Volleyball Window Cling and Volleyball .svg and .mtc files

Original Window Cling
Using DS and Sports Mania Cart

I had previously shared the window clings I had made with vinyl for My DD for Volleyball and my DS for football.  I originally made them and shared them more than a year ago.  Since I had the Sports Mania cartridge, I simply used the volleyball and football off of that cartridge and used Design Studio to add their names and the school name.  I have had inquires about them off and on since I first shared.

Recently, I had several new inquires looking for the Volleyball cut file from people who did not have either a Cricut and/or Design Studio or a Gypsy.  Since the volleyball I originally used was a copyrighted file from the Sports Mania cartridge, I couldn't use it to quickly make another file type to share with you. Several said they had searched for an .svg file to use but had not had any success.  I too searched for one and didn't find one so I have created two new and different files using two basic shapes, a circle and a ( ! 

"Full" Volleyball
.mtc or .svg file available

One file is a full volleyball with all the lines and the other file is a "cling" or "decal" with a "blank" area on the ball to add the child's name and/or number, school name, etc.  You would need to cut it in vinyl to adhere to your car window.

As a result, there are several different files and  formats available for download.  I originally didn't share my Design Studio .cut file as I thought it was simple to recreate. However, several people needed help with that as well. Therefore I am also now sharing my original volleyball file created in Design Studio (DS) using the Sports Mania Cartridge and Basecamp for the font and have also converted it to a .gypsy file for those without DS but with a Gypsy.  I have also created Make the Cut (.mtc) files and then exported those out to .svg files for people with SCAL and/or other software or cutters.  So hopefully, there is something here that you can use. LOL



Window Cling with Blank area
for personalization by you
.mtc or .svg file available



I hope that someone finds some use for these files.  As always, I appreciate any comments and especially those who take the file and actually do somethimg with it and then come back and let me know so I can come take a look! Those have been extremely rare but greatly appreciated!

You can see my original post showing the football and volleyball here.

Download the Design Studio (DS) Volleyball Decal .cut file using Sports Mania and Basecamp Cartridges. Replace my child's name and school name with your's or modify as you desire.  I used the Hide Contour feature to hide the lines not wanted on the ball.

Download the Gypsy Volleyball Decal .gypsy file using the Sports Mania and Basecamp Cartridges. Replace my child's name and school name with your's or modify as you desire.  I used the Hide Contour feature to hide the lines not wanted on the ball.

(Note: Basecamp was the font I used for my child's & school's name - you can use any font cart).

Download the full Volleyball Make the Cut (.mtc) file. This is a complete ball with all lines in the middle.

Download the full Volleyball .svg file. This is a complete ball with all lines in the middle.

Download the Volleyball Window Cling for Make the Cut (.mtc) file. This ball has lines missing in the middle to add your child's name, number and/or school or club name, etc.

Download the Volleyball Window Cling .svg file. This ball has lines missing in the middle to add your child's name, number, and/or school or club name, etc.

As always, leave me a comment if you have questions, problems or simply want to say Thanks!   Thanks for stopping by!

Treasures of the Sea

I have previously posted about getting patterns to cut from Scroll Saw magazines and websites that you can use to create cut files for use with your Cricut.  Obviously, to do this you would need to have a 3rd party software like Make the Cut (MTC) or Sure Cuts a Lot (SCAL). So I always take a quick look at scrollsaw magazines whenever I see them to see if there are patterns I would like to use with my Cricut. As a result, I quickly purchased a news stand copy of Issue 39, Summer 2010 ScrollSaw Woodworking & Crafts magazine when I saw these Treasures of the Sea items.  Interestingly, it wasn't until after I bought the magazine and had created the .mtc cut files that I actually read the full article and see where it notes that these patterns were orignally designed as paper cuttings and that many paper cutting patterns are easily cut on a scroll saw! LOL

The website for ScrollSaw Woodworking & Crafts magazine is http://www.scrollsawer.com/. This site has lots of information including various patterns you can download directly from their website. Many of them can easily be used to create and cut with paper on your electronic cutters.

