I've Moved!

I've Moved!
Please visit my new blog!

This blog contains affiliate links!

Some of the links in the posts on this blog are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission (Thank you!) Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will add value to my readers.
Email me ..........................

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Where to find files for your Silhouette machine–free SVG & SIL files.

Below are sites that offer lots of freebies.
I will update this from time to time.  Feel free to add your favorites in the comments - freebies or paid files!
Apex Cuttable Designs
A. Spoon Full of Sugar*
Agus Yornet  
Beanie’s Tag You’re It 
BeaOriginal
Bird’s Cards             
Brittany's svg files Craft Edge
Cre8ive Cutz
Create, Believe, Imagine 

Creativity = Sanity 
 
Cuts by Connie  - a lot of broken links & you’ll have to go back a few pages for free files.
Digital Designs by Stephanie

Ducky's Designs 
Einnej 
Everything Ladybug - lots of ladybug files!
The Free SVG Blog
Get Silvered

iDiecut.com 
(I) (L)ove (D)oing All Things Crafty  
Images by Heather M 
Kerri Bradford
KLDezign les SVG – in French but not too hard to navigate
Krafty Nook - TONS of great FREE file sets!  Click here for a tutorial on how to download them.
Krewella Kreations
LA's Cricut and SVG creations  
Little Scraps of Heaven Designs - weekly freebie 
LKC Designs – list on the right side of page
Love Paper Crafts  

Make The Cut Forum
Miss Kate’s Cuttables – daily freebie!
Monica Bjork
PapaSue Creates  
Paper Creativity
Paper Yoga
Pretty Paper, Pretty Ribbons – new Freebie every Friday  
Quilling Patch 
SCALE - Files 
Scout and Ro Design Co

Scrapbook & Cards Today
ScrappinbyKris 
Scrappin Doodles – sign up for their email list for Friday Freebies   
Scrappinfun.com 
Something to Craft About  
Shery K Designs   - links on right side of the page the page     
SVG Cuts
SVG Cutting Files - some really cute Star Wars freebies & lots of others.
Too Cute by Jessica
Treasure Box Designs - Freebie every Tuesday  
Wanda's Cards and Crafts
Top 40 Lists – listed in order of website traffic, I think
Make The Cut
Silhouette
Sure Cuts A Lot 

Silhouette Cameo & Make The Cut!

I have been using electronic die cutting machines for close to 10 years.  I’ve used a few different ones (Wishblade, Cricut & Silhouette) as well as a few different software programs including Sure Cuts A Lot (SCAL), Silhouette Studio (SS), SS Designer Edition (DE) & Make The Cut! (MTC) and have found that my Silhouette Cameo and Make The Cut! are my tools of choice.  The Silhouette cuts beautifully & precisely. I love the ability to create my own titles using any font on my computer, to create files using shapes or images and also to purchase and/or share files.  There is also a print & cut feature that is fantastic.  Here’s a brief video showing just a bit of what the Cameo can do:
I LOVE my Silhouette Cameo!!

If you’re even thinking about getting a Silhouette machine (Cameo has a larger cutting area than the smaller Portrait) you should download the free Silhouette Studio program.  Play around with the program, watch videos and start collecting shapes!   Here is a link to download the Silhouette Studio program http://www.silhouetteamerica.com/software

Silhouette offers a free shape each week in the Silhouette store. You'll probably receive a download card with your Silhouette Machine good for $10 in the Silhouette Store so if you’re waiting to get a Silhouette you can set up an account, start shopping or create a wish list.   http://www.silhouetteonlinestore.com/

I have found that the free program that comes with the Silhouette machines – Silhouette Studio (SS) - isn’t easy to work with.  It’s unstable – often getting hung up and/or crashing (consider this a reminder to save your work often!)  The tracing feature is hard to use and you’re limited to cutting .sil files with SS.  That is unfortunate because most cut files are in a SVG format.  To cut SVG files you’ll need another program.   You can upgrade to Silhouette Designer Edition – that has more features but it still works the same as SS (with more features) and I’ve experienced the same crashing issues and so have many others I’ve heard from. 

Fortunately, there are some 3rd party software programs out there.  I’ve used both SCAL and MTC and really, really like using MTC.  It was designed by a scrapbookers husband and the software is upgraded from time to time at no charge to MTC owners.  It’s very user friendly!

