2009 SUPER Release Digital Stamp Sale

2009 SUPER Release Digital Stamp Sale...

All of the Sew Many Cards Images for $25 -
That's 174 images for one low price!

Sew Many Cards

Sign up for some great blog candy worth more than $50 HERE- This ends December 15, so hurry and sign up while you have time!

SMC Challenge: Create something with a Winter Theme- click HERE for directions and to enter

Sew Many Cards Design Team Call- Click HERE to see how you can be on the team..

Free Hershey image pack (Hershey and 3 other digital stamps) with a purchase of $10 or more only available at the Sew Many Cards store- click HERE to see what you get

Freebie Friday- you can get your free digital stamp sent directly to you every Friday in your email just by subscribing to the Sew Many Cards Newsletter.

Sign-up for the Sew Many Cards Newsletter

Okay, now on to business
First, at Paper Cutz Challenge, the challenge is to create something with snowflakes or a snowman- How much easier can it be.
Just post your name and a link to your creation in Mr Linky by midnight EST, Thursday, December 17th, and if you're the winner, your name will be entered in the drawing for the grand prize.

I used the sketch from Midnight Madness this week- make sure to go over and hurry too, they are in the middle of a Christmas blog hop and there are some great prizes!

For my card, I used Eris in a cup of Cocoa- I stitched snowflakes around the edge, put some liquid pearls on the mug along with liquid glaze- you can't see it too well in the pic though I even added some stickles to Eris in just a couple little places- again, not showing in the pic... The paper is from Cosmo Cricket and has such a great winter feel to it. The matte for the circles was cut with my cricut using Sure Cuts A lot. The brad is from Karen Foster and placed on top of the poinsettia that is on the Digital stamp.

Halloween Blog Hop

Starting October 30, 2009!

The Time is here!
Woo Hoo..... START HERE for the Halloween blog hop - If you arrived from Cheri's blog, you are on the right spot

I love Halloween! My entire family loves Halloween, but it is my husbands all time favorite holiday- probably because his birthday is at the beginning of the month. A couple years ago we had a big Halloween party, new home party and birthday all in one, but he had no idea about any of it. I decorated one of the spare rooms in a Halloween theme using that plastic wall paper. It was hard work, but so worth it. I also got a fog machine and set it up- found out real fast that they don't work so well inside: it set the smoke detectors off and that's when DH found out my secret. It was rather humorous, but ruined the big grand finale that I had planned.

I have a card all ready to share, but my camera decided to stop working, so I will have to post it later when I figure out what happened to it. It was either the puppy or the baby- either way, it could be a while LOL. This card will be here until I upload my new one. This image is from Sew Many Cards.

In the mean time, we will be having a drawing for some prizes. The first prize will be for $10 at Digital-Ink co. If you have never been there, be sure to stop by and see the digital images- there are eight stamp creators and they are all very different.

• Three entries for doing a project that is Halloween themed and linking to Mr. Linky, or commenting with the link if he is not working.
• One entry for a great Halloween story - true or not- put into the comments
• Two entries for a picture of you in a Halloween costume.

Make sure to check out the other Blogs in the line-up for fabulous prizes-

JUST IN CASE YA GET LOST ALONG THE WAY....Here's our lists of ghoulish creators!!

1. Sarabeth http://www.scraphappie.blogspot.com/
2. Beth http://www.stampinsanity.com/
3. Cheryl http://www.secondglantz.blogspot.com/
4. Alison http://www.alisonsrandomthoughts.blogspot.com/
5. Margie http://www.ohbumbleismemargie.blogspot.com/
6. Jeri http://www.craftyjsplace.blogspot.com/ (HERE)
7. Tonya (http://www.stamphappens.com/
8. Jennifer http://www.happy2scrap4life.blogspot.com/
9. Kristal http://www.yourgypsygirl.blogspot.com/
10. Michelle http://www.megbeedesigns.blogspot.com/
11. Mia http://www.miasmagicmojo.blogspot.com/
12. Trish http://www.chloecards.blogspot.com/
13. Emma http://www.mycreativetime.blogspot.com/
14. Cheri http://www.creationsdecheri.blogspot.com/
15. Angela http://www.designsos.blogspot.com/2009/10/halloween-blog-hop.html
16. Genevieve http://www.scrapmuscade.blogspot.com/
17. Sarabeth http://www.scraphappie.blogspot.com/

Win a $250 Shopping Spree at The Scrapping Cottage!

