Project Life and the Cricut

I was looking at all the cute tags and arrows and contemplating some serious die purchases, when I realized my Cricut and SCAL might have some of these shapes. Boy, was I right! In the basic SCAL software, there are tons of arrows! And it’s very easy to make some of the other tag shapes I was wanting, in any length or width. Definitely worth checking out if you have an old copy of SCAL laying around. If you don’t, well, too bad, it’s not available for Cricut anymore. If you have a Silhouette, you’re in luck, SCAL IS available for it, which is why a lot of people are moving from the Cricut to the Silhouette.

It was as easy to make these word cards I’ve been seeing for sale on various websites. Just make a rectangle slightly smaller than 4X6 to fit into the pocket, add a word to the top in the font of your choice, then “weld” the two elements together for a united cut. FUN! You can trace this one if you prefer. I’m not going to take the time to upload a file, mainly because it’s so easy to make, and file sharing isn’t really the point of this post…it’s to get people to realize they really don’t need a die for every little thing for Project Life. Just cut on your cutting machine, if you have one already!

 

 

You could only do the words as well…I’ve seen them resting on top of photos and it looks super cute! I would make it like this:

 

 

with a rectangle welded to the bottom to help in keeping up with all the letters, ease of gluing, and help with spacing and keeping all the letters perfectly vertical.  The rectangle would rest under another element most likely, or it would even be cute as is!

Loving the Project Life Approach to Scrapbooking

I’ve been spending a lot of my time trying to get our photos under control lately.  I am used divided page protectors from We R Memory Keepers which can orient the photos in various directions in a 12X12″ format.  I found the protectors cheapest at Ritzcamera.com, $4 for 10 (free shipping if the order goes over $100.)  I went in with some friends to share the order to get free shipping.

I did 36 pages today.  You can leave 4X6 spots open for journaling or titling, or there is an official “Project Life” kit by Becky Higgins to help you pull this together (Amazon), though if you don’t plan on doing it as a life journal, I recommend the We R Memory Keepers divided protectors because they give you more options, the protectors are thicker, and overall, I am using them more filing older pictures.  I hope to get into a “Project Life” groove, but I think it’s all the page protectors I’m loving most right now.

I’m using a lot of Ali Edwards overlays for the journaling.  I did my son’s 1st-2nd birthdays and the year in between today.  Go ahead and clap for me, I deserve it.  It took all day!

This month I’m on my fourth album:

• my first 3 years over the weekend from old photos and 3X3″ blocked page dividers (for the old square photos).
• made a Mommy Happy book from duplicates and digital layouts I’ve done.
• our last year’s vacation album.

I’m ready to get on top of this.  Though my house isn’t spotless, I’m accomplishing a big goal!

Next, I want to convert our family videos to DVD.  Yeah, that will be a whopper of a job!  Hoping to enlist my son’s help over Spring Break!

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!

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!

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.

What’s Up?

It’s Fall Break here.

I’m enjoying a slower pace, less cooking (so I get a break from the routine, too), and continuing to work toward some goals.

Goals:

1.  Getting the kids scrapbooks caught up so I can clear the clutter in the craft room.  Football season is a good time of year for me to tackle this.  We have one TV, and football will be on 3-4 nights a week.  I am next door in the guest room for any “must see” replays, but for the most part, I can let the guys have their time and have some of my own!

2.  Getting back in shape, rebuilding my knees slowly.  I’m running about 25 minutes nonstop now.  How far is that?  I don’t know for sure…I’ll know next week when I can get back to a marked trail, which I will enjoy, considering the current route near my home is uphill the entire last half.  I teared up at the thought of a 25 minute run Monday–two lone tears actually slipped down my cheek after I was really working hard to gear up for another 20 minute effort when I turned on my podcast (Interval Podrunner) and realized it would be TWENTY FIVE.  What???!!!  I yelled. The kids all came running, and I was trying to explain the situation to my 13 year old son.  He said, “Mom, are those tears in your eyes?”  He chuckled.  I kept explaining.  He said, “They really are!  You are CRYING!”

Yes.  I did.  It was a cold day.  I’m not used to being outside in the cold and I was weak.