The particular article that drew my attention in the Summer 2010 edition was entitled Treasures of the Sea. The article and the patterns used were created by Gloria Cosgrove (the actual cuts shown were done by Linda Heigerson.) Gloria and her daughter, Alison, specialize in "scherenschnitte" (paper cutting) patterns.  These patterns would have originally been designed to be cut by hand.  They have a mail-order business selling original art work and paper cutting patterns.  Their website can be found by visiting http://www.papercuttingsbyallison.com/. Be sure to check it out for some beautiful artwork that coud be made into files to cut with an electronic cutter like the Cricut and others using software like MTC or SCAL.

For these items, there were 6 patterns provided for different seashells and a sea horse in the magazine. I took the patterns and scanned them into my computer and used Make The Cut (MTC) to create cut files to cut with my Cricut.  As you can see, there is a lot of delicate detail in the cuts. However, they pulled in quite well into MTC.  I did end up pulling a couple of them over into Inkscape to do some node modifications in a few spots. They cut just fine with MTC and my Cricut.  I used the items I cut to make cards.  I think the cards could be used for a variety of needs such as sympathy, thanks, or any other need.  They could also be used to create home decor items like framed art (this is what they were in the scroll saw magazine for) or even vinyl on a wall or used on a scrapbook page. 

I really would love to share these files with you BUT unfortunately I don't think that I can! Since the patterns appear in the Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts magazine, it indicates that the copyright belongs to them.  The pattern pullout sheet then indicates that you can make up to 10 copies for personal use "for the buyer of the magazine".  However, I hope by posting them here for you to see, that you will also see that there are other places to look for patterns and ideas of items to cut with your Cricut and/or other electronic cutters.  In addition, scroll sawers may see a new way to get their patterns ready to adhere to their wood to cut with.  Thanks for stopping by!

Converting Different Types of CUT fils for use with the Cicut Machines

So you have a Cricut and you heard that you could use other software packages to cut more things with it then just those provided on a Cricut cartridge and you are wondering how you do that.  To get started, you might want to refer back to my post from April 25, 2009 entitled: What is a .cut file, a .scut file and a .svg file and what does it matter?  you can find it here:

http://meflickcricutandmore.blogspot.com/2009/04/what-is-cut-file-scut-file-and-svg-file.html

Now we need to add a couple of other file types into the mix that were not discussed in that post.  Since making that post, SCAL2 has come out as well as Make The Cut (MTC) and the Gypsy. The file extension for SCAL2 files are .scut2.  The file extension for MTC files is .mtc.  In addition, PC introduced a new handheld device called a Gypsy.  File extensions of files created with a Gypsy are .gypsy.

So depending on the software you choose to get, your cricut can cut out an image from a .cut file created with PC's Design Studio (if you have the cartridge that was used to create the file), a .scut or .scut2 file created with SCAL1 or SCAL2 (note SCAL2 can open a SCAL1 or SCAL2 file - SCAL or SCAL1 cannot open a SCAL2 file.  You know which version of SCAL was used to create the file by looking at the file extension.  A .scut file was created with SCAL(1) while an .scut2 file was created with SCAL2.  In addtion, your cricut can cut a .mtc file created with Make the Cut (version 1 or 2) or a .gypsy file created with a Gypsy.  However, you would have to have each of those packages to use any of those file formats. Each have pros and cons that I won't go into here.

BUT - if you can find a file in an .svg file format ( svg stands for "scaleable vector graphics") THEN you can IMPORT that .svg file into any of the SCAL versions (1 or 2) OR MTC versions (1 or 2) and then cut it with your Cricut.  HOWEVER, you CANNOT USE a .svg file with either the DS or Gypsy software from PC and you cannot use a DS .cut file or a .gypsy file with either version of SCAL or MTC.  You also cannot open a .mtc file from Make the Cut with any program other than MTC. (However, if you have MTC you can EXPORT your files into many different formats to share with others and/or user with other cuters beyond a Cricut!) MTC has also recently added a "beta test" in it to IMPORT SCAL .scut and .scut2 files into it (I have not tried it yet to see how it works). You can take a DS .cut file and convert it to a .gypsy file and/or take a .gypsy file and covert it to a DS .cut file. However, you must have a licensed version of the DS software to do this. You CANNOT directly open a DS .cut file or a .gypsy file with any other program.

