Labor Day Sale at SVG Cuts!

Yup, summer is almost over, but the good news is that you get to save on your favorite SVGs! Now is the time to stock up on Christmas, Thanksgiving and Halloween SVG Kits and Collections. The more you buy, the more you save and remember, this type of sale only happens twice a year!    
 
Save 25% on your entire purchase! No minimum purchase required. Sale begins Wednesday, August 31st, 2011 and runs through Monday, September 5th, 2011 and there is no limit on the number of uses per customer (in case you decide you want to buy more)!

Instructions

1. Visit SVG Cuts.com and start shopping! Be sure to add at least one item to your shopping cart!
2. Type LABORDAY into the Discount Coupon field during step 2 of checkout (see image)
3. Complete your payment and download your files! That’s it!

What's in a Name?

I finally had a chance to try out the Square1 printable, adhesive fabric.  Let me say, it is really cool.  I was a little leary of the whole thing.  I mean, use your printer on fabric?  Seems too Sci-Fi to me!

It took me a while to figure out what exactly I wanted to make with Square1.  The possibilities are endless.  My boys have been asking for some of those wood letters you get at craft stores to hang in their rooms.  Never felt like spending the money on them, then picking out paper then putting it all together.  This was a much better option and easier!

I opened Make the Cut and used the Intramural JL font for the boy's names.  Then I filled it in using the change texture option.  I can't remember where I got the animal print paper for Matthew's sign but Ryan's are a free digital paper pack from MyGrafico, it is by Shery K designs.  I then put a slight shadow on each of the letters with a mitered edge.

After I was happy with my names, I used the totally awesome export to Raster to make a PNG in Make the Cut (another great reason to purchase this program).  Then opening the PNG with my printer program I fired away and waited with bated breath for the magic.  Unfortunately, my printer had other ideas - it ate the sheet!  Ugh, what a waste.  Fortunately, it just messed up the top third and it can still be used for a few small projects.

Making great prints are super simple with their instructions:

Step 1:
Print your SQUARE1 creation one sheet at a time.  Using a single sheet at a time will prevent potential jams or complications.
Step 2:
SQUARE1 inkjet printable media will create very good images on your standard printer settings. Matte photo paper or any non-gloss paper will work best for your “paper settings” and setting your printer to “best” will produce the highest quality prints.  I used "best" with "HP Premium Presentation Paper - Matte" after the mishap with it peeling back.  I think this setting allowed for thicker paper versus the "printer paper - matte" setting I had earlier.
Step 3:
After your SQUARE1 masterpiece is printed, set it aside to allow ample time for your creation to dry. 10–15 minutes will be ample time in most cases.
Step 4:
Cut out your SQUARE1 masterpiece using your electronic digital cutter or simply use a pair of scissors.

I didn't feel like messing with my Silhouette and just cut these out by hand.  Cuts very smoothly. I was afraid of it smudging while I handled it.  It didn't, I am now wondering if it is waterproof too?  Can I make a sign for a damp area like a bathroom?  Hmmm, next test maybe?  I fingered it quite a bit and it still looks great.  This stuff is amazing.  I can't believe how bright the colors came out.  I don't think the picture does justice to Ryan's name.  It is so incredibly bright.

Here you can see them in their final resting place on the kid's door (I know I'm crooked).  Looking good!  I am very delighted and recommend it to those who do vinyl and maybe want a little more for their next project.  I can see using it for making a portrait into a poster or maybe window decals of Christian Bale.  Who knows?  Let me know if any of you have tried this or have more ideas for me.  I still have 7 and a half sheets left.  By the way, this comes in a ten pack for only $19.99 and can be found at Square1's website.

On a side note, my youngest said, "Great mom, now I can never move out.  My name is on the door!"  Oh, yes you can son, yes you can.  These babies are removable!

Edited:  I received an email from Doug over at Square1.  Here's what he had to say about waterproofing:  "By the way, right now it is not waterproof BUT we are testing a very thin laminate film to lay over the printed Square1 material before you cut it…this will protect the ink.  We would sell this on the site too.  Some folks have also used a Krylon spray …this may tend to curl the edges though if not placed on a very smooth surface."

