Catch the Bug's Christmas in July...Day 1

Welcome to our 10th annual Christmas in July! Our theme this year is Santa's Workshop; we have a full week of fun challenges so buckle up for some fun! Did I mention there will be prizes?

Before I proceed with the challenge details, I would like to honor our late Design Team member Julie. Julie was a fixture on the team since 2011 and we will miss both her and her creations. Here is a link to her blog.

Here is our inspiration photo for today's challenge:

I went with Reindeer Christmas Goodies today; you can color the reindeer like a "regular reindeer" or you can color him like Rudolph! (We have always loved Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer at our house!) I wonder what is in the present and stocking full of goodies created in Santa's workshop? He is colored with pencils an I added some glitter to the string of lights on his antlers and some glittery snowflakes for embellishing.

Image: Bugaboo "Reindeer Christmas Goodies" Digital Image
Ink: Printer
Paper: G.P. 110 CS, PTI Stamper's Select CS, PTI Pure Poppy CS, Doodlebug Patterned Paper, Doodlebug Sugar-Coated CS
Extras: Prismas/Crayolas/Goo Gone, Art Glitter in Angel Dust, Lawn Fawn Dies (rectangle frames), Art Impressions Dies (snowflakes), Lil' Inker Designs Die (heart), Foam Tape

Please check out the rest of the DT's creations for today at Catch the Bug! We would love to have you play along; remember Bugaboo images are not required for any of our challenges, however we would love to see what you do with Bugaboo! Our only request is that you follow the daily theme when you create. Check out the challenge details here. Please leave me a comment on today's post if you enter today's challenge, I want to check out your creation!

Here's a link to Jodie's Bugaboo Shop; now is the time to stock up on her adorable images. There really is something for everyone!

Challenges entered:

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge: Sketch #377

Colour Crazy Craft Challenge: Week 28 Anything Coloring Goes
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge: #564 Christmas or Humourous
Creatalicious Challenge: #191 Anything Goes w/ 3 of a Kind (snowflakes)
Christmas Craft Creations: Christmas Characters
Cutie Pie Challenge: #149 Cute
Festive Friday: Inspiration Challenge #FF00063 (heart, pink, green, sparkle, die cuts)

My Time to Craft: #436 Christmas in July
Shopping Our Stash: #424 Christmas in July

Thank you for stopping by!

Angela

Happy Easter

Good Morning! Happy Easter to my Christian followers! Easter sure crept up on me this year. As a nurse I am considered an essential employee, so with social distancing I go to work and venture out to the grocery store about once every 1-2 weeks. I make big Easter baskets for my kids every year, even though they are 19 and 21; they are light on the candy and I would fill them with fun items the kids like...books, video games, clothing, coffee pods, gift certificates, etc. Designing them is always such fun for me, but his year they are getting a deposit in their bank accounts!

Speaking of social distancing, I urge you to comply! It benefits you, your family, your friends, and health care workers. I know some do not understand the importance of this and think "It won't happen to me." but it can and you can spread it to your loved ones. The U.S. now has the highest number of COVID-19 related deaths in the world! Even more scary, it has not peaked here in the U.S.! As a RN working front and center during this pandemic, please stay home!

Those cute teeth made me pick this image as I was looking through all of Jodie's cute Easter images. Seriously though...those teeth! Love them! This bunny is colored with pencils and I've accented the eggs with glitter. The paper has been in my stash a long time; if you look closely you will see that it has a gold shimmer...it is so pretty in real life! Also, the paper I've used for matting is purple, not black...it did not photograph well...darn it! This is so pretty in real life! Here is a close-up:

Image: Bugaboo "Rabbit Eggs" Digital Image
Sentiment: MFT PI One of My Favorite Peeps
Ink: Printer, Palette Noir Black
Paper: G.P. 110 CS, SU! CS, Reminisce Patterned Paper
Extras: Prismas/Crayolas/Goo Gone, Martha Stewart Glitter, Spellbinders Nestabilities, Lil' Inker Designs Die (heart), Foam Tape

Here is the fun sketch I am working with today; you have 2 weeks to play along, so give it a try!

