I'm running my Craft Robo and KNK Studio GE on my iMAC!

I did it!!!

 I've got my iMAC, with my Parallels Program which allows you to run Microsoft windows within a window of the MAC machine. I've installed my Silhouette/Craft Robo and it works - and I've installed my KNK Studio GE 8 and it also works with my cute little dongle!

This is pretty revolutionary - the fact that I can create and cut on my iMAC instead of a PC is pretty darned awesome!  Especially with this huuuge beautiful screen ;)  I've attached some pics and encourage anyone who has any questions to give me a shout!

and my cut flowers ...

I did it, I did it..... IIIIIIIIIII did it!!!  

I'm doin' the happy dance - thank youu Sandy :)

Have a wonnnnderful day!

· ´¨¨)) -:¦:- -:¦:-
¸.·´ .·´¨¨)) Live with integrity.... -:¦:-
((¸¸.·´ ..·´ Create with passion!
-:¦:- ((¸¸.·´* -:¦:- NikkiNix

http://prettylittlethingstocut.blogspot.com

3D Paper Flowers

OOOhhhh Bonnie has done it again!! I honestly wish I could see past the obvious and think like this awesome paper crafter. Look what she's created on this blog post - awesome!

· ´¨¨)) -:¦:- -:¦:-
¸.·´ .·´¨¨)) Live with integrity.... -:¦:-
((¸¸.·´ ..·´ Create with passion!
-:¦:- ((¸¸.·´* -:¦:- NikkiNix

Homemade Christmas idea

How fun would this (or a cooler customized version of it) be as a hand-made gift?

Thanks to Vanilla Joy for the idea

· ´¨¨)) -:¦:- -:¦:-
¸.·´ .·´¨¨)) Live with integrity.... -:¦:-
((¸¸.·´ ..·´ Create with passion!
-:¦:- ((¸¸.·´* -:¦:- NikkiNix

Vinyl Cutting Ideas for your DigitalCraft Cutter

Wow! I know my digital craft cutter can cut vinyl, and I know that Quickutz sells cutter files for this purpose, but my imagination was seriously stretched when I began realizing the limitless possibilities of what (if I had the time) I could create. I found myself on the http://www.rightonthewalls.com website and it blew my mind! Check them out for some awesome products to purchase or ideas for your own inspiration.

For example, this rightonthewalls quote uses the Aquarelle FREE font that I first discovered when I did my daughter's first birthday thank you cards, how simple and stunning. You have to check them out and see what absolutely adorable things they have... especially the one for twins under the home and then nursery link - how awesome!!



· ´¨¨)) -:¦:- -:¦:-
¸.·´ .·´¨¨)) Live with integrity.... -:¦:-
((¸¸.·´ ..·´ Create with passion!
-:¦:- ((¸¸.·´* -:¦:- NikkiNix

New free dingbat font for die cutters

Clever Someday has some gret tips for digital cutting.

The 09KutUps is a shapes font made especially for SCAL and other cutting machines that can cut truetype fonts. Every shape has been optimized for cutting. CLICK HERE and in the middle of the second paragraph it says "download font here" with the "here" in green

Just awesome!

Tips & Tricks: Cottage Pop Up!

How cool would it be to give a cottage pop-up card to a cottage-hostess this summer?! Here's a pop up with a template and video tutorial thanks to my awesome BlogBuddy over at Extreme Cards and Papercrafting!!

There are also some neat designs here at www.victorianorman.com that have great designs for digi cutters!

a digi cutter for CAKE DECORATING??!! OMG!

I never in a million years would have thought of using my digi cutter like this!!

Check out these cakes!!

Thanks Kbon for sharing this and the information the cake artist posted on another group:

"I use a Cricut to cut gum paste. First of all, you have to remove all of the tackiness from the cutting mat, otherwise you can't get the paste off after it's cut. (I literally rub it all off with my fingers then wash the mat in hot water.) To hold the paste in place, I apply a thin smear of Crisco to the mat. I roll the paste thin, to a #7 on my pasta machine, and let it dry slightly. It works best with old gum paste actually. I trim the paste so that it does not extend beyond the area that paper would normally be on the mat. I set the blade depth to a 4. I get very clean, precise cuts except when the blade needs to be cleaned (after about 24 uses). I just remove the blade holder and use a straight pin to flick out the build up of paste. It comes right out, and I'm up and running again."

Juuust awesome!!

Pop Ups and pretty things !

I got a comment on my blog from C over at Extreme Cards and Papercrafting and my goodness does she have some NEAT ideas and great tutorials!! WOW! I'd recommend you grab a cup of tea and peruse her blog, or just get out your digi cutter and start on this lil' project :)

Digi-Cutter templates

One of Sandy McCauley's customers sent her this link and it has a wonderful collection of jpg images you can use for tracing/creating your own personal cutting files: http://www.papercutters.info/SA/Galleries/index.php?dir=./Back%20Street%20Designs%20Pattern%20Books

Cool :)

Ohhhh a pretty little FREEBIE!!!