Cool, thanks for the update Doug!!

Up, up and away...

..is where I wish this card would go. I think my creativity has left the building.  At least I am not the only one.  Some of my crafty friends and I were having a conversation last night about where all our craft mojos went.  Maybe Belinda took it when she came and picked up Christian this past weekend.  I don't know.  She seems to be the only one who has any lately. 

Lettering Delights was trying to help me find some mojo when they released their Cut It Tiles.  Some fabu products if you ask me, which you didn't but hear me out anyway.  Cut It Tiles are a small graphic image that you use to fill a vector image such as a SVG in Make the Cut.  There are already some great tutorials out there on how to use these so I won't waste my time trying to explain it in my nonsensical way.  I will just give you the link and let you go crazy learning this great new tool to add to your crafting arsenal.

So, Lettering Delights wanted to see what we could create with their new product and this is what I came up with.  It's not that I think it is ugly, it's just that this stupid thing gave me such a hard time.  It all started with my Silhouette SD acting totally like a teenager and refusing to do what it's told and then went downhill from there.  I am now wishing maybe I had the Big Shot.  I love my Sizzix Texture Boutique and never had a complaint till today when this big card wouldn't fit so I could make the wind swirly thingys for the background.  Sad, sad.

This actually was my first Print and Cut card.  It was pretty easy and cut really close.  I had barely any white showing around the edges.  A big thanks to Lettering Delights for getting me off my rump and finally taking the plunge.  It's those cool Cut It Tiles, I tell ya.  Print and Cut makes for a pretty quick card under normal circumstances (normal is not a word used at our house).

I also finally got to use a set I have had and loved for a long time but never had any ideas for it: Balloon Craze.  The hot air balloon and mountains were created with the tiles and made into a Print and Cut (see video link above).  The clouds and sun are from the same set and just cut into white cardstock with a dollar bin stamp from Michaels.  Then I tried desperately to emboss the base with D'vine Swirls by Cuttlebug with the Texture Boutique. 

As always, I try to spice my project up with a little sumthin, sumthin.  And its twine from Trendy Twine in the Twisted Lime flavor wrapped around the basket. Yummy!  The inside sentiment was made by me if you can believe it.  I used a stamp I made from the Teresa Collins Stampmaker.  Most of the stamps I made were pretty big for those occasions where small just isn't going to cut it.

I think that is it on this one.  Hope you enjoyed your stay and if anyone has seen my mojo please leave it in the comments section on your way out.  Thank you and come again!  ^__^

Tropical sale at My Grafico

Today's my husband's birthday.  And what better way to celebrate it than by spending his hard earned money at the My Grafico Tropical sale!  Hehehehe, well, he won't see the humor in that but I know you guys will ;)

For today only, get 40% off on anything their store has to offer.  Like Digi stamps, SVG cutting templates, clipart, printables and much more.  They have added some new sets for those Halloween and Fall projects.  Don't forget it's Back to School time as well.  (What's that? Peace and quiet in your house, huh?  I home school, so I don't know what that is.  ^__^ ) 

You better hurry as the sale ends at Midnight PDT tonight just like Cinderella's pumpkin. hehehehe Also, to those of you who don't know this, they also have a large freebie section.  This is just a sample of some of the adorable card kits for free.  This Best Friends card kit was designed by Shery K.  Just click the picture below to be taken to the download page.

I think I might make up a bunch of these without the sentiment and when I am in need of a card quick (which is quite often because of my procrastination side) I can just throw it in the envelope and off it goes!  Maybe run it through Photoshop and make a few different colors.  What do you think?  Is that my super time saver tip for the day or what?!?