Please check out the rest of the DT's creations here...they are sure to inspire you!

Challenges entered:

Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog: #248 Anything Goes + A Sentiment
Crafty Cardmakers: #254 Easter
Crafty Gals Corner: #206 Easter/Spring
Craft Rocket: #69 Furry Friends
Cut It Up: #197 Hopping Down the Bunny Trail
If You Give a Crafter a Cookie: #139

My Time To Craft: #429 Easter Cuties
Use Your Stuff: #395 Easter

Thank you for stopping by!

Angela

Happy St. Patrick's Day to Ewe

Good morning, it's Oldie But Goodie Thursday at Catch the Bug! Since St. Patrick's Day is quickly approaching, I decided to break out a bit of green (and pink, of course!). I colored up this cute little ewe with pencils and used the sketch from Try Stampin' On Tuesday. I've embellished with some die cuts and black enamel dots. Here's a close-up:

Image: Bugaboo Happy St. Patrick's Day to Ewe Digital Image
Ink: Printer
Paper: G.P. 110 CS, PTI New Leaf, Raspberry Fizz, and True Black CS, Reminisce Patterned Paper
Extras: Prismas/Crayolas/Goo Gone, Spellbinders Nestabilities, QuicKutz Die (shamrock), Lil' Inker Designs Die (heart), The Eyelet Outlet Jewels, Foam Tape

Please check out the rest of the DT's creation here, they are sure to inspire you!

Challenges entered:

Crafty Friends Challenge: #130 Animals/Birds
Cut It Up: Challenge #195 Green With Envy
My Time To Craft: #427 Barnyard Animals
Try Stampin' On Tuesday: #447 Sketch

 

Thank you for stopping by!

Angela

Day 2: Down on the Farm Birthday Bash

Good morning! Welcome to Day 2 of our week long Down on the Farm Birthday Bash! Today we have a Sketch Challenge for you, here it is:

I flipped the image panel and decided to go with white cardstock and textured vellum...it really puts the focus on the kitty. The image is colored with pencils and I've embellished simply with white brads. Here's a close-up:

Image: Bugaboo Digital Image
Sentiment: MFT Pure Innocence "Happy Birthday to You"
Ink: Printer, Palette Noir Black
Paper: G.P. 110 CS, PTI Stamper's Select CS, PTI Textured Vellum, Doodlebug Sugar Coated CS
Extras: Prismas/Crayolas/Goo Gone, Spare Parts Brads, Spellbinders Dies, Lil' Inker Designs Die, Foam Tape

Please check out the rest of the DT's creations here, along with the challenge details. Check out the entire week's challenges here. We do hope you will play along...there are prizes to be won! Remember, this is a birthday bash so projects must be birthday themed. Bugaboo images are not required, but we would love to see them featured. Here's a link to the store, Jodie has a huge selection of images perfect for the occasion.

Challenges entered:

2 Crafty Critter Crazies: January Challenge (must have a critter)
Crafty Catz: #488 Anything Goes (optional twist-animals)
Fab 'n' Funky: #463 No Designer Paper
Simply Create Too: #156 Monochromatic
Try it on Tuesday: What a Cutie/Make Someone Smile Today

Thank you for stopping by!

Angela

Holiday Critter Chaos 2019

Good morning! Welcome to Catch the Bug's annual Holiday Critter Chaos! Get ready for a week of fun, inspiration, and prizes...we do hope you will play along! To kick off the week we would like you to create a project using a Holiday Critter AND Snow

Here's what I have created for you:

Does that wee birdie count as a critter? Why yes, indeed she does! I love today's theme; here in the Midwest we have plenty of snow. (The last 2 snowfalls have been the light, fluffy stuff so it's easy to scoop; I'm very thankful for that!) I've pulled some snow themed papers from my stash and colored the image to coordinate. I've used sparkly die cut snowflakes for embellishing. Here's a close-up:

Image: Bugaboo "Snowman 004" Digital Image
Ink: Printer
Paper: G.P. 110 CS, PTI Stamper's Select CS, SU! Ruby Red CS, Imaginisce Patterned Paper, Doodlebug Sugar Coated CS
Extras: Prismas/Crayolas/Goo Gone

Please check out the rest of the DT's creations here, along with the challenge details here. Play along for chance to win awesome Bugaboo images from the shop!

