For the Love Reading

I love reading and so does my son. This one is for him.
Love this digi image called Ronnie Reader which was released this Sunday
My son does sit exactly like this in the couch to read :)

The book is cut with a new spellbinder die I got recently and the 3 sentiment stamps are from paper trey ink All Booked up
I am going to enter this in some challenges. I am so loving them.
1) http://challenges4everybody.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/challenge-12-anything-goes.html
2) http://www.creativeinspirationspaint.blogspot.com/2013/01/ci-paint-inspired-by-anything-goes.html
3) http://robynsfetishchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/challenge-144-add-some-brads-and-ribbon.html
4) http://thesquirrelandthefox.blogspot.com/2013/01/challenge-36-something-new.html
5) http://dianamlarson.blogspot.com/2013/01/dlart-thankful-thursday-challenge-102.html
6) http://craftingwhenwecanchallenges.blogspot.com/2013/01/challenge-36-strawberries-and-cream-red.html
7) http://avenue613.blogspot.com/2013/01/challenge-4-anything-goescolor-twist.html
8) http://www.comeandgetitchallenges.blogspot.com/2013/01/play-with-ustic-tac-toe.html
9) http://herecometheboysblogchallenge.blogspot.com/2013/01/challenge-44-bingo-board.html
10) http://lovely-haenglar-only.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/challenge-61-ribbon-or-lace.html
11) http://outlawzchallenges.ning.com/page/january13-inlinkz

This card won in RobynFetishChallenge

J'Adore

This is one of the new release stamps on DS4J
Love it and so wanted to play with it.
Here is the card I made

I used DCWV Be Mine paper
The dies are Marianne Dies - decorative oval, The flourish is victorian flourish. The leaf is from cheery lynn. Using the victorian flourish for the first time. Had to use a shim and pass more than once for it to cut. But so worth it.

I am going to enter this in some challenges
1) http://dianamlarson.blogspot.com/2013/01/dlart-thankful-thursday-challenge-102.html
2) http://dutchdare-cardchallenges.blogspot.com/2013/01/201-winged-things-sweet-n-sassy.html
3) http://www.ladyanneschallenges.com/1/post/2013/01/friday-issentiment25th-january.html
4) http://deliciousdoodleschallenge.blogspot.com/2013/01/challenge-20-all-you-need-is-love.html
5) http://simplycreatetoo.blogspot.com/2013/01/challenge-29-anything-goes.html
6) http://craftyribbonschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/challenge-37.html
7) http://movingalongwiththetimes.blogspot.com/2013/01/bling-it-on.html
8) http://thatcraftplaceblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/new-year-new-goodies.html

Photography Background Decorations

Hello everyone! This is Java Jen from JAVA JEN CREATIONS, here for my very first time! So excited to be a part of this fantastic blog! Thank you, Pam, for the invitation!

Today, I chose to share with you some decorations that I made for my daughter to use on her photography background for Christmas pictures.  I was so pleased with how they turned out and they looked amazing in her pictures, if I do say so myself! :-) Here is a finished picture and then I will share details:

Cricut cartridges used:

Pretty Pennants

Art Deco

When It's Cold Outside

I decided to keep the colors neutral since, with Christmas pictures, the subjects clothing tends to be colorful! :-) 

Here are a few close-ups:

I backed the letters with gold foil paper. I love how it looks as it peeks through!

The detail of the snowflakes looks great on the black background! I used mini clothespins to hold the banner pieces on the twine.

When my daughter was done and took the backdrop down,  I hung the banner on our wall to display throughout the season! I plan on using it next year too, but I think I will add some extra color and decorations to it for some variety! 

Thanks for stopping by today and be sure to stop by my blog, JAVA JEN CREATIONS, on Thursday because I will be sharing this project with some actual pics that were taken using these decorations! 

Until next time, create something beautiful!

JAVA JEN

Anything Goes - DS4J Challenge #59

Hi

It's time for a DS4J challenge at http://digistamps4joy-sa.blogspot.com/

For this challenge

THEME : 'Anything Goes' - really, really - whatever takes your fancy! 

So just create any project with a digi image preferably from DS4J

Here's my card for the challenge

The digi image is  Star Keeper from DS4J.

Isn't she so pretty?

I colored her this time with..

wait for it..

wait for it..

Twinkling H2O's.and watercolor pencil. Yep no copics this time.

I love the h20's . they shine and glitter like glimmer mist but are in cake form so getting stronger slightly opaque effect is easy. They don't buckle the paper too much. So I added to give the wonderful glittery gold effect. Doesn't she sparkle?

I love cut fold and tuck. Spellbinder came up with it first and silhouette store also has some.

I used one from silhouette store as the card base so that I can get it big enough for the image to go in. I just duplicated the base flipped it and aligned and welded to form a card and then added the next inner layer as it is after folding and tucking. The pattern is also from store and I adjusted it so that it is pleasing in the star. The paper ribbon is also from store but I altered it made it like print and cut instead of cutting out the lattice.