So, in summary - to cut a DS .cut file or a .gypsy file you would need that software and the cartridge(s) used to create it.  If you have a purchased copy of DS -you can convert DS .cut fies to .gypsy files and .gypsy files to DS files..

To cut a .scut or .scut2 file you would need SCAL or SCAL2.  (SCAL2 will cut both; SCAL will only cut. scut).  You may be able to import these into MTC and cut with it. This feature is a beta test in MTC right now.

To cut a .mtc file you would need MTC version 1 or 2.  Again, MTC2 will cut both version 1 or 2 files - the original MTC will not open or cut a version 2 file.  If you have MTC, you can EXPORT .mtc files into many other formats to use with other packages and/or cutters beyond a Cricut.  (In addition, MTC has added other importing features to work with other options to get files into your program.  Please see the MTC official site for full details.)

A .svg file can be used with any version of SCAL or MTC.  However, it must be IMPORTED into the program rather than simply opened.

This is just the very basic information to help you start to understand the potential available with your Cricuts and software programs available to use with it.  I would recommend that you check out all the appropriate websites for each software program to get the most up-to-date information available regarding each.

One final cavet that I will point out.  PC says that use of other 3rd party software will void your warranty.  Your warranty on your machine is 1 year so if your 1 year is up, no problem.  I will also tell you however that none of the 3rd party software does anything to your cricut.  They simply talk to your cricut through the computer - the same way your computer talks to your printer.  I have been running 3rd party software with my cricuts since they (the 3rd party software) were first released and have never had a problem with my Cricuts not working properly.  My Cricuts are now 3 and 4 years old. However, I did want to make anyone aware of this in case you weren't!  It really shouldn' be an issue or a concern.

There are trial versions of MTC, SCAL, and DS available for you to download and try if you want to check each of these packages out.  Each website also has User Forums available for questions and help.  I would recommend that you download a trial of each to find the one that works best for you.

If you have never used any of these software packages with your cricut before, you may need to update your cricut firmware and/or drivers to get them to work properly.  Each site will give you information regarding how to do this.

Thanks for stopping by.  I have some new files to post shortly of "seashells" that I have cut with MTC.  I hope to get them up later today or tomorrow.

Sock Monkey and Banana now in SVG format

Okay.  Finally found a few minutes to make the conversion asked for on the Sock Monkey to an .svg format!  Sorry but I have DD doing traveling Club Volleyball (VB) team and DS doing traveling Club Basketball team so time is limited.  Plus our Spring Break is this week.  Anyway - finally figured out or remembered that you can right click in Make the Cut (MTC) and get it to EXPORT to an .svg file!  That was Easy!!  LOL

So, if you want the .svg files for either the Sock Monkey and/or the Banana files you can  download the Sock Monkey in .svg format here.  You can download the Banana in .svg format here.  If you have SCAL2, you can download the .scut2 file with both the Monkey and the Banana in one file here.  Let me see what you do with any of these files!  Thanks for stopping by!

Flying Witch Silhouette .svg file for SCAL

Yes, I am in "Halloween Mode"! Here is a Flying Witch file for use with SCAL.  As always, I am providing the .svg file as well as the .scut file.  Remember you IMPORT .svg files into SCAL and OPEN an .scut file with SCAL.  Neither .svg or .scut files will work with Design Studio (DS).  The .scut file was created with SCAL 1.

Please show me any projects that you create with this or any of my other files.  I like to see people are getting a use from them.

You can download the Flying Witch .svg file here.

You can download the Flying Witch .scut file here.