Challenges entered:

Addicted to Stamps: #180 Cold and Frosty
Alphabet Challenge: "S is for Snow"
Always Fun Challenges: #140 Snowflakes
Crafting Happiness: #26 Winter
Cute Card Thursday: #612 Anything Goes
Through the Purple Haze: #162 Let it Snow

Thank you for stopping by!

Angela

Bugaboo Oldie But Goodie

Good morning! It's Thursday...Oldie But Goodie day at Catch the Bug. We are still having really nice weather here, so I wanted to sneak in one last summer image before I officially say "good-bye to the season. I went with Kidz Beach. Isn't she adorable? I've colored her with pencils to coordinate with the patterned papers. The sketch is from a past Sketch Saturday challenge and I've used some die cuts and enamel dots for embellishing. Here's a close-up:

Image: Bugaboo Kidz Beach Digital Image
Ink: Printer
Paper: G.P. 110 CS, PTI and SU! CS, Echo Park and Doodlebug Patterned Papers, Doodlebug Sugar Coated CS
Extras: Prismas/Crayolas/Goo Gone, Doodlebug Enamel Dots, Lil' Inker Designs Dies, Foam Tape

Please check out the rest of the DT's creations here..they are sure to inspire you!

Challenges entered:

2 Sisters on the Blog: #33 Something With the Letter "S" (sand, sun, sunglasses, swimsuit)
Crafty Calendar: Add Lots of Layers
International Art and Soul: #66 Layer it Up
Let's Craft and Create: #151 Put Some Extra Layers On
Try It On Tuesday: Boys/Girls/All Things Children

I had to share this picture of my "little helper" Wendel...he loves to be wherever the action is!

Thank you for stopping by!

Angela

Catch the Bug: Anything But a Card

Good morning...it's Monday so that means it's Anything But a Card at Catch the Bug! Since Christmas is just around the corner, I'm going with some gift packaging. I really love these gable boxes from Hobby Lobby. They are easy to decorate, fill with paper shred, add a gift...voila'! Cute and easy peasy!

I've colored these adorable reindeer with pencils; I love how their eyes appear to be peeping at me! LOL I've added a band to the box, popped the image up with foam tape, and added some glittery star die cuts. Here's a close-up:

Image: Bugaboo Reindeer Trio Digital Image
Ink: Printer, Black Sharpie
Paper: Neenah CS, SU! CS, The Paper Studio Glitter CS
Extras: Prismas/Crayolas/Goo Gone, Lil' Inker Designs Dies, The Paper Studio Gabel Box, Foam tape

Please check out the rest of the DT's creations here...they are sure to inspire you!

Challenges entered:

Color Crazy Challenge: Week #34 Anything Coloring Goes
Cute Card Thursday: #597 Anything But a Card
Watercooler Wednesday: WWC#236 Heidi's "All About Occasions" Challenge

Thank you for stopping by!

Angela

Catch the Bug's Christmas in July: Make Us Laugh

Welcome back to Day 5 of Catch the Bug's annual Christmas in July! It's Wednesday,or Humor Me Wednesday as we like to call it at Catch the Bug, so our theme is "Make Us Laugh". Again, our theme is "The Best Christmas Movies Ever", so here are your inspiration movies for today's challenge:

Can anyone guess the movie I used for inspiration? National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation! This movie is a favorite of my family and my inspiration was Aunt Edna's cat! I'm pretty sure her name is Edna...can anyone confirm or deny that? The scene where her cat is in the Christmas tree is a hoot! I also believe there's cat food in her jello...ugh! LOL I've colored this little cutie with pencils and used an old sketch from the archives of Sketch Saturday. I was loving the plaid so much that I didn't want to cover it up, so I used a piece of vellum, adhered with mini brads, for one of the layers. Problem solved...a little extra oomph without covering the plaid. I'm curious, does anyone out there enjoy using brads anymore? I've always liked them. Here's a close-up:

