Monday, December 8, 2014

CRICUT: Resizing the Nativity pop up card from DigiPlayground

Just updating this post as the DigiPlayground shop has closed. However Samantha now sells her designs through the Silhouette Store.   In case you missed the announcement, the Silhouette store now sells SVG's!

You'll find this design here: https://www.silhouettedesignstore.com/view-shape/35007

Make sure you click the checkbox next to Purchase SVG Bundle.  Otherwise you'll be purchasing the Silhouette file which isn't compatible with the Cricut.

Now that the file is available from the Silhouette store I'm not sure whether this info is still relevant. But just in case here's some info on resizing the pop up card. 

Keep in mind that these instructions were written for an older version of Cricut Design Space so the screens will have changed. The steps are basically the same though.




First make sure you are using the correct version of the card. DigiPlayground have recently started releasing special Design Space compatible SVG's. They will be included in your download.

Not all of their designs have been converted yet, but luckily the one above has!

Once downloaded and extracted the file that you'll be looking for will be in its own directory called Design Space SVG. There are two versions of this card... a detailed version and a simplified version. The only difference I can see between the two files is that the detailed version has a handle on the shepherd's crook. Maybe there are less nodes in the simplified version... If that's the case it will probably cut faster than the detailed version.




You can tell the file has been converted for Design Space by the DS in the file name.

You'll also notice that the file name has the width you need to set in Design Space so the card is sized correctly. In this case we need to set the size at 11.7445. (That figure will be automatically rounded up to 11.75 by Design Space).

If you are using the default measurements:

1. Upload the image to the canvas

2. Select the image and set the size in the Width in the Edit box to 11.7445. The height will be set proportionately provided you don't click the lock icon.

Unfortunately setting the size to 11.7445" will result in this message when you click Go.



That's because the Explore (all Cricuts actually) can only cut up to 11.5" x 11.5" (using a 12x12 mat).

3. Go back and change the width measurement to 11.5"

This will give you an almost square finished card of approx 5.75" x 5.8"

If you wish to make a smaller square card just change the width measurement. Example, if you want a 5" x 5"(ish) card change the width to 10". (The width measurement will always be double the height measurement when making a square card).

Don't forget to attach the score lines otherwise they'll be placed on a separate mat.

4.  Click the Select All button then click the Attach button.  The score lines will be attached and at this size everything will cut out on one mat.




But hang on!! You don't want everything the same colour, right?

Well, you have two choices. You can place your two different colours of cardstock on the mat... but judging where to place them can be difficult... or... you can place them on separate mats...

5. Click the X button in the top right corner of the Mat Preview screen to go back to the Canvas, and with the image selected click the Detach button in the Layers box.

6. Drag your mouse around the top half of the card to select it and the score lines.



(Or you can click the two top layers in the layers box.)


7. Click Attach

Repeat for the bottom section...

8. Select the bottom part of the card (including the score lines) and click Attach.



Now, each section of the card will cut on its own mat.




But what if you want to cut this as a rectangular card?

There's just a few extra steps you need to do to achieve that.

Let's go back to the beginning and import the SVG onto the Canvas.

Then...

1. Select the image and click Ungroup from the bottom of the Layers box.

2. Select the top half of the card (including the score lines) and click Attach.

3. Select the bottom half of the card (including the scoring lines) and click Attach.

4. Move the nativity part of card on top of the Peace on Earth part so that it sits inside its boundaries. (I've changed the colour of the Peace on Earth layer to dark blue so it's easier to see.)



5. Select both by dragging your mouse around the images or use Select All

6. In the Edit box unlock the proportions by clicking on the lock then change the size to W10.00" by H7.00".


You'll notice two things. First everything has had a growth spurt. And when you click off the image then click back on it the size will have changed slightly.



I have no idea why that always happens. Sometimes it's because the score lines are slightly longer than the card they are attached to but that doesn't seem to be the case here. Luckily the difference in size isn't enough to worry about.

7. Your card is now ready to be cut!

For a 4x6 card you would set your Width to 8" and the Height to 6"

Hope that helps!

Happy crafting!  ♥






Thursday, November 27, 2014

CRICUT: A very cool surprise!