All the way home I just kept saying, “It REALLY IS uphill all the way home.  I’m dying.  This is killing me.  I’m not sure I can do this.  I can do this.  I have to do this.  I can’t stop now.  What will I tell the kids?”

I did it.

I did it again today.  No tears.  No internal cheerleading.  No thought to the uphill route home.  I just did it.  Amazing what one hard trip made does for the psyche.

3.  Keeping the house on a schedule.  This is a major triumph of my life.  Some weeks I get off, but that doesn’t matter, because I did it last week, and I will do it next week.  I’m trying to add some big projects into this mix, but that hasn’t happened to great extent since I’m cramming in running and scrapbooking.  Soon.

4.  The Love Dare.  I’m not being as consistent with this as I need  to be, but I am trying to keep up with my husband and am, for the most part, enjoying a new sweetness in our lives due to this class.

Two Easter Layouts

Okay, so Designer Digitals was having this rocking contest where you could win an iPod nanochromatic.  Seeing as how I left mine in the last hotel room we were in, or dropped it somewhere over spring break in Nashville, I was thinking I was bound for this contest.

I worked on it some this morning, taking a break from life, and wanting to scrap some Easter photos.

However, having finished, I realized the contest was over already.

I hate it when that happens!

On the up-side, there were some really great layouts to see.

I started with blocking, then decided to try some photo-merging (above).

Only one of the photos is used twice, so I think I can switch it out and have a two page layout ready for print?   I’ll try to do that while files are open!

It was sunny, so it was easier to let her “look around at things” than to look up…her eyes hurt too much for that.  But the sun made her dress glow, so I didn’t want to waste a pretty, clear day!

I’ll have to print and 8X8, but I can mount that on another layout for a 12X12 book if I want.

Products Used from www.designerdigitals.com

Ali Edward’s Frames/KPertiet_WingedClusters-4

and free download:  FadedSwirlStar

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}.

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!

“Sure Cuts A Lot” (SCAL) Software Review and COUPON CODE/Sale

Sure Cuts a Lot does everything it promises and more! I’ve posted several projects I’ve made so far using it…

Comparing Scrapbook Die Cutting Systems: Slice, Wizard, Cuttlebug, Cricut, (Coluzzle)

I’ve been comparing die cutting machine since I don’t have any at all for cutting shapes and letters.  It is a lot more expensive to buy a ton of punches than to invest in one of these, so I’m in the market for one.  Here’s what I’ve been finding, for anyone interested in comparing die-cutting machines.

The cheapest Slice (click to see video)I could find was about $109.00 tonight here.  The other day I saw one in a special deal where you got a pre-order free cartidge that would ship in February. The Slice is very cool.  But, I often craft while watching TV with the fam, and it might be too loud for me (note that in the video, they voice-over the sound…it cuts into a glass matte, so it is going to make a razor against glass sound–search other videos on youTube to hear that).  I think another possible con for me might be the need for a sticky surface  I like using my cutting surface fully for several products, all the time–I am imagining a hairball of all sorts of paper getting stuck on my cutting mat.   I’m also not sure I’d want to go all the way through the digital screens to find each letter I needed.  But, I love the font selectionsand it just looks so darn fun to play with!  LOVE how up to date the cartridges and fonts are, and the variety of alpha sizes for each letter on one cartridge as it’s electronic.

The Wizard, an all metal, very sturdy die cutting machine, creates GREAT embossing with it’s like 500 or 5000 pounds of pressure…I can’t remember, but has a loud ratchety sound when you push the level up and down to feed the plates through (again, interferes with card making while TV watching, or crafting after The Hub is in bed (often, when I’m hitting a creative surge). I craft in the guest room right next to our bedroom and right next to the TV room.  This same company also makes the wonderful “Nestabilities” dies which greatly reduce the cost of punches for frequently used stacks geometric and scalloped shapes.  Their dies look best in the Wizard, but people say they also get great results with the Cuttlebug (next), once they learn the correct “sandwich” to use without breaking their Cuttlebug “B plate” (replacement cost approx. $7 for 2).  I would love to have this one if it were easily to store, lighter weight, and didn’t make the noise.