Darcy's gone and done it again, with another adorable freebie on her blog as a teaser to a beautiful file of none other than a humingbird on a flower!!! It's soooo sweet and the word file - just soooo cute!! Makes me want to make some cards right now!!


Not meaning to Blog-Brag (well, ya, I am) I have been really impressed with the simplicity, and quality of Darcy's cutter files, they are awesome!! What strikes me the most is how she designs them for the ease of cutting, no small parts, layers and texture. I started actually rething how I design my own files after looking at her assembly instructions.

Here's a file I won when she offered some blog-candy ... I love this file so much, I use it often becasue it is so darned EASY, classy and well designed!! Ahhh... she's simply a breath of fresh air!!

Thanks Darcy... and I especially looove the font use used for the "Pretty Little Thing" in your Hummingbird Words file - howww tweet!!

My SWEET luck - woo hoo!!

I won blog candy!
I don't even know what blog candy is, but I won!!
I'm doin' the happy dance!! YAYYY!! Thank you Darcy!

Okay, now that the excitement has died down, I realize I won blog candy over at Darcy's Blog. I subscribed to the news feed and just got the notification a few minutes ago! She's got such awesome files, and I get to choose one free file from the store - yayyy!! There's still an awesome FREE Girly Girl file available which she's taking down any minute now - so sign up for the newsfeed so you'll know when there are more goodies!! Sooo.. back to my candy win - after much *fun* contemplation, I chose this file, I think I'll use it very frequently cause it's just so darned cute!!! Check out her other adorable files over at Visual Designs by Chris.

Thanks Darcy!!!

FREE FILES - got your attention didn't I :)

CHEERS! If you are a new cutter owner and I really hope my blog is useful to you :)

When I first got my Cutter, I scoured the web for free files that I could play with and soon got frustrated because whatever project I was working on would take forever becasue I knew *exaclty what I wanted* and either had to buy it or find it for free online. Well, when searching for just the right cutter file, I encountered version issues, file type issues and incredulously I found a lot of great files and ideas and collected what I thought was a lot of free files - yippieee!! Like candy to a craft-addict!!!

Then, I had to figure out a filing system, and then I just got frustrated when the file I wanted to use needed just a little tweek here or there and one that could not be accomplished after I cut it. I was ready to cry at my Valntines Day attempt, I swear I wanted to throw my machine out the window!

I realized my creative brain was much too big for the software that came with the Silhouette. I broke down soon after and collected my pennies and invested in the greatest program - the KNK Studie GE software and WOW! Once I started playing with it and going over the tutorials that came with the purchase, and those free on iloveKNK.com and the fantastic user manual that came with - my juices were flowing.

So I was recently cleaning up a bit of old stuff because I am so loving my program that I dont really use GSD files anymore... I came accross my list of gold - which I have included below. I hope it helps some of you newbies, it sure helped me at the time but WOW... now, I don't BUY files - I create them in a blink of an eye!!

I'll even admit, I own a QuicKutz Silhouette and spent some money buying GSD Files and NOW... HA! I coudl create and cut those same files in just a few minutes - thanks to the KNK Studio GE Software.

Good luck, and happy cutting!!!


Tutorials and Tools
http://02af4c4.netsolstores.com/MachinecomparisonsTSI.htm
http://new.myfonts.com/WhatTheFont/
http://www.iloveknk.com/
http://scrapbooking.arnolds.net.au/forum/viewforum.phpf=4&sid=f43ec12b09c3248c2c091352550ffa09 (tutorials)
http://www.scrapbook.com/forums/showforum.php?fid/50/
http://www.batchconverter.com/image-converter.html (change file types by group)
http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F2Fcrafty.actifforum.com%2F&langpair=fr%7Cen&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

Free GSD & KNK Files & For files sale
http://www.4shared.com/dir/15995478/45b64a0a/KNK_Files_by_Nikki.html
http://www.4shared.com/dir/12150434/f3b662f5/GSD_Files_by_Nikki.html
http://www.fam-bjork.se/monicas-hobbysida/
http://www.quillingpatch.com/category/freebie-friday/
http://02af4c4.netsolstores.com/index.asp?ageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=7
http://www.littlebit.com/cutter/cutter_files_index.html
http://02af4c4.netsolstores.com/index.aspPageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=7 http://creations.110mb.com/whatsnew.htm
http://www.timeforcrafting.co.uk/templates.html
http://www.collectedmemories.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/cmStore.woa/wa/page?key=morefreediecuts
http://www.eduplace.com/rdg/hme/k_5/shapebook/toc.html
http://www.bosskutdesigns.com/
http://www.letsbescrappy.com/cutter_files/cutter_files.htm
I know there are more out there, you might also look for websites that have pdf files you can convert, or jpgs too.