At last! It's here!



                                                                         

A message for you from Cricut...

"Available NOW only on Cricut Design Space— exclusively for the Cricut Explore!



We are so excited about these images that we couldn’t wait for the official launch!  We had to Let it Go!


                                                                                     
Included are layered images, single layer images and drawn images.  Check it out now – Search “Frozen” in the All Images or Image Set search.

With the newest print then cut feature, you can simply print then cut these in just a few clicks.


Happy Thanksgiving

Ashish and your Cricut team"


So.... what are you waiting for? Head over to Design Space and take a look.

This cartridge is currently only available in Design Space as a Digital Cartridge and/or Digital Images.

Images are now available in Design Space and will be available in Physical Cartridge and Cricut Craft Room format in 2015.

Currently available for purchase ONLY in Design Space.




Happy crafting!  ♥





This website and its posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product using the link I may receive a small commission.

I only participate in affiliate programs for products that I use and love.

Using the link is totally optional. If you don't wish to purchase through the link, you can go directly to Cricut.com and purchase from their shop. Please note there is no price difference to you between using the affiliate link and purchasing direct from Cricut.com. :)

Any commission I receive is used to offset the costs of maintaining this website (domain fees etc) and file/photo storage fees for files that I share with my readers. 

I have affiliates with Cricut.com and InLinkz ♥


Wednesday, November 19, 2014

CRICUT: Replacing the pen holder in your Explore

We had a question about replacing a broken pen holder in the Explore at our Facebook group yesterday. The replacement didn't come with instructions and the poor lady unscrewed the A housing, then had a spring pop out... Luckily she got it back together and it's working fine.

So I quickly recorded this video to show what you need to do.

(You only need to do this if your pen holder breaks. Give PC customer service a call to get your replacement pen holder.)




Hope it helps.


Happy crafting!  ♥





This website and its posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product using the link I may receive a small commission.

I only participate in affiliate programs for products that I use and love.

Using the link is totally optional. If you don't wish to purchase through the link, you can go directly to Cricut.com and purchase from their shop. Please note there is no price difference to you between using the affiliate link and purchasing direct from Cricut.com. :)

Any commission I receive is used to offset the costs of maintaining this website (domain fees etc) and file/photo storage fees for files that I share with my readers. 

I have affiliates with Cricut.com and InLinkz ♥


Monday, November 17, 2014

CRICUT: A Gypsy update is available!

News just in..... PC have added some of the new cartridges to the Gypsy!

Here's the info from Cricut Jo Ann:

"Great news friends...

We have a new Gypsy update available with the following cartridges. 

Box It Up
Creative Everyday Card
Everyday Fonts
Home for the Holidays – Spring & Summer
Splendid Soiree
Soiree Lettering
Sophisticated Soiree
Summer Soirees
Simple Everyday Cards
Fancy Boxes
Indie Days
Potions and Spells
Close to My Heart – Artfully Sent

We are aware that Elegant Embellishments and Seasonal Soirees are not in this update as well as some of the more recent ones. We hope to have another update available sometime soon. Also, we have noticed that some of the cartridges are not showing up in alphabetical order so they might be a little harder to find. ☺"

In case you've forgotten how to do the update.... Power on your Gypsy, connect it to your Computer and open up Cricut Sync. It will check for updates then tell you that the Digital content rights have been updated.



Click OK to proceed



It's best to un-check the Imagine Application/Content options. You can do those later if necessary.

Click Update Now. The Install file and Data File will be downloaded. (Mine took about two minutes).




Then the updates will be uploaded. (About another 30 seconds)



The content will be installed. (About 1:15 min)



When the update is complete your content version will be 0281








Happy crafting!  ♥





This website and its posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product using the link I may receive a small commission.

I only participate in affiliate programs for products that I use and love.

Using the link is totally optional. If you don't wish to purchase through the link, you can go directly to Cricut.com and purchase from their shop. Please note there is no price difference to you between using the affiliate link and purchasing direct from Cricut.com. :)

Any commission I receive is used to offset the costs of maintaining this website (domain fees etc) and file/photo storage fees for files that I share with my readers. 

