Label SVG Cut Files

In celebration of all the wonder of SCAL, I thought I’d put up some labels I’d made a while back welding basic shapes to share on a rainy day. (I also posted them on my crafting blog “RecordKeeper.wordpress.com”.)

As a note, I’m trying to not cross post with my crafting blog, but wanted to get this info out there:  Sure Cuts a Lot may no longer be available to you, depending on how a current lawsuit situation goes with Provocraft where you can cut your files/fonts/shapes/.jpgs with your Cricut (many sad tears).  If you want to get it, now’s the time!  You may not have tomorrow!  Here’s the link.

Click the following link for files:  http://cid-962ef967725fa4d7.office.live.com/browse.aspx/.Documents/MAGGIE%20SVG%20Files

Please do not repost them, but you may use them for your own crafting purposes.  Do not share the links, but you may link to this post (http://wp.me/pihKz-hI) where friends may obtain them.

Enjoy!

Cheap Cricut Imagine Results!

I am uber-excited about the new possiblities I discovered this week using my Cricut compatible software, SCAL!   Otherwise known as “Sure Cuts a Lot”,  you can print any .jpg onto cardstock, easily create a cut file for that image using SCAL, load the printed cardstock into the Cricut, then cut pretty closely around the image!  I’ve been amazed at how close it gets, and how easy it is!  I’ve even scanned some of my stamps to make “die-like” cuts around them!

How cool is that?!  It’s like having a Cricut Imagine without the expensive cartridges or ink cartridges!

I’ll be posting examples of my projects I’m trying today soon!  Stay tuned!

Themed SVG Cut File Review (Baby, Beach, Winter, Dies, Christmas, Etc.)

LetteringDelights.com (sidebar) has some new, beautifully packaged SVGs.  Just what I’ve been looking for.  Cost less than carts, adorable color ideas, BUT…the one downside is that the files are not separated into cut layers–you have to figure all that out yourself.  There are some cuts easier to do that than others.  I would like them much better if they were simplified and pulled apart for cutting, but I’ve still bought several.  They are offering FREE ones from time to time, which is a great way to test them to see if you like them.  The “frames” svg files will probably be some of my most used.  If you are confident with dis-assembly and separating colors by layer, go for it.  If not, stick with images easy to separate.

SVGcuts.com does a better job of separating items for cutting, and the cuts are clean.  The only minor thing I do not like about these downloads (for pay) is that within every group, the svg cut files are called “SVG files”.  When I went to move my old files to a new computer, somehow I lost  lot of files because all the subfolders had the same name.  This should not have been a problem, but it was.  I’m not sure HOW this happened, I just know it did.  I’m hoping I can download another copy or get it all straightened out, but it’s a hassle.  I recommend renaming them by cut file name when you download them rather than the generic “svg files” for each set.  I have had great luck with these files and highly recommend them.  They run great sales and often do a free gift set (full set) with the purchase of a couple other sets.  Sign up for their newsletter for more info on sales.  Great free cuts each week on their blog, too.

ScrappingTable.com is probably one of the best values out there as far as SVG cut files grouped by theme for download.  You can buy it for a one time subscription and there are constantly updates.  Just the other day a new one came out for girl pages.  With a minimal price of a subscription, you get all subsequent files she releases FREE.  These files are clean, and not too complex to cut quickly (not a lot of intricate paper piecing, which I don’t tend to enjoy as a rule).  She also provides a lot of helpful tutorials, and alerts you when updates to SCAL come up (the software program which allows Cricut to cut any font on your computer, any appropriate jpg, or svg files).

One of my most used SVG sets is the “shapelies” by Penny Duncan.  They emulate popular nesting dies and are worth looking into.  Simply separate the images down to one or two images in the sizes your prefer, then cut!   I got them in the “free” phase also, but you’d spend the money on just one of these dies, and she offers countless ones ready for cutting.  Very well worth the $15 for all of them in my opinion.

Others you like?  I’m only referring to “theme” sets for this post.  There are LOTS of free SVG files out there just ready for search and grab!

FREE SVG Cut File for SCAL: Label 1 (MaggieSVGs)

I made this card this week for a young man who is battling some cancer.  I wanted to send an encouraging card, and I wanted it to be simple in design.

