LTCCB #39: Baby Is Brewing

Hi there, I’m excited to post my first Design Team project on the Love To Craft Challenge Blog. I live a crafty life! I love it! In fact, I almost always say, “I can make that”. This is both my blessing and my curse. Anyone crafty knows exactly what I’m talking about!

October challenge at Love To Craft Challenge Blog is anything goes.

My project:

Glass etching...have you tried it? This was my first time and I loved it! We’re hosting a co-ed Baby Is Brewing baby shower for my son and DIL and I made these for the prizes. We don’t have a brewing company, but I thought this idea was pretty cute. (BTW, Durham is my last name.)

 I created the “label” in Cricut Design Space using some downloaded SVG files and making my own SVG images.

Then I cut some vinyl for the stencils. I made six of them so I had to cut out six stencils. The hard part was weeding these tiny letters out.

Thick layer of etching cream. The instructions said to leave it on for 1-3 minutes. What?! Seriously, I left it on for 15 minutes for it to actually do some etching. While the cream is on the glass/stencil, use your paint brush to move the cream around. It actually thickens when it’s got a good etch. I put a bright green napkin in the glass hoping for a better photo, but it didn't do much good.

This is what they look like all filled and pretty:

And all bagged up in a cellophane bag & pink ribbon:

We included some gold kisses and yellow shredded paper to look like beer with some white shredded paper for the foam. I think they turned out really cute! In fact, I need to make more just for us to keep.

Don’t forget to click on over to the Love To Craft Challenge Blog for more DT inspiration and to link up your crafty project. See the blog guidelines for more information and as always, anything goes!

Get your craft on!

Read my BIO on the blog HERE.

BBTB2 Challenge: Go Outside!

The current challenge at Bitten By The Bug (BBTB2) is:

Go Outside!

I've wanted to make one of these for a long time and I finally did it just in time for my daughter and granddaughter's birthday party. Technically, they are called Camping Buckets. You see, you have it lit up so you can find your camping spot out in the darkened wilderness, but of course they can be used anywhere.

I purchased a 5 gallon bucket from Home Depot and the puck light from Amazon. The "relax" sentiment was a freebie from lovesvg.com and the "welcome" sentiment I created using an assortment of fonts in Cricut and my system. The beer mug was also from lovesvg.com.

I put vinyl on both sides of the bucket:

 Here it is on our stage that we call "Le LEAF":

 And all lit up:

It really is just for ambiance and we LOVE it! Fun, right!?!

Now it's your turn...create something with an outside/outdoor theme and link it to the BBTB2 challenge link. Click on over there for some DT inspiration!

(In case you're curious, we came up with Le LEAF because the "stage" was made for our granddaughter, LeAnna.  So...the first three are obvious and the F is her middle name initial. And adding "le" instead of "the" is just fun!)

More Cricut Fun

I love my Cricut! It's great for those big projects but also the little ones. We have a sports themed bathroom and I couldn't find a soap dispenser that I wanted for it. I painted a mason jar and added a pump but the lid rusted...it was weird. So, tossed that.

Then my DIL found a plain clear plastic inexpensive dispenser that I decorated with baseball laces.

Nothing fancy, but perfect for our sports themed bathroom!

It took a little bit of time to change the curve in Design Space, but other than that...simple!

What have you created with your Cricut today?

Cartridge Used:

Sports Mania

12 Days of Christmas Tags; DAY FIVE & DTC Challenge

I'm combining a couple of posts today.  It's Day Five of the Christmas tag challenge but also a new challenge has been posted on the Decorate to Celebrate challenge site.  This week we are showcasing the digi stamps from Stamp Prints. 

I used the Snowman Wishes set for these tags.  I printed them on thick white cardstock and cut them into 4x3 tags.  I used markers for the most part but also used watercolor paint for the body highlights and twigs.  I also used a white Wink of Stella glitter pen for the ball at the end of the knit cap.

I tore strips of holiday washi tape so the snowman will have something to rest on.  On some of the tags I adhered enamel dots and others I added glitter dots.  I also added the patterned paper tags to the back since the background was plain white.  And of course added the lines around the tags.  I really like how these turned out!  These snowmen are so cute!

Join us at Decorate to Celebrate challenge site to add your project.

Be sure to comment on this post (and previous tag posts) for a chance to win all 12 tags.  At the end of the series, I'm going to gather all comments and pull one name.  That person will win all 12 handmade tags!  Be sure to comment!

Decorate to Celebrate Challenge #21

It's Wednesday and there's a new challenge on the Decorate to Celebrate challenge site.  This week's winner will receive a digi stamp from Stamp Prints.  She has lovely images to choose from.

Although I like to concentrate on 3D pieces or cards with something a little extra, I had a hard time with this one.  I'm not sure why since I love this heart image.  In fact, I printed and colored a lot and love how they turned out.  I wanted to make one of those cool spinner cards.  Not bad for my first try.  I'm gonna make the hearts a little smaller and make some more.  That's the cool thing about digi stamps, you can print the image(s) any size you want.

I also made these little gift tags/cards.  I think these are super cute especially for a gift tag.