I have affiliates with Cricut.com and InLinkz ♥


Thursday, November 13, 2014

CRICUT: Mystery box contest!

Head over to Cricut - The Official Page. Cricut.com are holding a contest where you can win a Cricut Explore!



Contest Prizes:

One Grand Prize Winner will receive an Ultimate Cricut Explore® machine bundle and a full year subscription to Cricut Design Space

Two Runner-Up Winners will receive a one year subscription to Cricut Design Space™ or Cricut Craft Room®

Three Honorable Mention Winners will receive a Cricut® Mystery Box for them and one for a friend.



Just click on the link below for more details! 

https://www.facebook.com/OfficialCricut/app_1389938784583783



Happy crafting!  ♥





This website and its posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product using the link I may receive a small commission.

I only participate in affiliate programs for products that I use and love.

Using the link is totally optional. If you don't wish to purchase through the link, you can go directly to Cricut.com and purchase from their shop. Please note there is no price difference to you between using the affiliate link and purchasing direct from Cricut.com. :)

Any commission I receive is used to offset the costs of maintaining this website (domain fees etc) and file/photo storage fees for files that I share with my readers. 

I have affiliates with Cricut.com and InLinkz ♥


CRICUT: Importing a JPG image into Design Space

Here's a quick tutorial on importing a JPG file into Design Space.

1. Log into your Design space account and at a new canvas click the Upload Image button



2. Click anywhere on the Basic Upload box



3. Click the Continue to Step 3 button



4. Click on the Browse button



5. Locate the file on your computer, select it and click Open



6. The image will appear in the preview screen. Click on one of the upload options then click the Continue to Step 2 button.

(This image is a very clean one with just one colour so the Simple Image upload works perfectly.)



7. Next you need to remove the white background from the image. Click on the Magic Wand tool then click on all of the white areas around the image. Make sure you also click inside each of the letters such as a, e, g to remove the background from there too.



Once you've done that your image will look like this.



This image is a screen shot from another program (possibly Silhouette Studio) and it has the dimension info around it. We need to remove that at well.

8. Click on the Eraser tool, left click on the screen and drag your mouse over the lines to erase them. You can change the size of the eraser if necessary.



When that's done the image looks like this.


9. Click the Continue to Step 3 button.

If you see any stray lines or marks on your image you can click the Back button to return to the previous screen.

10. Click in the check box marked 'Preserve original image within shape. Recommended for printing' to uncheck it.

You should only leave that box checked if you are going to be using Print then Cut with this image. If you're only going to be cutting this image unchecking that box automatically sets all the layers to Cut layers. 



11. When that box is unchecked the preview will look like this.

(You can still use the Back button to return to the previous screen if your image doesn't look just right...)



When you're happy with the design click the Save Image button

 The image appears in the list of Uploaded images. 


12. Click on your image to select it then click the Insert Images button.



The image appears on your mat ready for you to resize and cut!



Note... if there is a PNG version of your image available, you should use that instead. PNG's already have a transparent background which means you don't have to go to the trouble of removing it. ☺




Happy crafting!  ♥





This website and its posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product using the link I may receive a small commission.

I only participate in affiliate programs for products that I use and love.

Using the link is totally optional. If you don't wish to purchase through the link, you can go directly to Cricut.com and purchase from their shop. Please note there is no price difference to you between using the affiliate link and purchasing direct from Cricut.com. :)

Any commission I receive is used to offset the costs of maintaining this website (domain fees etc) and file/photo storage fees for files that I share with my readers. 

I have affiliates with Cricut.com and InLinkz ♥


Wednesday, November 12, 2014

CRICUT: November Mystery Box is up!

If you love the Cricut Mystery Boxes you'll be happy to know that the November box is up at Cricut.com. (Available to US and Canada only.)



The Mystery Box costs $29.99. Its contents are a mystery but according to the product details the box "includes cartridges and supplies to keep you crafting all season long. This month's mystery box is over a $120 value."

