of the Season was used for the base card and for the dress stand inside the card. The word Boutique was cut using Lyrical Letters. The message inside the card was stamped using a Stampin' Up word stamp.

I have added the cut file to the cut files on the left; the title is Window Shopping Card.

A couple of quick notes if you should decided to download the and make the card:

1. You will need to cut the shutters twice, once for the outside of the shutters and once for the middle panels. The shutters have been added to the cut file two times.
2. You will need to trim the top of the window cut and shadow with scissors to fit on the card.
3. The word Boutique was cut straight but I curved it when attaching it to the front of the card.
4. The window opening was cut by hand.
5. Finally, an acetate sheet was cut to fit in the window.

New Projects & Cut Files!!

Cherry Good Wishes:

I am so excited: I have seven new projects, complete with cut files and assembly directions, awaiting you download at Custom Crops. Just click on the blinkie to the left to be taken to my Custom Crops profile. Once there, click the name of the project to see the individual projects and to download cut files. Also, while you are there please, PLEASE, please leave comments on my projects... CC loves that!!! I truly hope you enjoy the projects!!

Fashionista Purse Book:

Birthday Girl Crown Card:

Merci Little Bird Card:

You Really Rock Card:

Fold Out Gift Card Purse:

Vase Box and Card Set:

Lyrical Letters Demo Card

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Tonight I learned to use my Cricut Expression again - on manual! Oh My GOODNESS... I couldn't believe that I did not have a clue how to work without Design Studio. Thankfully PC still includes those nifty little booklets with the cartridges, and THANKFULLY those nifty little booklets have practice projects in the front.

Lucky, lucky me - the project in the front of the Lyrical Letters booklet is a bridal shower card. Guess who is going to a bridal shower on Sunday????? Yep - me! This card was perfect. First, it allowed me to use Lyrical Letters and second, it taught me to use my expression again, and finally, I now have a card for Sunday! (Though I am suddenly wondering if I was supposed to RSVP.... Note to self: call Peggy).


My only changes to the demo project card was to add the organza ribbon and bow and to add my doodling dots. Otherwise the card came from the book! Oh... and I did change the colors slightly (admit it, you KNEW that I did).


Like everyone else with one of the new cartridge I am ready for the DS update to be released. I had forgotten how you had to guess at where the cut would be on the mat BDS (before design studio). I was playing with Jubilee last night - making a village and I think I wasted a couple of sheets of paper... but that is another story for another night....

Christmas in May?

I must say, today was like Christmas in May for me. I arrived home from work and found two packages waiting for me. The first, a box, I suspected was my Provo Craft special two cartridge purchase, but I had NO idea what that big padded bag contained. The label said "Cricut Replacement Parts." I took both the box and the padded package back to my scrap room... and THAT'S when it hit me: LYRICAL LETTERS from the Chirp!! So... today I received Lyrical Letters, Home Decor, Jubilee, a Juke Box, and the basic set of cricut pens!! If not Christmas, then at least a second birthday... without that whole aging thing!!!!

So yes, I did have to play with the cartridges. I cut some elements for a layout I am scrapping, but it is not ready for public viewing yet. I can share a birthday card I cut and assembled. It is for one of my chocolate loving co-workers.



Next, I finished some cards for stamp club. We have a card swap at our stamp club meetings. I guess I will have to wait to post the stamp club cards until Sunday. Sorry.

Finally, while using my nesties I spied my cute little bird shapebilities. I just had to make a card using the birds. I really like the simplicity of the bird shapes; they seem to "pop" off of the printed background.



I am not sure what is up with my color choices. I seem to be very attracted to aqua this week. I especially liked the softness of the aqua with the intensity of the deep browns.


I should have more to share tomorrow...