Anyhoo, hope you guys and gals have a great day crafting!!!!   :D

Two for Tuesday at Lettering Delights

It's Tuesday and you know what that means, don't ya?  It's Two for Tuesday at Lettering Delights!  This week the Cutie Patootie Boy alphabet and graphic set are on sale for one low price.  Each set, just by itself, is $4.00!  So now is the time to pick these adorable sets up if you don't have them already.  Everyone loves a deal, right?

Lettering Delights' Facebook fan page says use the Cutie Patootie Boy for snips, snails and puppy dog tails and everything for creating precious keepsakes for that new baby boy is in this Two for Tuesday Cutie Patootie Boy Bundle! Send announcements, create shower invitations and decorations...but most importantly, create those cherished memory pages because, as we all know, little ones don't stay little for long! Hurry and get two great products for one low amazing price! Offer ends August 22nd at midnight MST.

Friday Freebie from Lettering Delights

This week's Friday Freebie from Lettering Delights is one of their new Cut Its Tile sets. 

 

This is what they had to say: The freebie is the Matryoshka Tiles. What are tiles you may ask??? Well, they are a repeatable pattern that can be used to fill any of their fun graphics and Cut Its. Check out how to do that here using Make the Cut!  They changed a free frog from Banner Day Collection as well as a Matryoshka Doll (on sale until Sunday at midnight). They are fun, easy to use, and help to spice up any of your projects! And they want to see what you can do with them! Post any project using their new tiles to their Facebook wall within the next week and you will be automatically entered in their drawing for a $15 Lettering Delights Gift Certificate!  Contest ends next Friday at midnight MST. Want more than just these 8 tiles? They've got two more sets for as little as 10 cents a tile! Be sure to check out Pucker Up Tiles and their Basic Tiles.

These two pictures are from Lettering Delights Facebook page.  You can see how you use these Cut Its with Make the Cut.  It is great for those quick cards when you don't have the time to paper-piece or have the perfect paper for a project.

You have until Sunday, August 14th to pick up this freebie.  Happy crafting!

Free Gift – School Days SVG Kit

Are you ready for school? Whether you’re the teacher’s pet or the class clown, you’re going to love making the newest school projects, straight from the SVG Cuts studio. Start the school year on the right foot with a present for Teacher. Fill your 3D Pencil Box or 3D Schoolhouse Box with treats, soaps or even an apple for Teacher. Homemade cookies or brownies and a handwritten note go a long way. Get help from your student and make a project together! Your download also includes everything you need to make the 12×12 scrapbook page for a 4×6 photo. So easy to import and cut! Scrapbook this year’s photo of the kids’ first day, or pull out an old photo and get it scrapped. You also get everything you need to make both cards (with envelopes) and an Extras folder full of each individual element saved separately to make it easy to get creative on other projects.

Another Tweet Card

Happy day everyone!  Have you seen the sky over Central Ohio?  If not, go outside and look at God's majesty.  Just awesome.  I could be going overboard because I am finally feeling better after having a terrible weekend.  Stomach flu and all that.  Much better now, thanks for asking ;)

I finally took some pictures of the card I made Monday, was supposed to post yesterday but had unexpected company.  I want to thank Terri, Ken and yes, even Joe for coming over to help my husband get that tree that fell over in our yard a few weeks ago taken care of.  That was a lovely gesture of friendship.  It would have taken him and the boys forever LOL. Well, Terri kept me company while the men did their thing.  Thanks again guys!!

I promised I would make a few cards with The Digi Bistro's Birds of a Feather mini set.  So here is number two:

Once again, I love this little set.  I just love the different birds Cher has included.  Here what I used -

The Digi Bistro's Birds of a Feather mini set
DCWV Old World stack in three different patterns
DCWV Latte stack for the purple banner and bird
Quiggly Wiggly font for Tweet
Trendy Twine for the middle of button
The Birds and the Bees stamp set by My Thoughts Exactly
Tulip Beads in a Bottle
For the life of me I don't remember the SVG I used for the Flower (stinks getting old)

I used a half circle from basic shapes in Make the Cut for the top and I traced a small bottle and cut by hand to make the tab on the green paper.  Hindsight, I need to use a darker ink to make my sentiment for the inside readable.  I didn't feel like trying to fix it and maybe messing it up, so I left it alone.