How would you like to win a $250 shopping spree at the Scrapping Cottage? That's right - the winner will get to choose $250 worth of products at The Scrapping Cottage!

They are trying to reach 500 followers- so go and make sure to follow for your chance to win :)

Sympathy Card

Sympathy cards are the hardest to make. This one is for someone DH works with. I used an embossed card that was 5.5 inches and then layered and matted several times. Sewed around the edge of some of the mats and cut the Fancy Tag using SCAL and my cricut. After I cut it out I printed the sentiment on it by making it on plane paper and then taping the tag over the top and re-printing. I added some pearls and ribbon.

Midnight Madness

I made this card for the Midnight Madness Challenge-

I used Dazzles from PaperWishes for the heart (layered heart) and the brads are also PW. The paper is gcd and I sprayed the white paper with a glimmer mist that I made with alcohol and Pearl x -- I sewed around the edges of the squares. Unfortunately, my computer crashed and I don't have my editing software, so the pics are not that great. Just wish the color would have come out better because I love how it turned out irl- You can see it in the pic, but there are small pears on the bottom left instead of using the real holes . Two more dazzles were added in the upper right corner too. Very disappointed in the photo though-

Scrapbox

My dream has been to own a scrapbox for a while now- I saw a picture in a magazine last year and have wanted one ever since- well, Midnight Madness is having a drawing and giving one away and I'm here to tell you about it.

Oh and since looking on the website, I have foud more things I like the ribbon box- and did I mention that it is only $19.99 - if you order from there Enter this code when you place your order to get $100 off your shipping: 100Writes

Here is a snapshot of what it is the scrapbox is:

The Work Box™ is every crafter’s dream. It’s a workspace and a storage solution that looks like a beautiful, high-end piece of furniture. There are drawers, nooks and spaces for all of your stuff!
On wheels, The Work Box is fully transportable. It folds up into a handsome box, hiding all of your supplies from sight. This system comes with a collapsible work table and adjustable shelves.
There are 85 removable canvas totes with label inserts that fold up for easy storage. There are also 20 removable clear zipper pouches in 3 sizes.
Choose either raised panel or beadboard door styles and black or vanilla colors to match your room decor.

Included Canvas Tote Sizes:
(3) 6"width x 12"length x 12"high(22) 12.25"width x 12.25"length x 3"high(10) 12.25"width x 12.25"length x 5.5"high(30) 3"width x 12"length x 3"high(20) 5.5"width x 12"length x 4.5"highTotal: 85

Included Clear Zipper Pouch Sizes:
(2) 13" x 13" Large (6) 13" x 6" Medium(12) 6" x 6" SmallTotal: 20

Clear Overlays

Inking or Stamping

Applying ink is a great way to add definition or color to an overlay. It is important, though to be careful of which ink you use. StazOn ink pads are best, since overlays are non-porous surfaces-the ink dries quickly without the chance for smudging.

Inking or Stamping
Applying ink is a great way to add definition or color to an overlay. It is important, though to be careful of which ink you use. StazOn ink pads are best, since overlays are non-porous surfaces-the ink dries quickly without the chance for smudging.

For all-over inking, place the overlay on a piece of scratch paper and turn the ink pad face down. Press the ink pad to the overlay, increasing pressure for more coverage, pressing lightly for less. You can also press a stippling brush to an ink pad, then to an overlay for a different look.

Coloring with Paper and Pens

Adding a touch of color to an overlay is also a simple and fun way to alter it. Select your overlay, then pick cardstock or paper that coordinates with the overlay and project. Cut the cardstock or paper to fit behind the entire overlay piece or just a select portion-behind a letter, border or image. Another super simple way to add a touch of color to your overlays is with a permanent ink pen or liquid acrylic paint. To add the color, turn the overlay over and apply the ink or paint to the back. This way the color will show through the translucent portions while still allowing the darker printed portions on the overlay to show.

Attaching Overlays

Overlays can be attached with ribbon, brads, and hidden adhesive- glues do not work as well as tape.