Image: Bugaboo Christmas Cat Digital Image
Sentiment: Pink Cat Studio
Ink: Printer,Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper: Neenah CS, PTI Ripe Avocado and Pure Poppy, Simple Stories Patterned Paper, The Paper Studio Vellum
Extras: Prismas/Crayolas/Goo Gone, Spare Parts Brads, Spellbinders Nestabilities, Lil' Inker Designs Die (heart)

Please check out the rest of the DT's creations here, along with the challenge details here. Play along for the chance to win Bugaboo images from Jodie's online store!

Challenges entered:

2 Crafty Critter Crazies: #28 (must use a critter)
52 Christmas Card Throwdown: Non-Traditional Image
Crafty Animals: #28 Anything Goes
Shopping Our Stash: #400 Christmas in July (stash items: patterned paper, vellum, brads)
Show Us Your Pussycats: #44 Furrything Goes
The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up: #55 Optional Twist...Plaids
The Crafters Cafe Challenge Blog: #223 Animal And/Or ATC

Thank you for stopping by!

Angela

Catch the Bug's Annual Christmas in July: The Best Christmas Movies Ever

 

Welcome to Day 1 of Catch the Bug's annual Christmas in July! This year our theme is "The Best Christmas Movies Ever" and to kick off the festivities we have a Theme Challenge for you! The choices are The Santa Claus, Miracle on 34th Street, or A Charlie Brown Christmas:

I went with A Charlie Brown Christmas. I've watched this countless times over the years; first as a child, then with my children. I chose the image AKV Christmas Tree, which gives a nod to both the animation and Charlie Brown's simple Christmas tree.

I've colored the image with pencils and added a healthy dose of glitter. I like the vintage vibe of the paper paired with the crisp white card base and modern embellishments...a juxtaposition of old and new. Here's a close-up:

Image: Bugaboo AKV Christmas Tree Digital Image
Ink: Printer
Paper: Neenah CS, PTI Stamper's Select, New Leaf, and Pure Poppy CS, Simple Stories Patterned Paper
Extras: Prismas/Crayolas/Goo Gone, Art Glitter in Angel Dust, Doodlebug Sprinkles in Limeade Glitter, Lil' Inker Designs Die (heart), Spellbinders Nestabilities (circle), Foam Tape

Please check out the rest of the DT's creations here, along with the challenge details here. Play along for the chance to win Bugaboo images from Jodie's online store!

Challenges entered:

ABC Christmas Challenge: N=No Peeking or O= Ornament
Colour Crazy Challenge: #28 Anything Goes With Coloring
Crafty Calendar: Christmas in July
Crafty Gals Corner: #196 Christmas in July
Modsquad Challenge Blog: Christmas in July
Shopping Our Stash: #400 Christmas in July
The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge: #52 Anything Christmas Goes
Try Stampin' on Tuesday: #416 Sketch, plus Optional Theme: Christmas in July

Note: The color palette for Friday's challenge inspired my paper choice for this week's cards. I thought immediately of a Simple Stories 6x6 paper pad in my stash and decided to use it all week. I thought it would be fun to use the same color palette but vary the style of both the images and the cards. A bit of a challenge within a challenge!

This paper is perfect for Friday's color palette!

My color palette for the week of challenges.

Wendel approves! LOL He just had to get in on the action!

Thank you for stopping by!

Angela

Freebie Friday

Good morning! It's Freebie Friday at Catch the Bug and this sassy Ruby image is up for grabs! I don't know about you, but I think she's got it going on!  LOL

I've colored Ruby with pencils to coordinate with the patterned paper, and the sketch is from Try Stampin' On Tuesday (I did flip the elements to better suit the image). I like how this one turned out; I can think of a few friends that this would be appropriate for too! Here's a close-up:

Image: Bugaboo Ruby Tidbits-Attitude Digital Image
Ink: Printer
Paper: Neenah CS, PTI CS, SU! CS, My Mind's Eye CS
Extras: Prismas/Crayolas/Goo Gone, Lil' Inker Designs Die, Spellbinders Nestabilities, Foam Tape

Please check out the rest of the DT's creations here; grab your free image here. Check out all the great Ruby images here...they are a hoot!