The paper seemed perfect to convey what I wanted to say, and the Christopher Reeves “JustRight Stampers” sentiment was wonderful:  “Once you choose HOPE, anything’s possible.”  The stamped frame is also from JustRite stampers.

The matting elements were made with SVG label cut files I created using SCAL and my Cricut.  The top circle was cut and embossed with circle nestability dies.

Okay, so I’m going to try to share a file that goes with this card.  I know you all are as excited as I am that I made something and get to share it if you own Cricut and use SCAL software to cut things (rather than cartidges, which is much more expensive).

Here goes…free cut file.  Click, download, open with SCAL, cut!

CREATE!  Yay!

(Somebody be so kind as to let me know if it worked?!)

All images and free files are copyrighted. Any free files downloaded are not to be shared or posted on other sites or forums.  Please refer people to my site, so they can download the file.

Fancy Free Fonts I Love and How to Install/Organize Fonts

I LOVE LETTERS!

Here is a list of a few fancy modern fonts. (If you see one you like and want, simply search for them by name and download them free.)   Below the list is a picture of what each one looks like by it’s name.

BY NAME:

Amazone BT (TT1040M_.TTF)

BahiaScriptSSK  (TTF)

Beautiful Caps ES  Swash Capitals

Belphebe

Blackadder ITC

Champignon

Civilian

Exmouth

French Script

Garamond Italic

Gayane StO Regular (first letter text)

HenryMorganHand

Hurricane (SupaDupaSerif)

Leafy glade (first letter text)

Leafyshade (first letter text)

Monotype Corsiva

Mutlu Ornamental

One Fell Swoop

Orphiel Demo

Here are a few I’m enjoying for use in my daughter’s scrapbook:

Feel free to right click|save to disk|print if the .jpg is something you can use for your own scrapbook.

HOW TO INSTALL THE FONTS ON YOUR COMPUTER:

The short explanation:

1.  Download the font.   It will be zipped.  Right click and extract it.  Open the zipped .tff file.

2.  Drag the .tff file into your Windows Fonts folder

It is now installed and ready for use.  Do not delete system fonts from your computer.

Suggestions:

• download all fonts to a file you name and can relocate easily later.  I use “My Downloaded Fonts” .
• unzip all your fonts at once.  I use a free program you can download like “UnZipThemAll” to unzip a bunch of files at one time, pronto.  Highly recommend it.
• leave your virus scanner enabled.  It should scan any downloaded files.  I use avast! free virus protection, home edition.
• some people choose to leave all “downloaded fonts” in a folder separate from their main system fonts to avoid confusing when thinning down later. A program I discussed earlier, AMP or Nexus will run UNinstalled fonts.  This keeps the Windows and other programs from getting too bogged down by running too many fonts.
• when downloading or installing, you do not “need” every version of every font:  for example, if  the program you are using converts the primary font to bold and italic for you, you don’t have to also install a font with four versions which include bold and italic.  This means that when you are using Word or Photoshop,  you won’t have to scroll passed four versions of the same font name to view the next font on the list.

Font Management Programs:

I have about 900 fonts.  I have used “The Font Thing” for many years to help give me a better visual of the exact text I want to see.  It works well.  Using that program, I have also sorted fonts by category to quickly find fonts needed.   Recently, I’ve transitioned to Windows 7, and this program doesn’t install easily on Windows 7 without a workaround (install program every time you want to use it, and no updating of this program).

Curious about other options, I’ve recently reviewed new Free Font Programs.  After a couple weeks of using several font programs, (AMP and Nexus), I think Nexus is my next font program manager.  Both are good, but Nexus seems to keep everything on horizontal text lines, which my mind seems to prefer.  AMP is good as well, but switches to a grid of boxes of fonts for some views.  It’s worth a try as well.

Here is the list of categories I have developed to sort my fonts.  I sort by file type, but also by what will cut well on my Cricut machine.  You should develop categories that make sense to you for your uses.

The categories I use are Cartoon (images of superman, etc.), Christmas, clear cut calligraphy (images that would cut clearly on a Cricut), Clear Cut Fonts (fonts that would cut well on a Cricut), Color & Print (for card-making, not cutting), Dingbat Clear Cut, Fancy Calligraphic, Fine Line Clear (clear, but needs to be made thicker in the cut program to cut well), Frames, Handwritten, Image Letters (letters that have other images on them), Labels, Tags, & Boxes, Music, and Ornamentals (generally not good for cutting).