I used an assortment of markers I have, used Wink of Stella for glitter accents and also some diamond glaze to add dimension to some of the flowers and the bird.  I didn't take a photo, but I also added one of these hearts to a plain gift bag.

Now it's your turn!!  Join the Decorate to Celebrate challenge by linking your masterpiece here.

Aloha! DTC #20

No, I'm not in Hawaii or anywhere tropical but I recently made this cute little tote bag to hold a raffle prize for work.

Every so often I'll do a raffle with my coworkers and of course I have to decorate the package. Most times it's a cute tag, but this time, I made this cute little tote:

Something like this is just perfect for small gifts and even treat bags for a party.  It was so easy to create.  Easy directions are below.  I used old, old, old patterned paper from Flair that I had in my stash to decorate the tote.  I cut out two of these tropical panels from the paper and adhered them to the inked up tote; added a premade tag and viola!  Easy Peasy!

Click on over to Decorate to Celebrate challenge site and link your project.  If you don't have a project of your own, take a look at what the DT came up with and the linkers.  I am always inspired by them whether its a color choice, technique or just the humor we crafters share.

How to make this easy tote?  Start with an 8 1/2 x 10 piece of cardstock; On the 8 1/2" side, score at 1 1/2" and 7"; flip and score on the 10" side at 4" and 6"; Cut slits at those score lines (on the 10" side) but stop where they intersect to create the flaps (two slits on each site); Add ribbon handles, decorate, fold and adhere. (NOTE:  I wrapped the ribbon around the tote, but you can also use brads and just attach them to the front & back)
Pretty simple!


Don't forget to share your project on the Decorate to Celebrate site!

Cards in the Sea

I am in love with these cards!! I made the background (coloring pages) using digi stamps from Stamp Prints.  This is the Under the Sea set.

I created these cards for the Decorate to Celebrate challenge site - Challenge #19.  This challenge is sponsored by Stamp Prints.  I didn't want to make a regular card so I stepped out the box making the digis into a "coloring page" and even made some charms using Shrinky Dinks.  Took these cards up to the WOW Factor!

I have been holding out on the whole coloring book for adults frenzy.  I just can't wrap my head around coloring...I mean, who has the time?  If I'm coloring, it's going to be for a specific project.  BUT...some of these pages are so amazing!  LOL. I still haven't bought any, but the idea behind these cards is similar.  I made the digis very small and covered an entire page with them.  I colored the images in using water-color pencils.  Then I used blue watercolor paint to fill in between.

I sprayed some white acrylic paint and pearl glimmer mist all over; cut in four pieces.  I used a combination of Wink of Stella, gold metallic thread, silver & gold washi tapes, and doilies.

Be sure to head over to the Decorate to Celebrate challenge site to join the fun!

Sweet One (DTC #18) Favors

All of a sudden I know a lot of ladies having babies and two of them just happen to be coworkers.  We are having a small gathering for the mommy-to-be on Thursday so I came up with these "Sweet One" favors for my coworkers.  If you recall, last month they got the cute mason jar cups and decorated straws and now they get these cute little treats.  Lucky ladies!  Lucky they have a coworker who loves crafting and others who keep having babies!  LOL

These little cuties are so easy to make.  They start with a 2x7 piece of cardstock or thick patterned paper, some scoring, a punched hole on top and viola!  Leave me a comment if you'd like the scoring measurements.



Please join us on the Decorate to Celebrate challenge #18 site starting today. Entries should be anything but cards used for parties and celebrations.  If you are like me, there's a party every time you turn around.  Whether it's a birthday, new baby or new bride & groom, celebrations are all around us.  Thank goodness for that!

I hope you join us with your own project or just to browse what the linkers are doing.  Leave a comment or two - everyone loves comments.

Until next time...party on!!

Stamp is an oldie but goodie from Stampin' Up!  It fits perfectly with their scalloped punch.  I paper pieced it to give it some more colors - you could also use markers to get the same effect.  It's hard to tell, but I put some wink of stella glitter on the stars.

Sweetest Day Ever!

Since I just started to be on the Design Team for Decorate to Celebrate, I needed to come up with a project for this week's challenge.  Well, I bought the cheese/apples/crackers "bento" box at Starbucks.  After eating the goodies, I tossed the container.  Then I thought, WAIT A MINUTE!  So I grabbed it out of my trash and thought, I can use this.  I made this for my granddaughter - just a little something extra for her 6th birthday.

I cleaned it out and removed the labels.  (Goo Gone works amazing!). Then I bought some candy at our grocery store.  Filled the container, added a ribbon and some embellishments and viola!

Here's a photo of the container with the candy.

Side View:

Top View:

Super cute, right?!

Please join the newest challenge on the Decorate to Celebrate challenge site.  We prefer "Anything but Cards" on this challenge site.  Decorate to Celebrate

Simply Charmed Cricut Cartridge (I found this on the clearance rack at Joanne's for $10 --- SCORE!)
Base Patterned Paper is American Crafts
Other Papers are scraps from my scrap pile
Label Punch from SU!