Pyramid Favor Box for SCAL Users

I found this instruction sheet for a Pyramid Favor Box at Jo-Ann's some time ago.    It notes that it is courtesy of Inkadinkado (I think because the project sheet has you stamping on your project after you have it cut out but before you put it together.) I finally got around to tracing the pattern off the back, scanned it in, pulled it into Inkscape and made an .svg pattern with it for use with SCAL.  I had to handtrace the original since it is printed lightly on the back with the written instructions over the top of it. (Hate when they do that - makes it hard to use!)

I usually use the red liner tape available at Walmart or any craft store to put my boxes and or bags together so that I know that they will "stay" together once I have put treats in them.

Special Notes: * the "sides" where you do the folds seem to be a little longer (taller) then the front and back sides (maybe it's just my folding). Once you fold them in and glue the "sides" to the front and back trim off any extra length by hand.  It's just a quick snip. *  Also, you'll need to "pinch in" the sides of the box to allow for the front closure flap to pull over the top correctly. * see the attached photo that shows you where to score and fold (basically you score on the triangle sides and the middle square). Click on picture to see it better and in larger size.

Here are two sample boxes that I made to try the pattern out. 

Notice in the last  picture posted here how I have "pinched" in the sides of the box to allow for the top flap to come over and down properly.

You can download the Pyramid Box .svg file here.

You can download the Pyramid Box .scut file here.

Remember, you IMPORT an .svg file into SCAL.  You OPEN a .scut file with SCAL.  Neither .svg nor .scut files can be used with Design Studio (DS). 

Thanks for looking.  As always, I'd love to see any projects that you create with this file.

Approximate finished size of the project is 3" x 3 1/2" x 1 1/2"

Dachshund Silhouette - (Weiner Dog) for SCAL

Seems like I am on a SCAL role.  LOL  I'm sorry to my DS only friends.  I'm not ignoring it but these images are just so much easier to recreate with my scanner, Inkscape and SCAL!  I wish it were as easy with DS and we had no need for SCAL but until that day comes, I will continue to use both.

Here is a silhouette of a dachshund.  My BIL and his wife have always owned dachshunds.  I wanted to be able to have a cut of one to use to make them a card or other things.  The .svg file will need to be IMPORTED into any version of SCAL.  The .scut file is one I created with SCAL 1.  You open it with SCAL.  Neither of these files can be used with DS.

Download the dachshund .svg file here.
Download the dachshund .scut file here.

Broken Picket Fence - SCAL

Here is a Broken Picket Fence file for use with your Cricut and SCAL.  I have created the .scut file using SCAL 1.  As always, this is easily done by scanning the image into my computer, importing it into Inkscape, doing a few simple steps and saving it as an .svg file.  You then IMPORT the .svg fle into any version of SCAL.  The .scut file is the file created after the image has been pulled into SCAL and saved.  You OPEN a .scut file with SCAL.  Note:  .svg and .scut files CANNOT be used with DS (Design Studio)

Note: I don't cover the steps of creating the .svg file in Inkscape here on my blog as there are several places with great tutorials on doing that and, as I've said before, I try not to reinvent the wheel.  This means that if I know something already exists out there in the online world as it relates to Cricuts, DS, SCAL and Inkscape I won't cover it myself.  That doesn't mean that sometimes you won't find something here that others have - it simply means that I was unaware of it already being done!  LOL

Download the Broken Picket Fence .svg file here.  Download the Broken Picket Fence .scut file here.

Treat Bag - SCAL file

I love magazines with patterns!  I had picked up the Sept/Oct 2009 edition of the Paper Crafts magazine.  It has several cute ideas in it for Halloween.  One idea was a "Haunted House Treat Box" designed by Daniela Dobson on page 44 of the magazine.   The pattern for the "Treat Bag" was available to download from their website, http://www.papercraftsmag.com/index.html. It is really just a simple little bag who's finished size is about 3 1/4" x 5 1/4" x 1 3/4".  The "Haunted House" part was just decorative paper added as a "wrap" to the bag.

