Scrappin out loud

Monday, December 28, 2009

Todays Featured blogger: Renee Thompson

Renee's blog is new to me, but her work is just darling! Take a look at some of her projects below. As usual, be sure to drop by and give her blog some love!

clipped from reneedthompson.blogspot.com

A Must have for cricut users! Make-the Cut

Make the cut, a new software program similar to Sure Cuts a lot is now available and, from this scrappers humble opinion, it's better! What is the difference you ask, well Make the cut, combines the raster tracing power from inkscape or other software and the cutting power of sure cuts a lot also known as SCAL, and the Cricut design Studio and puts them together into one, very simple to use software program!

Take a look at the software features:

* WYSIWYG Interface [image]
* Works with the Cricut™ Expression™, Create™ and Personal™
* Automated Cricut™ Driver Installation [image]
* Preview/Use Any SVG [image]
* Integrated SVG Gallery (Coming Soon!)
* Shadowing (Coming Soon!)
* Work on Multiple Projects at a Time
* Choose From 3 Standard Mat Sizes [image]
* Use Any Installed Font or Import TTF Files [image]
* Convert Raster Images to SVG Format [example]
* Break/Split/Layer Shapes and Edit Them [image]
* Weld/Join Shapes Together [image]
* Export Shapes to SVG Format or Personal Library
* Cut, Copy and Paste Shapes Between Projects
* And Much, Much More!

What I am really excited about is that you can now cut any true type font and trace any raster image with your cricut using this software.

This software is really easy to use and works super well, there is also a forum for users where you can request future features.

I have always loved sure cuts a lot but, this is way better in my opinion, I tried it last night and I am thrilled with the results. I cant show you what I cut yet, because I am using the layouts for a design team application, but trust me when I say, this is really fabulous software!

You don't have to take my word for it though, you can try it out for yourself here.
If you are ready to purchase it, try it here.
Learn more about this fabulous software here

If Santa brought you a Cricut for Christmas, you have got to get this software! Like most other users of SCAL who have recently tried out MTC, I have to say, MTC is superior software and much more user-friendly!

Wanna see what other scrapbookers are saying about it?

Linda, from Just a Scrappin, has this to say
Kay, from Clever Someday has done up a nifty comparison chart here
Gracie, from Imagine that, has this to say and some great screen shots to see here
scrapbooking grandma has put a few videos together for you here (do a search for make the cut)

This software is selling for 40% off with an additonal 10% off with the code below. Thats 50% OFF The Price!
There is a coupon code to get an extra 10% off the purchase of this New Software - FRUM-7C6P

Sure Cuts a Lot
Cricut 29-0500 Designstudio Software
Cricut Design Studio & Jukebox Combo
Cricut Expression Limited Edition Huge LOT + Jukebox + Design Studio + More
Cricut Expression 24-Inch Personal Electronic Cutting Machine
Cricut 29-0817 Expression 24-Inch Personal Electronic Cutter with 3 Cartridges
35,489 Fonts, Dingbats and SVGs for Sure Cuts A Lot
Ready To Cut Graphics for Sure Cuts A Lot software on your Cricut

Free chrarachter SVG

Another freebie by Stacy

Project 365

Have you been contemplating one of the project 365 projects? Does the whole idea of taking a photo every single day and scrapbooking it seem daunting to you? How about trying one of these templates by Cathy Zieskle. You can find them here to purchase

I think anyone of these templates would be a great way to get an entire week of photos onto one page, not so difficult when you look at it that way.