“Sure Cuts a Lot” Font Cutting Program for Cricut:

I mentioned cutting fonts.  If you would like software that allows your Crucit to cut out of cardstock any font on your computer, try SCAL (Sure Cuts a Lot) for free trial.   Is great for sign-makers, teachers, scrapbookers, or automobiles decal makers.  You can even cut vinyl for windows and autos.

It’s currently on sale ($59.95 Limited Special Offer). Here’s a Baby Album Using Cricut and Sure Cuts a Lot where I downloaded elements off the internet for cutting, and here’s some projects where I used a lot of free fonts.  I prefer this to buying a cartridge for even $15.  Most often, the cartridges are $30-$60 per font.  I love this program and use it daily.  Updates are free, and the support community is great!  Click here to see some of my current projects using SCAL.

I plan to update this list within the week with even  more beautiful fonts I’m finding, so be sure to check back or subscribe by RSS feed so you don’t miss them.

Favorite Font Sites:

Here is  a great list of free font sites from the blog Cutting Time.  My all-time fav is probably hers as well: www.dafont.com.  It’s very well organized and easy to scan for new fonts.

Fall Pumpkin Card Using Cricut and SCAL

I wanted to update and let you know some things I’m cutting with my Cricut lately using SCAL, or Sure Cuts a Lot Software in conjunction with my Cricut.  “SCAL” is software which allows you to cut “.svg” files available for share free on the internet, any True Type Fonts (abbreviated TTF in the file names), OR many .jpg photo files!   Wow.  I know.  It’s just nuts.  You only need the cartridge that came with your machine inserted into it, and a connection to your computer…and they walk you through all that easy peasy!

To make this card with my Cricut and SCAL, I downloaded this cut file from Cheeky Magpie called “Filigree Pumpkin“.  I opened it using “import SVG” function in my Sure Cuts a Lot software, then sized it to the size of a card.  I then cut the filigree portion using Core-Dinations cardstock (my fav!), and cut a “blackout shadow” of the pumpkin for the orange background.  Then, I just matted, used some corner punches and a Martha Stewart punch, and finished it off with a JustRite sentiment, Nestability slide, ribbon, and gems!  I wanted a little more dimension to the flourishes on the pumpkin, so I traced with a gold gel pen.

I am loving my Cricut for holiday times!  I can’t wait to post some more of my projects for the holidays to share with you.  If you are interested in learning more about SCAL, be sure to check out the links here or  in the sidebar for their website. I hope you liked the card, and thanks for looking!

PS…I challenge you to do a web search for any holiday image in your mind you may want to cut and search for “svg cut file [name of your image]”.  See what will be available to you immediately to cut!

Preview Thumbnails of SVG files for SCAL–FINALLY!

This blog post tells all about it:  http://svgcuts.com/blog/?p=1094.

Took me about 30 seconds to download and install it!

~~~

Also, free svgs from this link is worth a look for those of you using Cricut plus SCAL:

http://cuttingtime.blogspot.com/2009/08/another-site-offering-free-svg-files.html

(do a search on the end site “svg” and find even more).

~~~

2011 UPDATE:  Unfortunately, this fix doesn’t work for Windows 7.  I’m still looking for a fix.  Apparently a “torrent download” fixes it, but that seems to wipe and reload your entire windows system, though I’m not completely sure.  I’m not techie enough for that.

Fall Leaves SVG file for SCAL2

Okay, so I’m filling my hard drive with SVG files from this talented lady, but here is a link to her blog for this fall leaf season to get you started.  Be sure and look through her site for all sorts of incredible-ness.

http://scrpbooklady.blogspot.com/2009/05/yes-im-little-behind.html

Great Shape Font for Cricut Using SCAL with Brackets/Flowers/Scallops

If you have Sure Cuts A Lot for your Cricut, you should check out this post with a great shape font.  She requests you give donations to McDonald House when given the opportunity, which I plan to do.  LOVE this font!  Thank you!

If you don’t have SCAL yet for your Cricut, you can get it here (click my link and I’ll get a cent or two).  There are often coupon codes for SCAL on blog posts on the web, so be sure to check for them before you click in from here to buy. If you look around the site, click back in through here to purchase so I’ll get credit if you don’t care!   That would be cool.  I can buy another SCAL file!  Thanks!