I downloaded the pattern, scanned it into my computer, imported it into Inkscape and converted it into an .svg file to import into SCAL.  I have also created a .scut file with SCAL 1.  The .scut file is sized to approximately the same size as the bag in the magazine therefore it will require the Expression to cut it.

Here in my sample file I created, I added the witch brewing in her caldrun .svg file that was posted yesterday to the middle of the bag to cut out the image.  I then added a piece of acetate or clear plastic to the inside of the bag over the "hole" left by the witch cut out. This allows you to "see" into the bag.  I then used my MS drippy goo punch to punch out a strip that I added to the top of my bag.  I then cut a larger "wrap" to add to the bottom and stamped "Boo to You" and wrapped it around the bag.  I then added some stickles to the drippy goo and the "boo to you".

You can download the .svg "treat bag" file here.  You can download the .scut "treat bag" file here.  Note that this .scut file was created with SCAL 1.  It also has the witch brewing in her caldrun included on the bag to cut out.  If you don't want the witch to cut out, simply delete it from the file or replace it with a different object, a cupcake with a candle, ballons, a snowman, etc.  Anything that would fit your "theme".

Have fun and let me see what you create with the file.  The score lines are not marked.  Again, I think that they are "obvious" but if not, you can find the original pattern with the score marks online at Paper Crafts magazine's website listed above.  However, it is missing one scoreline on the bottom flap.  In addition, the way this pattern is layed out and cuts, you will need to hand cut a little more the two side "flaps" up to the score line to fold properly.  Please let me know if you have any questions or problems!  Thanks for "popping in".

Halloween Cards

Here are a couple of Halloween cards. Both of them used the A Child's Year cartridge to cut out the base and the "topper" (the orange piece with the border edge). On one, I used the Frankenstein head I created as an .svg file from a scroll saw pattern and the "Happy Halloween" is one of the $1 stamps. I added "wiggly" eyes. See Frankenstein post below for the .svg or .scut file for Frankenstein's head. Remember, you must have SCAL to use .svg files and you must IMPORT them into SCAL not OPEN. DS (Design Studio) cannot use .svg files or .scut files.

The First card says "Have a Mice Halloween" and has 3 House Mouse. The saying and all 3 Mice in Costume came from a set of clear stamps I found on clearance at HL! I used my Copic Markers to color them in. I wish I had "popped" them off the card with pop dots to add some dimension. These were just some simple cards that I did "playing" around with my new cartridge A Child's Year, the Frankenstein Head .svg file I created, some House Mouse stamps and my Copic Markers.

Remember, you can click on the photos to see a larger image!

Halloween - Frankenstein Head .svg file to share

Here is an .svg file of a Frankenstein head. This is one of the images that I found in the scroll saw magazine that I thought would make a cute cricut die cut! I again scanned the image into my computer from the "pattern" provided in the magazine and saved it in an appropriate format like .jpeg, .tiff, or gif. I then imported it into Inkscape and converted it into an .svg file and "broke apart" the different parts for cutting in different colors with the cricut.



Here on this sample I have added in the "whites" of the eyes with a white pen and drawn in the stitch line on his forehead and his mouth. You can Download the Frankenstein .svg file here. You can Download the Frankenstein .scut file for SCAL 1 here. You can Download the Frankenstein .scut file for SCAL 2 here.



Remember, you IMPORT an .svg file into SCAL. You simply open a .scut file in either SCAL 1 or SCAL 2 as created in. You cannot use an .svg file or .scut file with Design Studio (DS). I apologize to all my DS using friends but it is just so much easier to recreate an image in SCAL then in DS at this time! Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Halloween - Witchy Footwear Card for SCAL 2 OR NOW File for DS too!

Hello. We have 2 month until Halloween. "Witch" means its time to be making those Halloween cards!! I had purchased the Sept/Oct 2009 copy of PaperCrafting Magazine. It has several cute card ideas in it. One is a "Witchy Footwear Card" designed by Kim Hughes.