New Year's Eve Layout

I am taking a mini vacation.... My kids are out of state with their father, my boyfriend is out of the country on a military mission and my brother and nephew are at my house, so, I went the the boyfriend's place for some quiet time, alone. Sometimes, its nice just to get away from the every day stuff. I finished my weekly assignments for the class I am taking at Villanova University, I watched my soaps and I took a nice long nap. I have one more week of recovering from surgery before I have to go back to work. I plan to hang out here for a few days, so, until I am back at the scrap room, I wanted to share with you some old layouts I have on my computer. Here is is a New Year's Eve layout, it's from 2007. Back then, I was huge into swaps, and this layout was made from items from a swap on a yahoo group. I havent done that in so long, I really should find another group, I love to get my hands on fabulous new ideas buy trading things with other scrapbookers, I really learned a whole lot of new, charming techniques and I really think I expanded my scrapbook horizons through trading scrapbook elements with others. I also met some amazingly talented scrapbookers, way back before blogging was in.

Recycle your holiday trash

Are you cleaning up all the trash from the Holidays? Do you have wrapping paper all over the place? Check out this article from About.com for inspiring ideas to use up your Holiday trash!

Birthdays and holidays are a great source of materials that can be recycled into rubber stamping projects. These 'treasures' would otherwise be thrown away, so not only does recycling greeting cards such as Christmas cards and birthday cards, wrapping paper, gift bags and boxes etc provide an excellent source of materials, it is also very environmentally friendly!

Many different types of materials can be recycled into rubber stamping projects. Here are a few ideas:
Greeting Cards

Both the front and back of greeting cards such as birthday cards and Christmas cards are easy to recycle into rubber stamping projects.

* Embellishments - If the card has embellishments or other adornments attached to it then carefully peel these off for reuse. Often all that is required is a dab of glue to give them another lease of life.
* Back of the card - The back of a greeting card often contains a large plain space and this is perfect for stamping on. Images can be stamped onto this, cut out and attached to other rubber stamping projects.
* Front of the card – Use a paper punch to punch out shapes from the front of a card. This is a good way to make a lot of embellishments for cards in a wide variety of colors and textures. Both the front and back of the card can be used in other stamping projects by simply adhering a piece of paper to it to cover up a picture or writing.
* Tags – Greeting cards can be cut up to make gift tags. There are many templates that are ideal for using to create gift tags of all shapes and sizes.

Gift Wrap

Even the most tatty pieces of gift wrap can be used in rubber stamping projects! Discarded pieces of very worn gift wrap can be used as scrap paper. Gift wrap that is still in good condition can be cut or punched to make shapes to use as embellishments or added to a piece of plain cardstock to use as a backing paper for a projects.
Gift Tags

Gift tags are also suitable for recycling. Use a gift tag as a template to cut further tags from, attach paper to a tag to cover pictures or writing and stamp onto this or turn the tag into an 'altered art' project.
Gift Bags and Boxes

Gift bags and boxes are perfect for recycling. Simply add a few rubber stamped images or embellishments to give them a makeover. Rubber stamp a gift tag to complement this and this will give a pretty coordinated look.
Ribbons and Bows

Embellishments like bows and ribbons are perfect for recycling into rubber stamping projects. These can be added to projects as embellishments or simply reused when wrapping a gift or card.

Organize your cards and special days for next year

Have a bunch of cards you made this year, how about organizing them in a binder or notebook, with all your important dates in it, You could even go as far as writing personal messages, addressing and putting a stamp on the envelope, ready to go. I know you have tons of cards like I do! Organize them for next year now then you can just grab them and mail them when the time comes!

clipped from scrapbooking.com

Start planning now for the upcoming year of special events so you’ll be organized and ahead of the game. You don’t have to stress because tomorrow is someone’s birthday and you forgot once again. Make a calendar of special events to hang in a central place where the whole family can see what’s coming up. Your husband won’t even have an excuse not to remember your anniversary anymore.

If your New Year’s resolution is to get more organized, take our advice and start now so you can have a successfully crafty year bringing smiles to everyone around you!

January Hostess Incentive

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Contact me now, to plan your party or place an order today!

*Hostess incentive includes 12 Fancy Pants Designs transparency overlays. Party orders must be $150 in net retail sales (excluding tax and shipping),
party order must be submitted between January 1, 2009 - January 31, 2009