Monday–Just Blogging

Just got finished stringing some green beans my mom brought me for supper.  It’s nostalgic to do it, but man, am I glad for store bought green beans!  I started sitting out in the sun, but it got too hot in about fifteen minutes, so I moved to the breezy porch.  Aaah–what long summer days are for, I suppose!  Getting ready to go see if I have my first garden zucchini for supper!

Feeling very rested today.  Got to sleep in uninterrupted this morning.  Finally!  My sleep has been very interrupted in the mornings lately.  Seems to throw me off all day.  I must be going to bed too late.

Did some Cricut tests today, hope to post those results soon.  Some fonts and doodlefonts print fine, but best to do in advance during chores and have for projects…they take too long for the Cricut to draw them “on the fly”.  In any case, still so unique that I keep buying them.  I like having things different than on the standard Cricut cartridges, and I like paying a lot less for them. A lot quicker to get trendy designs to use fonts than to wait for a cartridge.

Well, off to see what else I need to be tackling!  I hear the buzzer to the drier going off!

Summer Owl Card

I’m loving cute owls right now.  This was a just a very simple card I made for my daughter one night cause I needed to write her a special note.  Do you make cards for your kids?  A very fun way to communicate. I love olive-y green and blues together this summer…it’s my color combo of the season!

Material List: SCAL program for Cricut (see sidebar link) to cut Fonts DB Woodsy (Owl and limb) & DB Cupcake (journaling spot).  They were first outlined with a brown Cricut Marker, then cut using shadow feature, and filled using Prisma Alcohol Based Markers.  OTHER:  RicRac (Sewing Notions Section).  Jewels (Oriental Trading Catalog). American Traditional Designs Cardstock.

This weekend, we’ve taken it easy with grilling, random chores (still involving clean up from the ice storm), and just simplifying so that we can be together.  It rained the 4th here, we are looking forward to fireworks tonight!

Have a great 4th of July!  What’s your favorite sale event?  There are several scrapbooking events, but I’ve only taken time to shop at ScrapNFonts…it was easy to do without getting out of the house and the savings were incredible (you can still shop until the 5th).  I love instant gratification.

Girl’s Birthday Card

Wow, the last few weeks have been crazy with a birthday party for Red, getting Father’s Days celebrated early, and going to our kid’s first time to the beach!  We had a great time…we had several photo shoots and mainly just a lot of resting and keeping up with the schedule.  Summer is too short to be tied to the computer too much!

Thought I’d take a second while my computer is processing to post a card I made last month for a birthday party my daughter went to.

I used the “Pottery Barn” font for this, and several other dingbats to create the flowers.  I think I used a DB font for the flowers on this card, perhaps a DB Christmas font for the oval.  I “welded” the sentiment to the oval so that it all cut together–that way I didn’t have to glue individual letters onto the card. I just ran it all through my larger Zyron.

A fun project to watch the Cricut cut.

It REALLY shines!

My husband said, “Gee, I think it needs more glitter!”

I had to touch up a spot with glue about that time to get it to stick down, to which he said, “Um, I was just kidding!”

I just laughed at him.

The party was a luau theme, so the sentiment seemed perfect.  We enjoyed making her something special to keep.

Group Hug!

I’m not sure, but I think the girls were having a good time!  Oh, to be 10 again!

Why I Make Cards…[Whew]

This project was AN EMERGENCY!

We’ve been in the basement for a while due to a tornado warning…one of my favorite reasons to be able to make fun cards…it seems we ALWAYS have a reason to be short “the traditional gift” for the kid’s birthday parties, and Boy Wonder was due at one, pronto!

We’ve had little guests here all day–no way I was getting to the store:

The Hub took over the frying of the sausage and eggs while I ran to the craft room to “work my magic” (oh, how I love it when he talks to me like that).

Font:  a superhero font of some kind using SCAL (Sure Cuts a Lot plus the Cricut cutter).

I had some cardstock scraps on my desk and cut strips to fit the card.

I used a new Studio G party stamp pack in Nashville ($1 bin at Michaels) for all the stamping on the blue and khaki strips.

I love metal on teen boys cards, so I grabbed a metal black clip from the last bins at a CKC Convention I went to several years ago.