That's pretty much it.  If you have any questions, leave a comment for me.  I just found out on Facebook my sister-in-law is coming for a visit today.  I better get finished on cleaning.  The boys and I have been doing our Spring cleaning four months late (told you I was a slacker). So things are kind of out of place.

Don't forget to head over here to enter my giveaway for a chance to win this set that the wonderful Cher has donated.

Oh, if anyone knows how to get a Sharpie paint pen off of wood, let me know.  I just bought one and while trying to get the stupid thing to work, I was shaking it like a mad woman and it got all over my dining room table.  It wouldn't come out of the tip on paper but got everywhere else!  Go figure. If you have any ideas, please tell me!  The things I have tried are a no go.  Thanks for stopping by and having a look see and go enter my giveaway!  O_o

Manic Monday: Birthday Fishes

Lettering Delights is celebrating their 2 year Facebook birthday this month with nearly 15,000 fans and Facebook Fan Days! For the entire month of August, you’re invited to join them for all the festivities, bonus freebies, giveaways, tips, project ideas, secret savings and fun. Join them online to make a new friend or two (or 15,000!) at Lettering Delights’s Facebook page. And get a load of this whale of a deal for Manic Monday! Get our Birthday Fishes Graphic Set for $2 or Cut it Set for just $2.50 until midnight (MST) tomorrow night! Happy Monday!

Get the Birthday Fishes graphic set or Cut It set for an unbelievably low price till Tuesday, August 9th.

MyGrafico Weekend Madness Sale 40% off

Have a blog? Earn Money Here!

Giveaway featuring The Digi Bistro!

Wow, it's that time again, huh?  I love hosting great giveaways and this time around, the wonderful Cher over at The Digi Bistro offered to help me out!  How cool is she?!?  Cher has for your SVG cutting pleasure donated an entire mini set called Birds of a Feather to one lucky winner!  Again, how cool is she?!?

I thought I would make a card with this 'tweet set (hehe, get it?) before I set up the contest rules.  So here it is -

I forgot to tell Cher I stink at picking color combinations out.  hehe  I hope she likes it!  At first, I thought the background paper too busy, now I think it looks like this sweet little bird is flying through a patch of flowers.

The card base is K & Co. Best of stack with a little glitter glue on the red flowers.  The SVG flower, tag and bird paper is from a misc. bag of scraps I purchased from Michaels.  The "You're Tweet" tag was made by enlarging the two middle pieces of Cher's flower and My Thoughts Exactly the Birds and the Bees stamp collection.  And of course, beautifully accented by Trendy Twine in Strawberry Cupcake (yum!).

The three little blue translucent beads in the lower left corner are this awesome product I found while looking for cheaper Pearl Pens.  They are made by Tulip and are called Beads in a Bottle.  Can you say awesome!  Love the look and they bead nicely for less than half the price of Viva Decor.  Bonus!

Now on to the rules, they are several ways to enter.  Do any one of these or all three!  For each number you do, it's an entry!

     1. Leave a comment!  Super simple.  But please be sure and leave an email address so I can contact you if you are a winner.  Otherwise, I will have to pick a new winner.

     2. Become a follower!  If you are already a follower, leave a separate comment telling me.  That way you have two entries and my number system stays intact.  ^__^  If you aren't, become one and leave a message telling me you are now following The Happy Card Encouragement Factory.

     3. Go to The Digi Bistro's Facebook page! Like it and tell Cher Becki sent you and how much you like the Birds of a Feather mini set!  Then come back here and let me know by posting a new comment.

See?  Total of three chances to win!  Sweet!  I am giving you guys till Saturday, August 13, 2011 at 8 pm EDT.  Then I will use Random.org to pull a winner.  That gives you a week to enter and tell your friends about our little giveaway.

If you don't win, you will still be able to purchase the full set of this lovely SVG creation by going to The Digi Bistro's website.  Good luck and happy crafting!