Look for places on your layout where the transparency will be covered by other items such as photos mats and embellishments. These are the perfect places to hide your adhesive. It only takes a few small spots of adhesive to hold the transparency in place.

Brads are one of the easiest embellishments to use. Simply poke a small hole with a push pin, insert the brad, and open the prongs on the back.

Gingerbread house

I have been having problems with the video, so it will have to wait. I did figure out the problem, but now I have a horrible sinus infection and can't talk LOL -
In the mean time, here are pics of the house I am building. The windows, tree and doors were made with SCAL, but the cuts are the same as the Christmas Solutions cart. I added snow all of the place and will had more pages. Right now, there are only three, just to show how the house will lay. The first page goes only to the right of the door. The second is full to the right, but does not include the first peak that is red-that's the last page. It will be very thick and as soon as I get my voice back, I will post videos.

SCAL- Making a shaped Album

This will be a step-by step process and will be take several days so please come back often for the rest of it...

I am making an album for a Christmas craft show that will be happening in December. Since it is so far off, I find myself puting this off, but I just can't do that.

First thing I did was try to find some paper that I want to use for the album. If you want the entire thing to match, then buy a paper pack and use the papers from that. I chose a Martha Steart paper pad. Now for the shape.

I got my initial shape from the Winter Woodland Crcitu cartridge and played with it in Inkscape. I will be posting a video here later to show the steps on how I arranged them in inkscape.


The book will have 11 pages and will be aprox 11" X 11"- so a nice sze. The hardest part is figuring out original design and then each page design. Embellishing is the funnest and therefore, the easiest.

Off to make the video on how to do the design in Inkscape.
Oh and before I forget, here is the pic of the design I will be using.

Lib It Up

The creators of Sure Cuts a Lot have a companion piece called Lib It Up. Scal Lib it up is a free download. Lib it up creates little library files of all your svg or .scut files. It organizes them and makes them easily accessible via the shapes window in Sure Cuts a Lot.

I have started to incorporate .lcut files in my svg mult cut downloads. You put the lcut files in the library folder where you installed sure cuts a lot. Believe me once you get into the habit of using the libraries you will never want to guess about which svg to use again. I also love the fact that it can theme my svgs so that when I am creating I can quickly see the images of the svgs I have.

Susan Bluerobot has a tutorial for it here-

You can get Lib it up Here-

I hope this helps

New SCAL Posts coming soon....

Sorry for the long delays here...I have been on vacation for over a month and just got back.

I am in the process of making a Ginger Bread Shaped Album and will be giving some explinations here, so stay tuned....

SCAL- Making Circular Text

1.You need to have a picture editing program on your computer - I use Paint.NET (This is not the Paint Pad Accessory which is on your computer). You can download this free program - you should have this, its great - from `PaintDotNet.com`.
2. Go to Microsoft Word.
3. Click Insert, Picture, Word Art.
4. Click on one of the plain black styles in the top row. Type in the text you want. Click OK.
5. Click once on your text. The Word Art box will appear. Click the "A" which looks italic. (It's in the middle of the toolbar).
6. Click on the circle icon.
7. Now right click on your image, and click on Format Word Art.
8. In the Layout Tab choose "In Front of Text". Then click the Size tab and type the same number in the height and width (for example 6 and 6) Then OK.
9. Now right click again and click Copy.
10. Open Paint.net. Click Edit, Paste - then Expand Canvas.
11. Now you can save your file. Click File, Save as - make sure to change the file type to .jpg.

Now you can use this file in SCAL

In order to use circular text with an iron on, you will have to flip the text in Inkscape:
You will have to follow these directions if you want the item flipped.

Open Inksacpe, Click File,Import - find the .jpg file you just created
Once it is in the window, click Object, Flip Horizontal. The click File, Save As, and type a name (I usually make the name the JPG name and "flipped" , so I know which file is the flipped file).

You now have an SVG you can cut with SCAL.

Open SCAL, then Import SVG and find your file -resize if necessary and cut.

Paper Cutz Challenge #6

I made this card for this weeks Paper cutz Challenge: Make a baby card with the colors green, yellow and orange. I really hope that was the challenge- I read the details and then lost them along with all of my emails, made the card and then started to doubt what I remembered.