The Cuttlebug is raved on scrapbooking forums as a compact, handy, low- cost die-cutting machine that will accept any manufacturer’s dies.  Drawback (as with all manual die cut machines)…letters have to be done individually and projects that may require repeat cutting would take a while.  Dies only come in the size of the die (as compared to the Cricut or Slice where multiple sizes can be acheived).  A plus is that you can use tiny scraps of paper and just place them over letters without having to pre-cut paper with any precision, AND it’s a simple approach requiring no computer.

The Cuttlebug embosses as well, (though I’ve read not to the very sharp extent that the Wizard does, still very pleasing results for users). The Cuttlebug also embosses it’s own nice Provocraft brand “A2 folders” (which is the size of a small card).  The Wizard will emboss these folders as well.  They are called “folders” because the card sort of sandwiches between the positive and negative imprints of the embossed design, the the machine smashes in the image as you roll it through.  (I found that applying pressure using a Pampered Chef mini muffin wooden tool works pretty well also with these  folders if you don’t have a Cuttlebug, especially if you spritz the paper with alcohol mist first for a stronger imprint).

The cheapest Cuttlebug I could find in my comparisons online was $39.99  at Custom Crops.  If you order today and place an order above $100.00, you get free shipping with their code posted on the home page. This machine is currently compatible with all dies on the market, simply by changing the plate thickness “sandwich”.  You can look up those “recipes” online in scrapbooking forums.  Just the fact that every person I know who has one uses words like:  “I LOVE my bug…once you have one, you will love it and not regret it” is a selling point.

I would personally have this machine simple to use with nestability dies.  I love cards done with these.  I have been working on my collection and have my family buy me sets for Christmas each year.  It try to wait a year to avoid the “new die” markups.  There are machines now like the “bug” that allow for even larger dies.  I probably won’t upgrade, but know some friends who love this flexibility.

The Cricut, another electronic cutter, allows operation without a computer using font cartridges, or you can hook it up to a computer with a program called SCAL (acronym for “Sure Cuts a Lot” at $75.00).  SCAL is a third-party software program unaffiliated with Provocraft (makers of the Cricut) that will allow you to cut any font on your computer, or any .svg file.  Here’s a link that gives you “all the details” on SCAL in conjunction with the free downloadable program, Inkscape, which converts your font layouts to an .svg file needed by SCAL.  SCAL has a WYSIWYG editor so that you can see what the machine will cut, eliminating the need for the package sold by Provocraft. (Cricut Design Studio or something like that, also about $70.00-$75 at Wal*mart).  I’m told you can update any drivers with older free trials of this program, but they are getting hard to find…Provocraft is trying to block the sale of this product as their company doesn’t own it.  I personally would not buy the Cricut without the ability to cut my own fonts…they should just get on board with the program or something.  I love SCAL.

This is a good video showing the settings on the Cricut machine keypad and how to adjust them for papers from a thin vellum to a thicker cardstock.

The “personal” sized Cricut also called “mini” will cut 6″X12″ paper, perhaps 6X24 if you CUT A 12×24 mat and get creative with it.  If you have already the EK Success Cuterpede paper trimmer, you know how easy it is to cut 6″X12″ cuts by swinging out the side extension arm which gives you a perfect 6″ guide.  The best price I’ve found for this machine new online with one standard cartridge post black Friday sales was at Custom Crops for $119.00.  They promise to ship within 2-4 days and free shipping with purchases over $100 with a code from their home page.   I considered one with no cartridge since I want to hook it to a spare computer, but if I want to use it at crops, thought it would be nice to have at least the one “traveling font” (I’ve also since read that you need at least one cartridge to make SCAL work…don’t know if this is backed up by science or not).  That is the case.

The Cricut “Expression” is also available this year on their site for $219 which will cut 12X12 papers.  I didn’t think I’d need this size, but have seen wall applications using vinyl where I can see the benefit of a larger size…for, say a family wall Monogram with a big circle around it.  I think I can design around that for now, though using quotes or words rather than large objects.  (I have since upgraded to the Expression.  Prices have come down on black Friday sales.  I think I got mine at Wal*Mart this year [2010] for $180 with two free cartridges.  I’ve also seen them on ebay with four cartridge packages for about that much.)