Here's the link to purchase yours. You can click either the affiliate link (which does pay yours truly a small commission) or if you prefer you can click the second link which takes you straight to Cricut.com. (There's no difference in the price in case you're wondering.) ☺


or 


And there's a special deal this month. If you buy two Mystery Boxes (in the same transaction) you'll save $10! The price for two is $49.99. The links for that are:


or


And don't forget to use FREESHIPNOV to get free shipping with no minimum purchase all November!


Happy crafting!  ♥





This website and its posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product using the link I may receive a small commission.

I only participate in affiliate programs for products that I use and love.

Using the link is totally optional. If you don't wish to purchase through the link, you can go directly to Cricut.com and purchase from their shop. Please note there is no price difference to you between using the affiliate link and purchasing direct from Cricut.com. :)

Any commission I receive is used to offset the costs of maintaining this website (domain fees etc) and file/photo storage fees for files that I share with my readers. 

I have affiliates with Cricut.com and InLinkz ♥


Monday, November 3, 2014

CRICUT: Full list of cartridges

I'm finally getting back to updating some of my lists! I've just uploaded the latest version of my full list of cartridges.

Click the image below to download the PDF.



Next on the list is my Fonts directory!



Happy crafting!  ♥





This website and its posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product using the link I may receive a small commission.

I only participate in affiliate programs for products that I use and love.

Using the link is totally optional. If you don't wish to purchase through the link, you can go directly to Cricut.com and purchase from their shop. Please note there is no price difference to you between using the affiliate link and purchasing direct from Cricut.com. :)

Any commission I receive is used to offset the costs of maintaining this website (domain fees etc) and file/photo storage fees for files that I share with my readers. 

I have affiliates with Cricut.com and InLinkz ♥


Saturday, November 1, 2014

CRICUT: Creating Swing cards in Design Space

This tutorial was originally published on the 1st November 2014. It has been updated to show the use of the new Insert Shapes tool and the Align tool. 

If you don't have a Cricut cartridge that has a swing card on it, it's easy to create your own using the slice feature.

In this tutorial I'll be showing you how to make a swing card that when folded measures 4.25" x 5.5".

Let's get started...

Select Insert Image and select a decorative shape to add to your canvas. I'm using the Note Card with the image number #M3F06D from the Cricut Craft Room Basics image set. This image is free to all Design Space users.



Click the Insert Shapes tool, then click on the score line and the square shape to add them to the canvas. Click anywhere on the canvas to close the Insert Shapes box.



Click on the Note card shape and from the bottom of the Layers panel, click Duplicate.



Move the duplicate off to the side as you'll need it later.

Select the square, then from the Edit box click the Keep Proportions (the lock) button to unlock it.

Resize the square to 6.75" width and 5.5" height. (Tip: Use the Tab button to move between the width and height boxes. The same applies to the X & Y boxes.)

Move the rectangle to the top left of the canvas (X 0.00" and Y 0.00")
(Why do I do this? It makes it easier to work out where the score marks need to go.)



To make the score lines more visible you can change the colour of the rectangle if necessary. Click on the square in the Layers box then select a colour.

Please note: As this tutorial has been updated since first posting, some of the shapes in the new screen shots will be a different colour. 



Click on the score line and move it to X 2.75" and Y 0.00"



With the score line still selected click Duplicate. Your score lines will go missing at this point. They are just hidden behind the rectangle.

Click on the rectangle then from the top toolbar click Arrange. Click Move to Back to move the rectangle behind the score lines.



Move the second score line to X 4.00" and Y 0.00"



Use Ctrl + click to select both score lines from the Layers box then click Duplicate.

Position them at the bottom of the rectangle and at X 2.75 and X 4.00. (Don't worry about the length of the score lines at this point as we'll change them after we have added our decorative shape.)



Select your decorative shape then click the Show button in the Layers box. The shadow will appear.



Select the shape and its shadow and resize the width to 4.2". Leave the Lock Proportions button locked unless you want to manually resize the height.

Note: The size of this shape cannot exceed the width of the finished card. In this case the finished width of the card is 4.25" which is why I'm making my shape 4:20" wide. 





Click Ungroup from the bottom of the Layers box.



Click on the top layer and change the width to 4.15".



Select both layers of this shape and click Align, Center.