I drew up this image realy quick and then just put him/her layered onto matts. The orange is glittered cardstock. I used a martha Lace punch and then added some ribbon. I wanted to add some flowers at the bottom, but my mom didn't have any so I tied ribbon along the bottom, she had the perfect colors-

For more Sewn Together images, check out my other blog

Paper Cutz #5

This weeks challenge over at Paper Cutz was to make a card with something flying. I had trouble this week, with the new Digi blog getting set up and the materials here are just not what I am used to. I really want my sewing machine :) and all of my tools. I know it's stretching things, but I really didn't have time to make up another image and my mom doesn't have stamps - Sorry Mary, it's a little far reached....It's just not what I wanted it to look like :(

The image I drew and you can view on my digi blog. The paper and embellishments are from Anna Griffin (Michaels clearance.)

Crystal Embelishment Swirls

I was looking through a book and it had a great idea in it that I wanted to try. I went to show my mom and she was in the middle of taking all of her stickers off the sheat and taking her chipboard off to put it into plastic bags. What was left was the negative space and these beautiful swirls!

My mom got these at a craft warehouse. They are plastic with flat bottoms. I have some that I got at Michaels at home. When I get back I want to make this with crystals. I colored the bottoms with my bic markers to match her herritage book she is making.

I put the plastic sheet on with some temporary tape---hard to see the plastic, but it's there. You can use anything see-through.

I laid them out the way that I wanted after placing some glue down. The best glue for this is Tacky. I use Aleen's- it takes longer to dry on this material, so don't do the next step until it is completely dry.

Here it is all glued down.

Trim around the design and you are done. Use them anywhere you want a little design and texture.

Busy

I have been so busy with my new blog that I haven't been posting here like I should. It also makes it hard that I do not have my tools and room to do some of the things I like-
BUT I am making a tutorial for some textured -ummmm, not sure what to call them-(Sorry) Anyway, got it done, but have to wait for the glue to dry and I will cut it out and post the details here.

Paper Cutz Challenge #3

Another week has come and gone. I am still in Oregon and still missing my craft room, but very happy to be here with my family.

This week at Paper Cutz, the challenge was to make a Halloween card without using Orange or Black. My intention was to use Purple and green, but my mom didn't have any purple paper, so I used brown. I really should have made my image smaller. I accidentally left a large brown flower on the card while I colored and when I came back, I decided that I loved the look-very unique.

Paper Cuts #3

Time for Paper Cutz Challenge --- This week was 1-2-3: 1 Ribbon, 2 Colors and 3 Buttons...I really hope I got that right, LOL -- Make sure to hop over and check out the rest of the Designs made by the Team- They will be posted tomorrow (Friday)

My mom thought of the idea to use (Donkey) and the cactus with brown and green as my two colors. The ribbon is just a small peice on a tag- I was trying to think outside the box on that one :) I cut the cactus out and popped it up on top for more dimmension and added some liquid glaze.

I hope you enjoy the card- If you like the image, check out my other blog at http://www.sewmanycards.blogspot.com/

Paper Cutz Challenge # 2

It's here! I love the challenges at Paper Cutz, and this week we are featuring my new Sewn Together Digi Stamps. I am so excited to see what the Design Team has come up with this week.

I used Miki Tubing with a winter theme. I don't have my normal tools so everything is kind of square. I am def not used to not having my things for cards. Hopefully next weeks card will turn out better.

Make sure to go check out the DT cards

Please take my survey

It's an Anonymous Survey--- If you take it and let me either by email or in the comments here, I will enter your name into a drawing for free stamps and templates from Paperwishes. This will remain open until 7/30/09 and I will draw the first name on 7/13, so tell everyone about it-

(It's a very short survey)

Out Camping....

I just wanted to let everyone know that I will be camping for a few days. I can still get emails and comments on my Blackberry, so keep in touch. There is a prescheduled card that should be here friday morning for everyone to enjoy.

I plan on making lots of new digi design while I'm away, so be prepared for lots of fun--

In the meantime, I want to hold a contest-- Enter your card on the Sew Many Cards Blog with one the Sewn Together images (there are some free) and I will choose my fave one (and get the help with some others) and you will recieve 5 free digis of your choice and for each entry, I will add one more free digi for the winner. So that means if there are 15 cards posted, you will get 15 digis if you win! Please enter your link into Mr. Linky...