I liked the card but of course wanted to be able to cut out multiple of the cards with my Cricut. So, with the help of my scanner, computer, Inkscape and SCAL 2, I downloaded the pattern for the Witches Boot, created an .svg file with Inkscape and imported it into SCAL 2. Since the "card" requires a "front and back" to it and the pattern only had 1 side of 1 boot, I had to copy it and then flip it and then attempt to weld it. Well for some reason, I couldn't get SCAL or SCAL 2 to weld the two boots together!! Grrrrrr!!! I do know how to weld - it wasn't working!! Still haven't figured out why!!


Well - not to be thrawted by a computer and software, I simple cut 2 of the shapes out, taped them together in the correct position and rescanned it into my computer as 1 object! Then again, coverted it into an .svg file and IMPORTED it into SCAL 2! Success!!! There is more then one way to skin a cat you know!! LOL I used a $1 stamp from Studio G that says "Best Witches" inside the card.


I used SCAL 2 because I wanted 2 pages. The first page has the card base and the second page a "liner" for inside the card since I was cutting the base in black cardstock! I did try to open this .scut file in the first version of SCAL just to see what would happen - nothing happens - you just get a blank page. So, you will need to have SCAL 2 to open and cut this file. It also appears that there is nothing to distinguish the file names of files created in SCAL 1 and/or SCAL 2. Both types of files end in .scut alone. If I am wrong on this can someone let me know? Thanks! This may cause problems for some since SCAL 1 wouldn't open my SCAL 2 file. As a result, I will always try to remember to tell you which version of SCAL I have used. I may come back and add a SCAL 1 version but you really don't need me to, simply take the .svg file and IMPORT (not open) it into SCAL 1. Remember to IMPORT the Shoe CARD if you want the card base!


I thought about adding the "hole punches" for the ribbon "shoe lace" but didn't because I was also using a liner inside the card. That would be a nightmare to try and line up before you cut and put the card base and liner together. So, I didn't add those to the file. However, you could add them to the front base IF you were not going to use the liner inside the card.



You can download the single Witches Shoe .svg file here. You can download the Witches Shoe CARD .svg file here. Or you can download the Witches Shoe CARD .scut file for SCAL 2 here.

UPDATE: 9/11/09 - GJ from the Cricut MB contacted me and asked if I would mind if she attempted to create this card in DS for those Cricut users with DS but not SCAL.  I told her I'd be happy for her to do that.  I also told her she was a better woman then me to do so because I had taken the "easy way out" by doing this with SCAL to start with.  I love DS but I don't have the patience to do complicated things with it, especially without a "group all" feature and some other basic graphic features that it is missing.  Anyway . . .

GJ has created a DS .cut file of a similiar witch's shoe card for all our DS friends!  Thank you GJ for doing so and sharing it.  Since GJ does not yet have a blog she said she was willing for me to post it here on mine to share with all of you.  Here is a picture of her card she made: 

You can Download GJ's Witch's Shoe Card .cut file here.

Thanks GJ.  To see more of GJ's work you can go to the Cricut MB and check out her gallery there. 

gymnast on a beam - .svg file

Here is an image of a gymnast on a beam. I have always loved watching gymnastics. Then, for more then 6 years my DD and/or DS did competitive gymnastics. Sadly, they have both given it up for various reasons. I miss watching them compete but we have moved on to other sports! So, I know how hard gymnastics images are to come by and I hope to add some more gymnastics related die cuts soon.

This one is a simple shadow shape - no layering. I got the image from a scroll saw magazine! I have thought for a while that patterns used for scroll sawing could easily be converted and made into die cut images to cut with my Cricut. I was right! This image came from the Fall, 2009, Issue 36 of the "Scroll Saw Woodworkng & Crafts magazine". I simply scanned it into my computer using my all-in-one printer/scanner, saved it as a .gif, .jpeg, or .tiff image file and then imported it into Inkscape and with just a few keystrokes turned it into an .svg file for use with the SCAL software to cut with my Cricut!