Here is a close up of the tuck and fold

I am going to enter this card in some challenges

1) http://alteredalice.blogspot.com/2013/01/chapter-23-were-all-mad-here-so_7.html
2) http://challenges4everybody.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/challenge-12-anything-goes.html
3) http://www.creativeinspirationspaint.blogspot.com/2013/01/ci-paint-inspired-by-favorite-stamp.html
4) http://dreamvalleychallenges.blogspot.com/2013/01/challenge-49-girls-girls-girls.html
5) http://redcarpetstudiochallenge.blogspot.com/2013/01/rcs-20-sparkle.html

6) http://thesquirrelandthefox.blogspot.com/2013/01/challenge-35-anything-goes.html

Shadow Box

Hello Crafty Friends,
This is Sherri from Sherri's Crafty Place and this is my first post here at The Bugbytes, I am so excited to be here.....thank you so much Pam for inviting me.
I was so nervous to do my first project.....I didn't know what to do.....
I have been wanting to do a shadow box for so long.....and my puppy Lola just turned 1....so what a great time to do one....here is a quick peak at the finished project...

Using my Gypsy, I designed this paw print photo mat to display photos of her over this first year......this is why I love my Gypsy...I do not own a cartridge that has a paw print on it....so I created my own.....using a 10 x 10 square as my frame on layer one, On layer 2 I found a paw print I liked on CM This and That Cartridge,and here comes the fun part...finding shapes to match the CM paw print....the ovals are from Plantin Schoolbook bigger part of the paw is from B is For Boys....it is the nose of one of the animals.... the bone is from Create a Critter and the word Lola is the font is from Close To My Heart-Artiste (love this cart!!!)

 this pink paper has the cutest damask embossing on it, it is from Michaels by American Craft.....I cut it down to 10 x 10 and placed it in the centre of my mat

 I also picked up this shadow box at Michaels for half price

 using this cute puppy paper, some of the bones are pink, I am not sure if I like this paper so I have not attached my project to it yet.....

 here is the pink paper after being cut, and weeded

 I added a black mat to the pink....it is 10.5 x 10.5

 now time to add pictures of my little cutie....Lola. the top left is the day I brought her home 8 weeks old.....next she is 4 months old, the next pic she is 6 months, then 8 months....and the final picture, the big one she is a year old....

 I added some brads and a little heart and at the bottom is her first little bling bling collar....it needs more bling....I am not sure if I am done with this project.....I think I need to pull out my I-Rock........

Thank you so much for stopping by today, and a big thank you to Pam for letting me share my project with you today....
❀Sherri❀

Valentine's Day Candle and Card

Hello everyone. It's Danita from Danitas Designs.  My project this month is something I have always wanted to try my hand at.........designing my own candle with tissue paper. What better time to try it than now, right? It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be.

I used a 5 inch candle, parchment paper, Jolee's Artisan paper(optional) White Tissue Paper, my Cricut Imagine and my heat gun

First I cut  9 x 2 inch strip of the Artisan paper,wrapped it around the candle held it with a straight pin.  Then I cut a piece of tissue paper about 10 inches wide and 5.5 inches high and smooth it out on my Cricut Imagine mat. Make sure your mat it not too tacky or you tissue paper will tear when you try to lift it. 

I used the Cricut Imagine Cartridge "All Wrapped Up" for both the candle and the card. I laid out my sentiments and graphic for 9 inches which is the diameter of the candle. I designed and printed it in Cricut Craft Room (no cut) and then cut it out by hand. You will want to leave about .50 inch ridge around the image. This will melt into the candle.

 

Next you will wrap your image around the candle. Put a drop of clear drying glue to hold it together, then cut a strip of parchment paper, enough to go completely around the candle. Take you heat gun and began to blow in a circular motion around the candle. You will see the tissue start to melt into the candle. Do not blow in spot too long.  The Artisan paper will also adhere to candle under the heat.

 

               

Back of candle

Decorate the candle with flowers, rhinestones, butterflies, ribbon & etc..

The card was also done with the same cartridge with added embellishments.  The wings are from the Silhouette America Store and cut with my Cameo.

A tip when trying to export silhouette file

When trying to export silhouette files to make svg's using other programs like Adobe illustrator or inkscape you can print as pdf file (using free program like cute pdf or your adobe pdf creator). But before exporting you have to change the line size to more than 0. Else you will get a blank pdf. So go ahead and ctrl A (selects everything) and then change the line size to more than ) like 0.25 then print to pdf. Import the pdf and work on it.
And remember only what is inside the mat area will save. Anything outside won't so you have to move it into mat area or make another file if it all won't fit and then save that too.
 Hope this helps.

The Soul Knows . . .

Hello everyone!  I have been gone for some time and I have to apologize for that.  Technical difficulties and then scheduling difficulties, and well, here we are.  But, I have some really great cards to share with you today.

I used DCWV's new Blue Citrus stack and the sentiment is one that I saw here on Pinterest.  It's become my go-to place for inspiration.

Paper:  DCWV Blue Citrus
Silhouette:  Print & cut label and sentiment
Stamps:  Verve
Twine:  The Twinery
Bling:  My Stash

Thanks to Pam for allowing me to share this with you!

