DS File by GJ now available for Witche's Shoe Card Previously Posted

Hello.  Just a quick note to let you know that I was contacted by GJ on the Cricut MB asking if it was okay for her to remake the Witch's shoe card that I had made as .svg and .scut files and previously posted.  I said sure, I would love for her to do that for our DS using friends.  So she did and has kindly agreed to let me post it here on my blog for those who wish to download it.  Both GJ and I have cut the file and it works great.  Here is a picture of GJ's card.

You can follow this link to see my original post and to find GJ's DS .cut file that she has kindly shared.  Thanks GJ!

http://meflickcricutandmore.blogspot.com/2009/08/happy-halloween-witchy-footwear-card.html

NOTE:  On GJ's card she has used the "hide contour feature".  Her first page with the card tells you what should be "hidden".  Make sure these are "hidden" before you go to cut the file.  You will probably have to "hide" them again in the file.  I did.  Nothing GJ did wrong - just one of those "bugs" in the software - a hidden contour doesn't always stay hidden!

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".

ProvoCraft Celebrates their 100th Cartridge Release

Hello.  Just a quick note to say Congratulations to ProvoCraft for their 100th Cricut Cartridge Release. Winter Woodland is their 100th cartridge! They are celebrating by giving away 100 cartridges over the next few weeks.  How exciting!  The good news for me (and PC) is that I have almost all of those 100 and am eagerly awaiting the next 100!  LOL  Of course, having purchased the original baby bug right after it was first released I have had over 3 1/2 years to amass my collection!!  LOL

To see all 100 of the cartridges presently available you can go to the Cricut Product page here:
http://www.cricut.com/shopping/productList.aspx?sc=2

What is your favorite?  I don't have one favorite - I love them all!!!

Halloween is "Brewing" - SCAL file

Here is an image of a witch brewing her potions in her caldrun.  You will need SCAL to IMPORT the .svg file  for cutting with your cricut or you can OPEN the .scut file directly with SCAL.  I used SCAL 1 to create the .scut file.

You can download the .svg file of the witch and caldrun here.  You can download the .scut file of the witch and caldrun here.

Note:  .svg and .scut files will not work with DS.  You must have SCAL 1 or 2 to work with these files.  Any size bug can be used to cut it out.

"Pencil Box" created with Design Studio, Plantin Schoolbook and Expression Machine

Okay, I admit it. I like to create "boxes". This "Pencil Box" was created after unloading some pencils from a box bottom. There was only the bottom, not a top. I thought, ooh - that would make a cute box and would be so easy to do! So, here it is. Due to its size, you will need the Expression Machine which is why I used the Plantin Schoolbook cartridge to create it. Even with the 12x12 mat, I had to alter the design from the orginal box a little. They had "extra" end flaps on the ends that folded back over for extra support. I have not marked or "ticked' the score lines, I think that is obvious. If you have problems with it, let me know.

It would make a great "pencil box", treat box, or simply a little rectangular gift box. You decide what to use it for. If you download the file and use it, please send me a picture(s) of what you did with it. I'll even post your pics to show off your work! I like seeing my work put into "action" by others! Of course, I think many of you are more like me, a "collector" of other people's .cut, .scut and .svg files for that "just in case" moment in the future. LOL - its okay to admit it - I have!! LOL

You can download the Pencil Box .cut file here.

Note that the file contains two pages for the "top" of the box. One Top page is a solid top, simply cut and assemble. The second Top page has an oval cut out so you can "see" into the box. Just choose which Box Top you want to use and cut 1. If you use the Oval cut out, the 3rd page has the oval enlarged to cut from transparency (or contrasting or coordinating paper) so that you can adhere it inside the box top easily. You could always find a different shape and replace the oval with one you like - the sky's the limit - or maybe that should be your designs on your cartridges are your only limits! LOL

Note: this file is a .cut file created with DS.  It will not work with SCAL.  It requires Plantin Schoolbook and the Expression. Thanks for stopping by!

Some Simple and Quick Birthday Cards

My DD and I made a lot of simple cards that we gave to my mother-in-law at Christmas for her to use to send out to friends and family. She recently mentioned that she needed "more" birthday ones as she had sent out the last one! LOL So, I went to work making some quick and simple cards. I used card bases that I had previously purchased. Some were plain white, others had a design already on the front that I "added" to. Here are a few samples of some of those cards.

The first card used a plain white base, cut a piece of "dotted paper" to fit and applied to the front of the card. Then added a cupcake cut from A Child's Year to it and used stickles on the cupcake and around the edge of the dotted paper. Inside it says "Happy Birthday Cupcake."

The second card also used a plain white base, cut a piece of paper with different types of ice cream (including a popcicle on it, used a marker to "outline" the edges (Be careful when you do this - I used one that "bled" through to the inside top of the card and so I then used an inside liner paper to cover that up!). The popcicle cut was cut from the Doodlecharms cartridge (I think!). I added some marker around its edges and some stickles to it. The small blue oval was cut out for the "saying" I wanted on the front which is "how old would you be if you didn't know how old you were." I lked that as most of us remember having popcicles as children. Inside it simply says Happy Birthday.

The third card had "birthday" grettings all over the front of the card already. So, I simply added the silhouette cut of 3 children playing together from A Child's Year cartridge to the front of the card and inside again used the stamp that said "how old would you be if you didn't know how old you were."

3 simple but quick birthday cards. Hope someone likes them! I do these "simple" because I figure they are "looked at" and then tossed so I don't put a lot of work into them!

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!