There were also some Halloween patterns in this edition of the magazine. I have been working on one of those and have some more scanned in to work on. I hope to get one or more of those posted in the next few days. So, when looking for images to convert to .svg and import into SCAL don't forget those scroll saw patterns! (I also have lots of painting patterns that I think could easily be done! LOL Oh so many images and so little time!!)

Download the Gymnast on Beam .svg file here. Remember, you will have to IMPORT this file into SCAL. It will not work with Design Studio (DS).

Hello. Well, not a lot for me to share right now. Still haven't been able to get into the craft room. However, I hated not sharing anything in so long so thought I'd share another .svg file for those who have SCAL. It should come in handy with those of you who like to swim and dive in the summer time. You can download the swim mask , snorkel and flipper .svg file here. Stick with me! I hope to have more to share sooner then later! Thanks for stopping by!

More .svg Files to share - wine bottle, champagne glass, chocolate kiss, breast cancer ribbon and Statute of Liberty

Here are some .svg files to share with you. These cannot be used with Design Studio (DS) but may be IMPORTED into SCAL (Sure Cuts A Lot) and then cut with your Cricuts. Download the Champagne Glass. Download the Wine Bottle, Download the Chocolate Kiss, Download the Breast Cancer Ribbon, Download the Statute of Liberty. Note: The "size" of the objects here doesn't matter. You may easily resize any of these to any size that you can cut with your Cricuts. You are limited only by the size your machine will cut.

See Tammy's beautiful breast cancer hope card that she made with the breast cancer ribbon here:
http://ncscrapaddict.blogspot.com/2010/10/hope.html

Thanks for sharing Tammy.  Check out all of Tammy's beautiful work on her blog.

What is a .cut file, a .scut file and a .svg file and what does it matter?

I see a lot of confusion on the Cricut MB about .cut, .scut and .svg files and what they are used for. I will see if I can give a brief explanation that will help you understand. First, Provocraft (PC) created a software for use with your cricuts that is called Design Studio (DS). DS allows you to create new images/objects by using images/objects from those that are on PC's cricut cartridges that you purchase. You do this usually by joining them (welding them together to cut as one new object). You can not "draw" your own objects with DS. You can only use objects from the cartridges. It is also important to note here that you can DESIGN or CREATE objects with ANY cartridge that PC has out and that is loaded in your DS software (note: PC is slow to update the software so it is possible that a cartridge may be out for a little while before it is available for use in the DS software). HOWEVER, you can only CUT the designs you create IF you OWN (or can borrow from a friend) the cartridges used. When you create a file using the DS software and save it, it creates a file name with an extension of .cut. A .cut file can only be used with DS software. It cannot be used with SCAL (Sure Cuts a Lot). Sure Cuts A Lot (SCAL) software is not a PC product. It was created by Craft Edge to be used with your Cricut machines. You do not have to have DS software to use SCAL. However, you do need to have the most recent "firmware" version on your cricut to use SCAL, and in order to get your firmware updated, you must use the DS software to do that. However, you can download the trial version of DS from PC's Cricut website in order to update your firmware. SCAL was created so that you could use any true type fonts, dingbats and .svg files you might have on your computer to create objects to cut with your Cricut machines. SCAL DOES NOT allow you to use objects from the Cricut cartridges and it CANNOT use the .cut files created by the DS software. When you create a file in the SCAL software and save it, it creates a file name with an extension of .scut. A .scut file can only be used with the SCAL software. It cannot be used with the DS software. However, SCAL can also IMPORT a .svg file (scalable vector graphic). A .svg file is a file extension for some graphics programs. I am not sure what all graphics programs give you the ability to save as an .svg file. I use Inkscape which is a free program available on the Internet. I believe that Illustrator also allows you to save to a .svg file. With an .svg file, the objects are treated as a 2 dimensional "shape" and thus are more easily resized without any distortion of the image. Text is also treated as an "object" or "shape" when it is in a .svg file. Design Studio (DS) CANNOT import or use in any way a .svg file. However, SCAL (Sure Cuts A Lot) can IMPORT any .svg file that you can find or create! This means that you can "draw" your own images and cut them with your cricut. If I have a picture or object that I would like to create and cut out with my Cricut, then I simply get it into my computer in some way (draw it, download it from the internet, scan it into my computer) and then IMPORT the image into Inkscape and then with a few simple steps in Inkscape, I can have a .svg file to IMPORT into SCAL and cut with my Cricuts. For example, if you have a stamped image that you would like to create and cut out with your cricut; you can stamp the image, scan it into your computer as a .jpeg, .gif, .tiff or other graphics file, IMPORT that file into Inkscape, do a few steps in Inkscape to create the "parts" and "pieces" you need, and then save it as an .svg file. You then open SCAL and IMPORT that .svg file into it and then "cut" with your Cricut. So now your stamp collection can be used in more ways! The picture posted is an example of a stamped image that I used to make a "die cut" using this method and cut with my Cricut. Sorry, can't share the .scut file for this image. Just posted to show you what the end result looked like! So to recap: .cut files - created and used only with Design Studio (DS) .scut files - created and used only with Sure Cuts A Lot (SCAL) .svg files - created with a graphics program like Inkscape - can be used with SCAL by importing it; cannot be used with DS. You can scan an image in, draw it on your computer, or download it from the internet. Any file that you can get into your computer you can make into an .svg image with a little work. Hope this helps someone to better understand these file types and what they can be used with.