A resource for GSD Junkies
CRAFTY, le Craft Robo
Davesangel
Dianas Designs
Great Scrappin Designs
Hinkeltje fotografie & scrapbooking
I Love Craft Robo
Jayrewcraft - GSD Downloads
JennieBean Crafts
Kreations By Katie
Looking Out
Monique
MyDieCuts.com
Mydiecuts
Paperthreads
Serialpurrs
Signmax.us
Sussann's Blog - Cutter Files
The latest by Mary
The Scrapbook Lady - GSD Downloads
Time for crafting
Ukscrappers - Craft Robo
Visual Designs By Chris
Wishblade Files
Wishblade GSD Files
Wishblade
http://www.scrapmag.info/crafty/index.php (French site - all free)
http://www.duckysdesigns.com/KNK/Freebies/freebies.html
http://wordpress.com/tag/free-gsd/
http://papercuttingfun.com/wishblade/
http://www.paperthreads.com/forum/index.php
http://aussiescrapsource.typepad.com/aussie_scrap_source/quickutz/index.html (Free .GSD)
http://www.paperthreads.com/ (mostly for sale) (message board for sharing)
http://scrapbooking.arnolds.net.au/forum/index.php
http://ukscrappers.co.uk/ (go to the Craft Robo part of the Forum)
http://www.designsbyduchess.com/dsphotography/wishblade/wishblade.htm http://www.thewishbladingwell.com/
http://greatscrappindesigns.com/store/Default.asp
http://www.thescrapbooklady.co.uk/catalog/gsddownload.php
http://www.jersgirl.com/temps.html (jpg templates) Matching QK &

TTF Fonts:
http://www.scrapbook.com/blogs/19078/view/3115.html
http://www.publicfont.com/category/quickutz.php
http://mamawslegacy.wordpress.com/ (blog; free files almost daily)
http://mamawslegacy.com/cut/cut.html (free cutting files)
http://mamwawslegacy.cuttersmarket.com/ (cutting files; files in gallery)
http://www.letsbescrappy.blogspot.com/ (inexpensive for sale)
http://www.visualdesignsbychris.com/store/home.php
http://www.digitalcraftcutters.com/id67.html

Ideas for creating:
http://www.letteringdelights.com/
http://www.deltaphiscrappa.com/DayCrop28.html
http://www.estiloweddings.com/CUPCAKE-WRAPPERS/cart.php?m=product_list&c=97

Awesome free files - thanks Monica :)

http://www.fam-bjork.se/monicas-hobbysida/en_index.html

Awesome - Free files!!

This blogger is committing to a file a day for a year and she is offering them free. Hope you all find something you can convert for your use! http://vendibles.wordpress.com/365-free-svg/

My pretty baby

Hi again,

I've been slowly but surely getting our vacation pics into my daughter's scrapbook album and thought I'd share this cute google find that I actually traced myself. Unfortunately though, my tired 3AM eyes and brain saved over my original file and I only have a block of "all black" and "all reds" saved that I put together to cut to save on paper and of course, sorry but I saved over the original traced file (and knowing me may never need or use it again so sorry) but I traced it in no time at all so feel free to try your hand!!

I actually gave her hairstyle piggy tails instead and added a feathery thingy on the scrapbook page it's on so she'd look more like my daughter ;)

If you're my facebook friend, shes wearing the outfit in my profile pic... and as of today you can take a peek on my very first post to see my profile pic ;)

The font I used for the layout was Chinese Takeaway and I think the page turned out quite cute!

LittleChineseGirl.GSD (This one was retraced in RoboMaster just for you Lisa)

LittleChineseGirl.JPG

Enjoy!

Tips & Tricks: Converting KNK to GSD Files

Thanks Edita :)

I'm addicted and LOVING the KNK Studio GE !!

Hey fellow newbies ... I saved up the coffee coins and made the plunge!! I purchased Sandy McCauley's KNK Studio GE from the package deal link on the right at http://www.iloveknk.com/ For those of you who've read about my frustrations you know I was going nutz because I couldn't erase a stinky little line in my Valentines card... IMAGINE! One line, driving me to drink!! Well, I had some generous people try to help me but we were limited by software capabilities and time but in the end, this is the video that sold me on this product. That's as well as Sandy's very generous responses to my questions and posts on Yahoo groups.

Seriously no one's paying me to say this... this software is amazingly INTUITIVE, with bright colours, simple easy to understand icons and for goodness sakes the darned thing makes sense!! No rocket science and trying to make-do becasue of software limitations, and I can finally enjoy designing and manipulating images to cut on my Silhouette. I've got a pep in my step and got joy in my heart as I plan to make my scrapbooking pages of my lil' darlin' EXPLODE now that I have this under control!!