With both layers of the decorative shape still selected click the Slice button at the top of the Layers panel.



Your image will change colour.



Move the top (black) layer of the image off to the side and delete it. You'll be left with just the frame of your image.



Next we need to centre this image on the rectangle.

From the Layers box use Ctrl + click to select the rectangle and the four score lines.

Click Group from the bottom of the Layers panel.



Move the rectangle away from the top left corner of the canvas then click Ungroup.



Select the sliced shape and move it over the rectangle. (Click Arrange, Move to Front if you can't see the shape.)



Select both the shape and rectangle. (Not the score lines.)


Click Align, Center.



Next we need to remove the centre section of the shape.

Add a square to your canvas using the Insert Shapes tool and move it over the rectangle.



Position the square so that it is vertically higher than the note card shape.

Drag your mouse around one of the left most score lines and take note of its X position from the Edit panel.



Click on the square and change its X position to the same as the score line.



Drag the bottom right handle and stretch the square so it's taller than the sliced out decorative shape.



From the Edit panel click on the Unlock button on the square and change the width to 1.25"




The new rectangle should now fit inside the two vertical score lines and extend above and below the decorative shape.



Select just the small rectangle and the decorative shape. (Select them using Ctrl+click in the Layers menu if you have trouble.)

Click Slice. The shape will change colour.



Drag the two pieces from the middle of the large rectangle over to the side. You can delete them as you won't be needing them again.

If you accidentally move the decorative shape click Undo and try again. (Click towards the top of the small rectangle.)



Select what's left of the decorative shape and the large rectangle and again click Slice. (Check your layers box to make sure just those two images are selected.)



Click inside the decorative shape and move it to the side and you're left with....



You can delete the sliced piece (the piece on the right in the image above) as you won't be needing it again.

Your score lines will probably have gone missing again. Just send the rectangle to the back again using the Arrange button.

Adjust the height and position of your score lines so the top ones touch the top of the decorative shape and the bottom ones touch the bottom of the shape.



Drag your mouse around the rectangle to select both it and the score lines and click Attach. (Or you can select them from the Layers panel.)



That's the base layer done... now we'll create the panels for the sides and centre of the card.

Click the Insert Shapes button and add a square to your canvas.

Turn off the lock in the Edit box and change the dimensions to width 2.63" and length 5.38"



Duplicate that rectangle twice.



Change the width of one of the rectangles to 1.13". (Unlock the proportions first by clicking on the lock.)



Place the two wider rectangles on the left and right sides of the card and the other rectangle in the middle section of the card. (I've change the colour of the large rectangle at this point to make it easier to align the other rectangles.)



Select the three new rectangles then click Align, Align Top.



Move the rectangles left and right so they have equal space between them. Use the X position in the Edit box if necessary to move them .01" to the left or right.

(Make sure your DS screen isn't zoomed at this point. It's a known bug that if your screen is zoomed and you change the number in the X or Y box it won't move the object to the correct position. You must have your zoom at 100%.)

Select all four rectangles then Align, Center Vertically



Select the remaining decorative shape from the Layers panel and click on the eye next to the shadow layer to show it.



Resize it to a width of 4.37". (Don't unlock the proportions.)



Select Ungroup from the Layers menu.

Move the top layer off to the side then move the shadow layer over the rectangles of your card base.



From the Layers box select the decorative shape and the large rectangle. (Not the three smaller rectangles. You may have to click on a blank section of the canvas first to get this to work.)



Select Align, Center. The decorative shape will now be perfectly centered over the rectangles.



Click anywhere on the canvas then click on the decorative shape and the left rectangle then click Slice from the Layers menu.



Click the decorative shape and the middle rectangle and click Slice.



Click the decorative shape and the right rectangle and click Slice.



Drag your mouse around the sliced shapes (start to the left of the large rectangle) to select them, move them to the side then delete them.

   



Select your remaining shape and resize it to a width of 4".



Click Duplicate from the Layers panel.



Use these two shapes on the front and back of the swing section of the card.

If you want panels for the back of the card select the three existing panels and duplicate them from the Layers panel.



And call it done!





Happy crafting!  ♥








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