The pluses for the Cricut are:  if you need to cut out duplicates, you just tell it to cut again without having to cut shapes or letters out over and over as with a traditional die machine.  Also, you can cut any dingbat on your system with the upgrades discussed above.  The negative is, is doesn’t emboss, which is something I’m really into for cards right now.

The Coluzzle:  This isn’t really a “die cutting” machine per se, but it is, then again.  You take a specially made knife with a swivel blade and run it around thin, plastic templates to create your shape.  I personally own and love this system for it’s lightweight and compact storage and portability.  It is harder to do alphas and the ones I do have are HUGE.  I love that about them…then again, not much flexibility.  I have continued to add to my Coluzzle system, however, even as I look at other systems simply due to it’s usefulness in addition to other systems.  I like the basic shapes best and love them…use them all the time.  I use them a lot of Sunday School projects, or to mass cut images for cards if I have time to work while we are traveling.  It cuts very well in my lap and is lightweight for travel.

Useage:  currently, I love to use it to cut two size shapes and follow the pattern of the smaller shape to create a scallop on the larger with my decorative scissors.  I am using a lot of my decorative scissors in this way for cards…I think the results are very beautiful and clean, simple…and a lot of fun:

I actually cut four coluzzle ovals for this card, cutting one down with scissors.

Also, I often use it in my 2nd grade Sunday School class–the kids love to watch me do them.  For portability and ease of storage and use…I love this product.

Negative:  cutting the leftover areas where channels end is a bit tricky.  I often need to do cleanup with scissors.  I bought a Creative Memories Oval Cutter off ebay this Christmas for clean edges on my ovals and circles, such as in trimming actual photos.  I love that with my Coluzzle, I can just lay the necessary mat over my work space and cut, whereas with my CM trimmers, I’ve got to have a cutting mat.  I tend to keep a dirty work surface, so all that to say, there are times I prefer to use both.

Jessica Sprague Free Class…won’t you join in? Last night!

I’m taking this class and the registration has been extended through tonight (Monday).  It’s free with a talented designer, Jessica Sprague.  Check it out to see if you or yours are interested!  Sounds like a fun diversion from…well, everything responsible about this time of year!  😀  I may do all or none of the coursework, depending on the time I have, but I plan to learn a lot either way!

Becky Higgins School Years Scrapbooking Kit–Kindergarten

Okay, so this is the Kindergarten set.  I thought for a girl it needed more color, so I added my own:  the stickers, flowers, and mattes on the left didn’t come with the kit.  The paper was ColorBlok. Every Grade is imprinted on the paper, and the arc border comes with each set, along with the journaling stickers, which are VERY handy and LINED for those of us who have trouble with a straight line, can I get an amen?

 

I did these two pages together, but it may be too many pictures.  I’m still trying to decide. I may add one page in between these with just a focal picture, her kindergarten picture to let the eye rest a bit.   I personally don’t care for collages in the traditional, overlapping sense, but this had a collage-feel I wanted to encompass her year.  Not ordered, just snapshots.

I tend to be most drawn to a linear approach to design (perhaps I say “ordered”…because I certainly LOVE circles!).  While this isn’t ruler accurate, there are about the same amount of space between the pictures.  There are areas of overlap in the embellishments.  The story is mainly told by the photos themselves.  You can’t really see it well here, but I journaled around each picture with the place and event info.  This page didn’t have a title, but the series of “Kindergarten” spoke for itself from the preceding unit.

Some people say scrapbooking is expensive, but usually it’s the addiction to tools that is expense, but the craft itself can be economical.  There are 48 pictures on these four pages!  You can’t get that in ANY photo album meaninfully.   And, I had spare room to add elements of color, journaling, titles, and choice of layout. 

I did try to group some events, but Christmas is spread throughout.  The colored stickers here did not come with the kit either, but I tought the page needed it to guide the eye around the page.  

Again, if you want more info on this kit, click here.  I should get an endorsement bonus at this point!

UPDATE:  I’ve started a FlickR group for anyone who wants to post layout ideas:  Click Here to Join!  I’d love to see what you’ve done.

Becky Higgins School Kit is Back

The Becky Higgins School Scrapbooking pack is the best I’ve seen.  I’ve been doing this long enough I knew it was unique, well organized, useful, and original.  Unfortunately, I recommended it to several people and it told out by 2PM the day it was released on-line.