CHA Sneak: The GYPSY by Provocraft

Provocraft is releasing a new product called the Gypsy. It's a new mobile product (approximately 4 x 6) which would allow you work on your creative projects, no matter where you are.

* This device provides Cricut Design Studio capabilities (such as welding, stretching, and rotating), so you could work on your creative projects away from your computer.

* Allows you to organize your artwork by topic, event, creative project and even provides a way for you to organize how you would like images organized on your cutting mat.

* Let's you store all of your Cricut cartridges into the device, enabling you to take all of your Cricut artwork with you wherever you go (within your house, to a gathering with friends/family, in your car, etc).

* Also eliminates the needs to carry your cartridges, overlays and manuals around.

* Device plugs into any PC computer or Cricut machine.
.
Here's an example of how you might use this product: Beth is waiting for her daughter to get out of her piano class, and starts thinking about the baby shower invitations she needs to send out. She pulls her mobile device out of her purse and searches for all flower images available from her purchased cartridges (which have already been loaded onto her device). She finds the one she likes, and starts designing her card with CDS. Later, at a friend's house, she plugs in her device to her friends Cricut, cuts her images, letters (which are already laid out on her "virtual" mat), and finishes her cards that night.

Features:
•Size – 8” x 3” x 1.5”
•Weight – 11 ounces
•Screen Size - 4.7”, 16:9, 480 x 272
•Stylus Length – 3.75”
•Storage – ~4000 Cartridges, 10000+ Designs
•Battery Life – 4 hrs cont. 18 hrs int.
•Compatible with all Cricut Machines and Cartridges
•Weld, size, slant, rotate, stretch, preview
•2 Full content cartridges preloaded

Benefits:
•No computer required
•All CDS functionality on-the-go with no PC
•Interfaces with CDS when connected to a PC
•Stores All Content
•Stores All Overlays
•Stores All Manuals
•Stores CDS Projects

As we understand it, all your cartridge info can be stored on this device. HOWEVER, when you store it, the information is actually removed from your cartridges and installed onto the device, rendering the cartridges EMPTY. Therefore, you still only retain one copy of your cartridges.

It has ample storage on it - a huge amount you would never use up. We also heard it may come loaded with two cartridges worth of images that will NOT BE AVAILABLE for purchase any other way than getting the machine.

*UPDATE: We heard from a source that this machine was set to cost around $200-$250. That was in the early planning stages of development and we do not know for sure if that target price was finally settled upon.

These videos are their press release.
And they're wicked funny.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oT6cK18CbYs&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ethescrapreview%2Ecom%2F2009%2F07%2Fcha%2Dsneak%2Dprovocraft%2Dgypsy%2Ehtml&feature=player_embedded


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHMI50T8-5U


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oT6cK18CbYs&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ethescrapreview%2Ecom%2F2009%2F07%2Fcha%2Dsneak%2Dprovocraft%2Dgypsy%2Ehtml&feature=player_embedded





LOL!

Paper Cutz Challenge

Just a freidnly reminder to head over to the paper Cutz challenge and submit a card...

Our first challenge day is finally here! I hope you'll join us in this fun and easy first challenge. It's a color challenge to make a card, layout or craft project in pink and green! Can't get any easier then that.

We've added three new members to the design team who will be joining us on next week's challenge. They are Sherri, Sheila and Dee. Sherri has a great blog and you can click on her name to go there and see her wonderful creations. If you click on Sheila and Dee's names on the sidebar under Design Team members, and it will take you to their albums on the Paper Wishes message board and you can see what awesome cards they've created. We're happy to have all of them join the team!

The winner of Paper Cutz Challenge #1 will receive this K & Co/K-ology album kit which comes with album, papers and lots of embellishments in a carry case.


Go on over to see the great things the Design Team has came up with!

Adding Light to eyes

My digi stamps have a lot of black in them, so they need some shine. All I do is color the entire iris black, then make a small outline around the edge with whatever color I want them and then just put a white dot on the top and two small on the bottom. I have used a white gel pen that works the best, but have also used glaxy markers, and martha Stewart Opaque markers. Someimtes I don't put the small dots on the bottoms.

Paper Cutz Challenge # 1

I am so excited to be on the Paper Cutz design team and I can't wait to see what everyone brings! Our first challenge is to creat something with Pink and Green- I love those colors together! Come and join in on the fun- (Who can resist these two colors?)