Challenges entered:

Alphabet Challenge Blog: "H" is for Hats and Handbags
Cutie Pie Challenge: #137 Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
Through the Craft Room Door: Anything Goes
Try Stampin' on Tuesday: #415 Sketch

Thank you for stopping by!

Angela

New Release Tuesday

It's New Release Tuesday at Catch the Bug and this little cutie is up for grabs! I've colored her to coordinate with the patterned papers and used an old sketch from Sketch Saturday. Here's a close-up:

Image: Bugaboo Digital Image
Ink: Printer
Paper: G.P. 110 CS, SU! CS, Echo Park Patterned Paper
Extras: Prismas/Crayolas/Goo Gone, Lil' Inker Designs Die, Foam Tape

Please check out the rest of the DT's creations here and grab your free image here.

Challenges entered:

Craft Rocket Challenge: #60 Summer is Coming
Paper Craft Crew: #342 Tic-Tac-Toe

Sketch Saturday: #570 (Use any sketch from the archive. I chose #322.)

Thank you for stopping by!

Angela

Humor Me Wednesday

Good morning...it's Humor Me Wednesday at Catch the Bug! Humor Me Holidays for the week of June 9-15 are:

June 9: Children's Sunday/Toy Industry Day
June 10: Iced Tea Day
June 11: Corn on the Cob Day/National Making Life Beautiful Day
June 12: Loving Day/Peanut Butter Cookie Day
June 14: International Bath Day
June 15: Mermaid Day/Flip Flop Day

I'm going with Loving Day; I've had this adorable monster printed (and just waiting to be colored) and I thought he was perfect for today! I've colored him with pencils and added both some subtle glitter and a healthy dose of the super sparkly stuff too. The sketch is from Try Stampin' -Or Not- On Tuesday. Here's a close-up:

Image: Bugaboo Heart Monster Digital Image
Ink: Printer
Paper: Neenah CS, SU! CS, The Paper Studio Patterned Paper
Extras: Prismas/Crayolas/Goo Gone, Martha Stewart Crystal Fine Glitter, Art Glitter in "Angel Dust", Lil' Inker Designs Die, Foam Tape

Please head over to Catch the Bug to check out the rest of the DT's creations...they are sure to inspire you and put a smile on your face.

Challenges entered:

2 Sisters on the Blog: #28 Things with Wings
Allsorts Challenge: #523 Fantasy World
Try Stampin' - Or Not - On Tuesday: #411 Sketch

Thank you for stopping by!

Angela

Stella Says Sketch #711

Good morning! It's Sunday so we have a fun sketch to share with you. As a reminder, beginning in May through August, we will have only 1 Stella Sketch each month due to the summer season. Are you ready? Here it is:

It's a great one, right? I do love a good sketch! I used one of Jodie's adorable chicks today; she's colored with pencils and accented with a touch of glitter. I was unsure at first how the patterned paper would look because of the larger scale, but I think the colors are subtle enough that it works. I do love the pretty pastels! I have embellished simply with 3 enamel dots. I realized as I was uploading that I forgot my signature heart! I even layed the die out on my work space. I must be getting old! Here's a close-up:

Image: Bugaboo Digital Image
Ink: Printer
Paper: Neenah CS, PTI CS, Echo Park Patterned Paper
Extras: Prismas/Goo Gone, Doodlebug Enamel Dots, Martha Stewart Glitter, Spellbinders Nestabilities, Foam Tape

Please check out the rest of the DT's creations and challenge details here, at Catch the Bug, they are sure to inspire you. I would like to see your interpretation of the sketch, so if you create a card please leave a comment on this post so I can come and check it out.

Challenges entered:

2 Crafty Critter Crazies: #27 Feature a Critter
2 Sisters on the Blog: #28 Things With Wings
Moo-Mania and More: #192 Things With Wings

Thank you for stopping by!

Angela