They have re-released it!

Check out the order instructions here to get it this summer. 

For the younger years, I’m doing 4 full size 12X12 pages of “a year-in-review”instead of soley school stuff, but two days and I’m usually done with a year, not counting the few days I took to sort all their best papers and projects by year.  I still need to think that stack some and will over time as I go through them.  For now, it’s organized!

It’s turning out just as I’d hoped.  If the kid’s “stuff” is piling up in drawers or under the bed, and you don’t know what to buy to get it all scrapped, this might be for you. 

With three kids, I needed some help.  I L-O-V-E the snap closure pockets for all the certificates and special papers, one for each year. 

(Reading with an RSS reader?  You might have to click into see the photos below)

I cut all the photos out and then ran them through a 4X6″ Zyron sticker maker so that adhering would be a breeze.  Small pics are great to work with (I print the out on my own Photo Quality Printer using Vivera photo ink in an HP PSC 1510 All-in-One), but adhering all of them can get tedious.  The sticker maker makes it NICE.  The Xyron’s are only like $15.00 at Wal*Mart and the refills are like $8.00 or so.  Not back for acid free tape.  I’d use that much going all the way around the edges of each photo. 

I used photo corners as embellishments, added a bit of ribbon, and highlighted the text curve with new permanent markers to bring emphasize to the word line (barely visible here in an arc on the upper right page).  I made a brown sticker border strip out of the excess from the sticker sheet included.  I also edged one of the chipboard photo corners to give it a bit of brown accent color.  The journaling is SO easy with this sticker dots and titled and untitled journaling blocks.  I added the 123-ABC stickers from my stash, but the other elements were included, including the fun polka.  All the papers are gender nuetral and yet fun.

I can’t think of any other way to do 29 pictures on a two page spread and not have it look jumbled! 

A close up of the heavy chip-board elements to give it a bit of a 3-D feel without adding too much bulk to a thick book.

Even though Red didn’t go to preschool, I high-lighted his year at home, educational family trips, and what he learned just living!  The kit came with these cute metal brads (which are the light blue dots you see mounting the chipboard).

Each year has enough scrapbook supplies for at least 4 pages and a pocket for that year, and an acid free “notebook page” you can use to write a letter for your child for that year.  I used the first to write a note of the things were were praying for him that year and put it in a hidden pocket.

This is just the notebook paper, blank and really thick card-stock.  You can use the paper it for borders, background accent, or journaling.

I added a page for the back of the year and may add one to begin the front “first page”.

Here I used the journaling blocks as the emphasize design point of the page and some stickers I had for “Us”.  Keeping it simple and clean is my goal with the focus on the pictures and story rather than fancy design elements.  I want each child’s to look somewhat equivalent in style, and the kids being the same will help guide.   Next time, I want to print one focal picture among the smaller ones, but I like this look, too, and won’t go back and change it.  Enjoy the finished product and move on, I say!  I may add some buttons or something to this page, I don’t know. 

I did Goldilock’s Kindergarten layouts early this week and will post them soon for those interested in ways you can use the kit.  I’d love to find kits of others using it to see what they are doing also.  I’ll get on that!

There is a cool video that shows all the parts here.

UPDATE:  I’ve started a FlickR group for anyone who wants to post layout ideas:  Click Here to Join!  I’d love to see what you’ve done.

Almost Sold Out the First Day!

Becky Higgins’ School Years Kit of The Month (KOTM)

Check out Becky Higgins’ School Years Kit of the Month!  The new Creating Keepsakes Kit of the Month for February is a School Years set – preschool through grade 12 (I HEART the plastic pockets that go along with it!!!  Oh, check out the video on the site here !  I’ve been looking for something like this for A LONG TIME).  Check out all the details here and here and read answers to her questions about it here.  I figure I would have paid that much for me an organization pocket system alone.  I’m excited to get the space under my guest bed fire-proofed with these folders!

BUT…they went up today, and there are only 10% remaining!  

It’s okay to be a pack rat if you meaningfully store things…right?  Or does that just make you OCD?  Nope, I don’t think I’m OCD by the looks of my desk!!!  🙂