I made this card with my new Sewn Together Cammi Design.

The paper is from K&Company.

The ribbon is Martha Stewart-

Digi Stamp Tips for Coloring

This is for you Mary ;)

Print digi images on matte photo paper (JetPrint brand). Then spray the image with a very light coat of workable fixative. Let dry and you can color them with my Prismacolor pencils and Gamsol with no bleeding whatsoever. I have also heard of heat setting your inkjet prints in your oven at 200 degrees for 10 minutes, but have never tried it.

Heat set the images with my heat gun and presto - NO SMEARING!!!

Digital Stamps seem to be all the rage right now. With the economy, it is an inexpensive way to get some new stamps. It is also instant gratification for many stampers. You don't have to wait a few days or longer to get your new images. They come right away and all you have to do is print them off and color away!

New Blog

For anyone interested, I'm going to be moving my cards to a new blog so that this one can remain Tips, Tricks and Tutorials.

http://sewmanycards.blogspot.com/

Eris Cupcake

I redid the digi stamp of Eris blowing out the candle. I think she turned out really cute. I did this card for the challenge over at The Next Level- The challenge was a sketch with a twist: a raised 3D effect or layered. I cut out he cupcake and layered it on top and then added liquid glass on top of Eris the Elephant

Eris digi stamps available at my store. -This one is not loaded in my store as of today-

let me know if you are interested in purchasing her and I will load her in ASAP.

Paper is from exSCRAPaganza

Beads are from Michaels in the jewewly section

Ribbon was from my stash

Glitter is stickles

Liquid Glass: CTMH

Sewn Together Digital Stamps are in th Shop!

Miki the Monkey

Ali the Aligator

Cammi the Catepillar

Eris the Elephant

Fawn the Fish

Searah the Sea Turtle

Tayla the Tiger

Toga the Turtle

Come and See...

I added a few digital stamps to my online shop. More will be added shortly.

Let me know what you think. (Please)

SCAL 101 - basic set-up

Let's start out with some links:
1. Sure Cuts a Lot by Craft Edge Official website and product page
2. Cricut Design Studio Free Trial from Provocraft/Cricut website
3. Inkscape A free program to convert any image you have into the .svg type

What is .svg? It stands for Scalable Vector Graphic, which means that the image is not made up of tiny pixels (dots) of color like we are used to, but actually lines and shapes made from magical mathematical equations in computer code written by powerful wizards from another dimension. How math=pictures I have no idea. The difference is that when you click and drag to make your picture bigger or smaller, it won't get grainy or distorted. The lines stay crisp and clean.

First, you have to connect your Cricut to your puter. For that, you will need a printer USB cord .

Next, you have to have the most recent version of the "Firmware" software for your Cricut. If yours is new then I assume it would be. If not, you have to get it, and the only way to do that is through Design Studio-install the free trial version of Cricut's Design Studio-in the settings, update to the most current version of firmware available-you don't have to use the Design Studio for anything else after that, but I don't think you can uninstall it, or it might uninstall your Firmware upgrade.

What if you want to try the free trial? You can, but when it cuts, it will also cut vertical lines through any designs, making cuts unusable. Go ahead and close out of that.Reference: SCAL works with these versions:Cricut Personal (firmware v1.1 or 1.3)Cricut Expression (firmware v2.1 or 2.3)Cricut Create (firmware v1.51)

Okay, now you install SCAL. I bought mine from Amazon.com, from seller My Cricut Buddy, and not only did they send me the SCAL, but also a disc FULL of fonts (as in, I can't even install them all, it would take forever). You will have more fonts than you could dream of. They also send you some freebie vector files also to get started with, AND a few programs for converting regular image files into the .svg format. Friggin sweet.

You will also most likely want to install Inkscape, which again is a free program that can convert any image into a .svg.

Another thing that I learned is that you must have a Cricut cartridge inserted, or you will do no cutting.

You are now all set up! It's a good idea to do a test run now and make sure all the settings are right. Go ahead and open SCAL.

Looks just like your cutting mat! Click anywhere in this area to put your cursor there. In the "Library" box, chose Fonts or Shapes. In the corresponding new box, select one of the letters or shapes, and when you select it, it should show up on your cutting area. We will get to more detailed use of this program later, but try it now and see if it works.