Room with a view

Played with a lovely image which releases on DS4J this Sunday.
I love landscapes and this one has a beautiful image of landscape from the window. Wish mine had such a lovely view. I of course colored with copics

And the inside just has this sentiment

I am thinking of entering the card in these challenges
1) http://guylousinimitability.blogspot.com/2013/01/i-see-dots-challenge.html
2) http://sweetnsassydigis.blogspot.com/2013/01/snsdc88-january-digi-release.html
3) http://simplycreatetoo.blogspot.com/2013/01/challenge-29-anything-goes.html
4) http://joyfulstamper.blogspot.com/2013/01/inspire-me-fridays-92-anything-goes.html
5) http://365cards.blogspot.com/2013/01/day-18-color-combo.html

Painted Foil Heart on Valentine Card

Hi everyone.
Linda here from TheTulipCollector. Today is my first assignment as a Designer for The Bugbytes. I spent a couple days at CHA and learned several techniques that I could incorporate in my crafting. Today, I am sharing something new to me. This multi dimensional card has many layers. The ATC started with Life's Journey ATC that I gave a very light coat of Gold and Fuschia and Pink. The star of the card...the heart is a Tim Holtz heart shape covered in regular tin foil. You crinkle it up and adhere it to the cardboard. Now I knew this because I have been covering that adorable Chocolate Kiss Die from MyCreativeTime. What I didn't know what that it could be painted and look awesome!! The paint is Viva Colour Croco Crackle Paint in Gold, Viva Colour Inka Gold in Gold, Lava Red, Love Struck Red. The heart is then randomly wrapped with Burlap String. Isn't it sparkly and pretty? It coordinated beautifully with some paper in my stash that had the same color hearts amongst the clouds. Thank you for sharing in my first assignment and come visit me often and I if you leave a comment...I will do the same for you!

Feel like a Martini? - Get Well Card

Hi Everyone.  Michelle here from Lady of Leisure Ink.  I thought this seemed like an appropriate time to make some 'get well' cards with all the coughs, colds and flu going around - I think that this image could definitely raise a smile.

How cute is this image?  It is from Whimsie Doodles and is called "Dog Martini".  As soon as I saw this image, it made me laugh out loud - brought back memories of my dog Harvey in this very same situation :(

The image is coloured with ProMarkers, and all the paper is from a kit called quite simply 'Dog' by Cloud 9 Design.

Thanks for stopping by today, and as always thank you Pam for having me here.

Michelle

We Three Trees

Hello and Happy 2013!!!  This is Lori from ScrappinMyStressAway with a 2 page layout for you today.

Each year I photograph our Christmas Trees and make sure to scrapbook them.  To say we love decorating for Christmas is an understatement!!  In addition to these three trees, I have one in the basement for the daycare and a white tree we did not put up this year.  That one holds my snowman ornament collection.

The gold tree was my mother's parents tree.  My mom was born in Chicago, Illinois and my grandfather was transferred to Omaha, Nebraska when my mom was a junior in high school.  Grandpa came to Omaha before Christmas to start working and Grandma and the kids stayed in Chicago until the house sold.  Grandpa saw this tree on display at Brandeis (a clothing store that eventually was bought out by Younkers) and had to have it.  They were sold out, so they sold him the display from the window and he took it on the train to Chicago with him.

My mom passed away in 1989.  When her parents (my grandparents) passed away in 2002, my Aunts were going to throw this tree away.  I jumped at the chance to take it home!  This tree has a rotating base, plays music (one song over and over) and has two large spotlights.  I don't use the spotlights because I prefer white lights on the tree.  This tree has such good memories of my childhood Christmas celebrations at my Grandparents house.

This was my original idea.  I saw a layout on facebook that used ornaments to create a Christmas tree and had some branches on the other side with a couple more ornaments.

When I cut out the ornaments, I really did not like them.  They were the wrong colors, too small - just looked wrong, so I went back to Gypsy and searched some more.

I found this tree in the Trim the Tree cartridge.  I sized it to 9 inches.

We Three Trees came from Winter Woodland (love this font) and sized the letters 1" and 2".

Here are they layers to the tree and letters.

 

I cut out the layers in two shades of green.  I wrapped crinkle ribbon around the shadow of the tree and pop-dotted the top layer on.

I wanted to add something on the right page below the photos of trees.  My original thought was to put some presents, but like the ornaments, the papers I had did not really look good on the layout.  The patterns were too busy.

I opted for a gold ornament border that I found on Winter Frolic.  It is a border option and I welded three of them together and sized them to 11" wide.

I adhered them below the photos.

This tag came on a candle that I received in a Christmas gift basket.  I was so excited to see it was a Santa's Key!!  I had to use it in a layout!!!

I borrowed a branch die cut from my good friend Jenny.  She cut out these branches for me and I adhered them under the tag.

I journaled on the mat about each tree and where we placed them.

I added red stickle dots to the top layer of the tree cut.

I cut two borders from Paper trimmings in red cardstock sized to 1".  I put the borders under the photo mats.

The left page showcases my Grandparents gold tinsel tree.

The right page showcases the entryway 12' tree and the live tree.

The layout all together.

Do you scrapbook your Christmas Trees?