Bear - .svg or SCAL File

Here is a bear for use with SCAL. Download the Bear .svg file here. (Remember, .svg files have to be IMPORTED into SCAL. ) Or, you can download the Bear .scut file (this is the file after it has already been imported into SCAL and then saved. You would "open" a .scut file with SCAL.)

4-H Clover - .svg or .scut file

Hello. This is a quick file for use with SCAL and any size bug. I had downloaded it the other night thinking that I would convert it to an .svg file at some point. Then, someone on the MB was looking for one. I asked if she had SCAL. Haven't heard back but went ahead and did it since it took less then 5 minutes thanks to its simple graphics! If you just want the "clover" without the "H"s this file will work for you as the Hs are cut out separately. Download the 4-H Clover .svg file for use in a graphics package. Download the 4-H Clover .scut file for use with SCAL.

Rheba's Bunny - .svg or .scut File for SCAL

This is a bunny that Rheba brought to me and ask if I could recreate. The fastest way for me to do something like this is to use my scanner, Inkscape, and SCAL software as opposed to trying to figure out "shapes" to make it with in DS plus the other "issues" like inability to group objects, etc. So here is Rheba's bunny. He has a black "base" and then the white "parts". I left the face to be handrawn (or use some stamps from Peachy Keen!!) He came from a scrap piece of paper that Rheba had. Download Rheba's Bunny in .svg format here. Download Rheba's Bunny in .scut format here.

I will point out that I had trouble with SCAL "moving" pieces when I imported the .svg file which is why the parts seem to be "out of line". I tried and tried but it kept messing with the parts. It imports them in different places then the .svg file has them in! Anyone else had this problem? Know why? The way it is laid out, makes it difficult to get a "bigger" bunny unless you use a 12 x 12 mat. Couldn't figure out the issue! It imports and cuts fine.

Peeking Bunny - SCAL and any size Bug

I found this bunny at art4crafts.com. I scanned him into my computer and saved as a black and white .tiff file. I then imported into Inkscape (a graphics program) and converted it into a .svg file. I then took the .svg file and IMPORTED (not open) it into SCAL. Their are several "objects" to cut. The base, the pink ears and nose, the white head and paws, and the black eyes. The sample I'm posting the picture of does not use the "base" or the black eyes. I drew those in with a marker. I just did some quick facial features and marker on the sides for dimension so I could post it here for you all to see one put together. You can download the peeking bunny .svg file here. You can download the peeking bunny .scut file (for use with SCAL) here.