Press the Scissors button along the top. A message box will come up asking you what version of Firmware you have. Pick the right one, and then it *should* cut for you.

Troubleshooting: Mine did not cut right away. The first few times, I had to also have the Design Studio trial version open, so that it picked up on my updated Firmware. This finally worked itself out, and now I no longer have to do that.

So get settin' up, and I'll start writing the next bit, playing with the SCAL!

Instructions On How To Make Tear Bears

1. Materials Needed
Handmade Mulberry Paper. You can obtain Handmade Mulberry(thick not thin) paper from your local scrapbook store (possibly), or you can order it on the Internet.
If those places are sold out (which, sometimes they are), do a search on e Bay for "Tear Bear Paper" or "Torn Bear paper" or "Handmade Mulberry Paper" and there are several sellers who are always selling handmade mulberry paper.
Personally, my favorite colors for making tear bears are Maple (a brown-ish color), Rosewood (baby pink), and Icelandic (baby blue). I must stress the importance in using only thick Handmade Mulberry paper for your tear bears. Other papers just don't do a great job. They aren't as thick, and they don't fluff very well.
Scissors for cutting out the pattern that comes with this instruction sheet.
Pencil for tracing the pattern onto the Handmade Mulberry paper.
Medium bristle toothbrush or "Fluffing brush" for fluffing your tear bear.
Adhesive. You can use anything that you normally scrapbook with, as long as it's scrapbook safe and thin. If using glue, uses small amounts as it will seep through the paper.
Cup of water for wetting your paper
Chalk for adding dimension to your bear
Sewing needle for making curly hair
Paint brush or Q-tip for outlining your pattern for tearing
Scrapbook Safe Craft Glue for use ONLY on the eyes and nose of your bear.
Black card stock for eyes, and nose.
White gel pen for eye "dots"


2. Printing Pattern and tracing it to your Mulberry paper
Print the pattern that comes with these instructions. (I use heavy card stock to print my pattern onto)
Cut out all pieces of the pattern.
Turn your mulberry paper to the side that isn't "lumpy". One side is fairly smooth. That's the back side.
Trace each piece of the pattern onto the backside of the Mulberry paper with a pencil. Make sure to leave at least ½ inch around all sides of each of the pieces so that you have enough room to "tear".


3. Tearing Your Bear
Now that your pattern is on the Mulberry paper, you're ready to tear your bear. Start by dipping your paint brush or Q-tip into your cup of water and trace around the outline of your pattern with the water. You want the water to soak into the lines quite well. My favorite way to tear is very slowly and with a bright lamp shining on my work area so I can see what I'm doing.
Let's start with the head. Try this: With the paper on a table, hold the circle (head) down with your left hand and tear (moving up, rather than out) with your right hand. Do it slowly, working around the whole head. If you look closely enough you can see the fibers tearing. That's a good sign because this is what makes your bear fluffy!
Now, remember, each piece must be completely dry before you can start to fluff. Each piece does not have to be perfect and the outline for the bear pieces is just that - an outline. Your bears should each be different and have their own personalities!
NOTE: you can dry tear your pattern (or cut it out for parts you don't want to be fluffy)

4. Fluffing Your Bear
This is the part that many people are confused about: WHAT in the world do you use to get your bears so fluffy and cute? Well, I've found the answer to that through hours of trial and error.
Use your toothbrush or "fluffing brush"to "brush" the bear parts. I find brushing the parts in both directions makes the bears look very fluffy, paying close attention to the very outside edge of each piece. This is the part that you want to be very fluffy. Start by brushing from the center to the outside edge and gently in the opposite direction, from the outside edge to the center. Brush the pieces as much as needed or until you feel it's fluffy enough to go on to the next piece. Start by brushing from the Play around with this method! The more your practice, the fluffier your bears will be!
For a curly hair bear
Wet your pattern pieces with water and then fluff with the needle technique. (Take the tip of a sewing needle and work all over each pattern piece by lifting the top layer of fibers). Do not brush, let fibers dry curly and fluffed
Chalk around each piece as desired. Pink cheeks always look adorable! You may want experiment with chalk colors on scraps of mulberry first. Bears also look adorable with 3 little freckles on each cheek.