I haven't had much time to actually start playing with real files but have experimented with things and adjusted my preferences as aI go page by page through the manual and I am SO THRILLED I feel the need to use an expeltive I am so thrilled !!! I can't wait to completely get through the manual that SHE, Sandy McCauley wrote and the free video tutorials on her website and the additional ones that come free with your purchase!! Siiiigh... it's a certainly a great day :)

And... our vacation was wonderful BTW, thanks to you know who you are for asking; I am back to work on March 23rd (that part sucks) tee hee

...and since you're still reading, here's a beautiful heart card I made; the R is from my QK Finale alphabet and the inside of the card was hand-cut (how archaic) to give the two-toned look. Enjoy :)

My Valentines card was a real flop!

Siiiigh... I'm still a little irritated at my machine, and more irritated that it is user error! So, I had my file ready for Valentines, went to the store and bought all the same "type" of paper in the colours I'd need for the card and was all excited at my first big project.

(GASP! Using whole 12X12 sheets, cutting to 8.5x11 to feed through the cutter!!!) I was really spoiled with my QK revolution because I became a TRUE BONAFIED SCRAPper... key word being scraps!! I was able to use up such small pieces by placing them right over the die cut and wow, I could use up a sheet of paper until there was nothing left of it! I really miss that. I miss scrapping too... this has taken up so much time int he learning and experimenting with it :(

... back to the drama!

So, I send the base card to cut and used some advice I got and copied and pasted the exact image 3 times and woudl you believe even though it test cut OKAY!!! The darned card cut what I designed but not all the way through... AGAINNN!!! Grrr how frustrating. No amount of "exacto surgery" could help what I had left to still cut so I was so so soooo disappointed. I honestly don't know what the heck happened :P Needless to say I did not continue and waste even more paper - but packed up the lil one, went to Walmart and spent $5 on a freakin card!!! Grrrr! A nice val card for hubby mind you and CHEAPER than the paper I just bought but so so soooooo disappointing!

Anyway, until we meet again, this is a pic of the unfinished Valentines pop-up that I attempted to create myself. The pop-up is a bit of a problem because I can't alter the outline so the "tabs" are dashed cut instead of a complete cut so lil Taz still separates from the card. I can't tell you enough, despite the new 5.1 version with it's welding, etc - I can't wait for the KNK Studio that I plan to purchase from Sandy at http://www.iloveknk.com/. That woman is just a cutter's angel I tell you. She gets it! She's designed it, cut it, got the Tshirt, wrote the manual and advises on software! WOAHHH!!!! She's my hero and I am buying the program that she endorses, and going to take advantage of the video tutorials she offers with the purchase and from her website. I seriously am salivating and cannot wait!

Speaking of cutter angels, my Guru-cutter friend, Cyndiana Jones flew in to save me when my cuts 'looked like a sugar-loaded 2 year old with a machete made the cutz' hahahaa! I was able to clean my no-sticky-enough cutting mat thanks to her :) Check her out at:

Cynful Designs, For A Little Bit of EveryBling! Silhouette Certified by QuicKutz, 07/21/2008

https://cynfuldesigns.3dcartstores.com/

http://www.cynfuldesigns.com/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SpecialtyPapers/

Examples and Project/Item photos below:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8134592@N05/collections/72157608190810771/

Have a great day and I promise when I figure out the Taz card I'll share it with you so stay tuned ;)

RoboMaster Software

Hi all,

This was posted on the CRFun Yahoo group and I thought you may find it helpful!

From: Anna D. - hey every one here is the link if any one wants the gsd converter,it's to change it so you can open it up in the older versions.
http://www.ukscrappers.co.uk/boards/showthread.php?t=243671&highlight=converter

"it will convert GSD files created by Robomaster v5 in to files that can be opened with Robomaster v4.4."

Happy scrappin'

Nikki

I'm loving the weld function in the RM 5.1 software

So I am still not edu-ma-cated on the inkscape software yet although I now have it installed on my machine. However, I did manage to download the new RoboMaster 5.1 software last night from Quickutz for my original Silhouette machine and it has the weld function so I played with it and made a cute card for my Mummy that of course is yours to play with - ENJOY!!

Have a great day!!
Nikki


P.S. The jpg here is of my first test cut, afterwards, I did clean up the top and bottom ribbon holes to be smaller for the start of the ribbon line and also edited the width of the ribbon holes to be narrower and closer to the width of the ribbon too, so although I haven't cut it again, I am pretty sure it will be even cuter now! I added the "Mummy" cutout using the Lucida Handwriting font that is similar to the QK Marisa font.