INSIDE CARD:

The stamp was mall for inside the card, so I added color blocking.   For the blue, I just laid the inkpad down onto the card, then added a black strip.  The white pen is my favorite Signo uniball.  I actually ordered several overseas from ebay.

So, we all pooled family cash, and Boy Wonder was out the door with a gift…

{whew}.

Card Making with Sure Cuts a Lot (SCAL)

This was my first project using SCAL and Cricut on New Year’s Day.  It was such a fun project while everyone played with their Christmas gifts.  I’m just getting into card making for fun, fast, personalized projects in a pinch…so these are first attempts, bear with me!  It’s fun to do and share what I’m learning, though.

The idea I had was to send a few cards to those people who I realized I didn’t get to see over Christmas.  I thought that a fun, personalized New Year’s card seemed like a more energizing project than “I’m sorry I’m late” outdated Christmas cards (though I do enjoy receiving those, too!  Send them on!)

I picked a font I thought would cut well for my first SCAL (Sure Cuts a Lot) project. The font I chose was Times Roman.  (Hard to recognize with it all resized in a funky way, isn’t it?  Who knew Times Roman had it in him?)

Card #2 With Glitter Added

STEPS for Happy 2009 CARD WORDING:

1. First, you must select your font and let SCAL load it.  (The computer has to be hooked up to your Cricut for SCAL).
2. I clicked a spot on my virutal SCAL mat and typed in Happy.
3. I clicked a second spot under “Happy” on the mat and typed “2009”.
4. Then the magic begins:  I took each letter and scooted it, or more technically  “nudged it” to touch adjoining letters.
5. I moved the entire 2009 box up overlapping “Happy” so it would all be one word unit when cut.
6. I selected one word box at a time, and clicked the “weld” option in the text properties box.
7. Select “preview” to see the welded result.
8. Made any adjustments, insert paper, set your Cricut settings, and click “cut” on your computer screen.  Cutting begins!

If you want to read my review on SCAL (Sure Cuts A Lot), just follow the link.

CARD #3:  Cuttlebug Embossing folder added:

OTHER ELEMENTS:

I didn’t know how to cut scallops using SCAL yet, so I cut the scallop in Card #1 was cut using my Nestabilities Dies and Cuddlebug.

The cardstock back-ground in the cards was made using my swirl stamp set.

The black satin bow (gotta love black satin) was tied from my stash after I punched notches with my new Making Memories tool I got for Christmas (found for 70% off at Tuesday Morning–“Hubby, this was a great deal.  I want it!  Wrap it!“).

Click here for More Info on SCAL found on the Sure Cuts A Lot site

Whimsical Bird Card (SCAL + Cricut Instructions)

I love the birdies popular in scrapbooking right now!

I cut this little birdy out using the “dbwoodsy font” + Sure Cuts a Lot (or “SCAL” software–click here for my explanation and review of SCAL, or here to purchase).  I think I bought this font at a scrapbooking font site for $2–lots of great stuff in it.  I’ll have to add that link in when I find it.  It is eluding me at the moment.

I cut the bird it out three times to get the yellow beak and blue wing (no waste, I can mix and match the pieces for three birds with the leftover pieces.)

“Get Well Soon” is in the font “Fabulous 50s Normal” available for free at www.fontspace.com.

THE PROCESS:

I opened Sure Cuts a Lot, then “welded” all the word boxes together so that they would cut in one cut wherever they overlapped (or where I moved text to overlap them–each letter can be moved over another with your mouse, so it’s very easy to do).

WELDING:

The clear advantages of welding things are

• perfectly aligned text on a straight line
  
• one Xyron run or glue process instead of each letter
• a very customized look

I even welded the red birdie to the text!

OTHER ELEMENTS:

Textured cardstock using a Cuttlebug embossing folder.

Scalloped card using “SCAL” (Sure Cuts a Lot) and my Cricut.  I’m still perfecting that scalloped card process–when I do, I’ll write instructions!

Not seen here:  I even cut out the recipients name and put it out the outside of the card.  Who doesn’t love to see their name personalized on a card?

Lots of fun, and fun to deliver…

Click Logo below (or in the sidebar) to Buy SCAL (I’m an affiliate and get a piece of change for my effort if you buy from here…doesn’t cost you anything more, and I’ve looked up a coupon code to even save you 10%!):

Click here for More Info found on the Sure Cuts A Lot Site!