5. Piecing Your Bears Together
The ears should be glued behind the head. The snout should be applied to the bottom of the head. The body should be glued behind the head. Arms can be placed either behind or in front of the body, depending on how you like them. Same goes for the legs. Be sure not to apply glue to close to the edge as this will not allow the paper to fluff.


6. Adding Eyes And Nose
Cut eyes out or use a tear drop or oval punch and apply white dots in the lower or upper center of the eyes using your white gel pen.
Using a small amount of scrapbook safe craft glue (and I mean a VERY small amount) adhere the eyes right above the snout. They should be far apart enough that they look "natural". You can play around with this, and I suggest figuring out exactly where you want to place the eyes before you apply the glue.
Cut or punch (I use a paw punch or oval punch) and adhere the nose between the eyes, on the snout. Make sure it's centered.


TIPS:

Some people double their handmade paper pattern to make their bears even fluffier! I do this occasionally and they turn out quite well. You can also use multi layers (3 or 4 layers) One each smaller than the other. You can also use this pattern to make bears out of colored card stock.

SCAL

I've been using my Cricut for a few years now. I had a great idea that I would purchase the Sure Cuts a Lot software and cut amazing things. I have had SCAL for over a year now.

I have been figuring it out as I go. I'm hoping to share with all of you what I'm learning. Kind of a dummy's set of lessons. Maybe we can all work on this addiction together.


That's right. SCAL (Sure Cuts a Lot) has pwnd me. For one, I keep calling it Sir Cuts-a-Lot, as if it is some knight coming to rescue me from mediocre crafting abilities. Anyway, I am learning, and it's really great. It's a bit tricky to figure out at first, but once you get going, you can do anything with it. You will love it.

SCAL is the knock-off option to Cricut's own Design Studio. Basically, SCAL cuts whatever computer image is in a .svg file type, while Design Studio only cuts from Cricut cartridges that you already own. So, cost-wise, there is no comparision. Even after you spend $70 for Design Studio, you still have to buy every cartridge you want to use with it, either at $80 full price or $40ish if you find them on sale. SCAL is $60ish total, and you can cut anything.

**WARNING** SCAL software is NOT approved in any way by Cricut. They want you to use their own software, and if you use SCAL you will void your warranty with Cricut. They claim that some Cricuts can mess up if you use other software. They currently have no way of knowing if you use SCAL, so it's your own ass if you tell them :) I am in no way responsible if your Cricut breaks and you call up Provocraft and tell them you were using SCAL. Love you though ♥

But then you're thinking, what the heck is .svg and how do I get one?

That is a great question, I thought that too! So I will be posting some basic intro steps to getting it working, as I go along and learn it myself. Cause that's what we do here. I know many of my friends and readers have either gotten Cricuts recently, or haven't yet tried SCAL for themselves. So hopefully this will help us both out. It will take me a bit to explain, so check back for new chapters in SCAL 101. I'll be posting basic steps, descriptions and helpful links for those of you wanting to figure this out too.

Meet Toga

Here is Toga from the Sewn Together group. I am having so much fun drawing these guys. I am still working on September cards, hence the reason they are all the same theme so far. I will be setting up a new blog with all of them as I get them going. Now to decide if I should sell them and if so, how-

Hope you enjoy Toga the Turtle

Sneak Peek

Here is a sneak peek of the things to come...

Sewn Together

DH woke up this morning and said that he had a dream about some stamps that I made. He said that it was a group of animals that were sewn together (One of my domains is SewManyCards.com). He said that there was a turtle, fox and a rabbit and a few others for a total of 6. I got to work this morning and came up with 5 of them-I still need the fox. I drew them up and sent them to DH and he said that I need to make sure that I can draw them in different poses for the cards. That's how this little guy came about-- I thought that since I am working on my September pack, I would do the zebra first. He just screamed "GRAD" to me.

I will make the other cards in the next few days, so bare with me if there are a lot of posts.

I need to name these guys still, so if you have any ideas, let me know.

Cards for August

I am in the process of making card kits for each month. I am trying to make them all from the same color set and for August I used some orange colors. These go with the Hippo one above.

I drew both images on the front. The Moose is actually a copy from Riley, but I changed his eyes. I hopethey don't look too cheesey since I drew them. :)