(I am an affiliate for MTC! – but I became an affiliate because I love the program, not the other way around)

Do yourself a favor – download a trial version of MTC – simply click the “Download Now” button  It is a wonderful program – the layers feature is my favorite.  You can try it out but won’t be able to cut your items until you purchase  your copy of MTC.  Once you do that  you’ll be able to cut all other file types other than .sil files.  You can save files as SVGs, something you can not do in the  upgraded Silhouette Designer Edition program.  I use MTC for everything but .sil files.  I find myself using .sil files less and less because of the issues with the Silhouette programs and because MTC is so much easier to use.

But don’t take my word for it  - see which program you prefer and judge for yourself!

Here is a great comparison between Make The Cut & Silhouette Designer Edition:  http://underacherrytree.blogspot.com/2012/01/why-make-cut-mtc-vs-silhouette-designer.html

Here is a comparison between Silhouette Studio & Designer Edition: http://www.silhouetteamerica.com/media/docs/silhouette-studio-version-comparison.pdf

Here are some other resources for the Silhouette machines.

A good, basic – get started with your machine video:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMQ84O8o33I

This is a great series of videos - she explains things in detail and is easy to follow: http://www.youtube.com/user/2tinytreasures/search...

Tracing Without Tears series - using Silhouette Studio (the software that comes with the Silhouette Machine) http://www.youtube.com/playlist...

Good video about the Print & Cut feature. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqXrUmZoc_o

I have lots of Silhouette/electronic die cutter related pins here on my Silhouette Pinterest Board http://www.pinterest.com/lisa.../silhouette-ideas-and-finds/

and a board dedicated to vinyl projects http://www.pinterest.com/lisagraham/vinyl-projects/

This is where I order my vinyl from – great selection & quick shipping!

EV-Logo

This is a community board showing projects created with Make The Cut - where anyone can pin to it. http://www.pinterest.com/conicuts/make-the-cut/

This is one of my favorite spots for SVG files. Lots of great, fun files and a freebie each day!

Enter to win a Silhouette Cameo from SVG Cuts on Facebook!

I love, love, LOVE my Silhouette Cameo!  It is a fantastic die cutting machine that lets you cut any font you have on your computer, design your own files, use purchased files & more.  It also has a great print & cut feature.  Here’s a chance to win a Silhouette Cameo from SVG cuts!  

Click on the image below to enter.  You’ll receive additional entries when friends enter! You'll earn one extra entry for every friend you refer.  Good Luck!! 

Not familiar with the Silhouette Cameo?  Here’s a post about Silhouette – complete with links to videos, software upgrades & freebie files.

Monday, December 2, 2013

Cardstore

CYBER MONDAY! 49¢ Flat Holiday Cards at Cardstore! TODAY ONLY 12/2/13. Use Code: CCP3122
CYBER MONDAY! Affiliate Exclusive! $1.49 Folded Holiday Cards at Cardstore! TODAY ONLY 12/2/13. Use Code: CCP3149
Personalized Photo Cards at Cardstore, Shop Now!
I recently discovered a great option for creating & sending personalized cards – Cardstore.  They have a very user-friendly process for creating customized cards and they’ll even stamp & mail out your cards, too!  There is no cost (other than the postage) for this option!  You can even schedule ahead of time when cards will be sent out!
Cardstore also has a mobile app so you can create & send cards on the go.

Cardstore has many helpful features including:
* Address Book Upload your entire address book in just a few clicks from your computer. Then you can mail your holiday cards directly to friends and family!
* Favorites:While you're shopping for Thanksgiving cards, mark your “favorite” Christmas cards so later you an select the one that works best with your favorite photo.
* Facebook Photos: Facebook photos make the best photos! Select your holiday card from Cardstore and upload your picture from Facebook. Your photo will appear right on the card! You can also upload photos from other sources:

*Fun designs! 
Including Mary Engelbreit & Awkward Family Photos.  Cardstore also has lots of great choices for kids, too – including One Direction, Care Bears, Hello Kitty, Sesame Street & Thomas.  How I wish I’d have known about Cardstore a few years ago when my boys were all about Thomas the Tank Engine!
image
Cardstore has a fantastic selection of Thanksgiving cards and more, and you’ll save $10 off your order of $30 or more when you use code: CAM3849 at checkout. Valid through 11/20.
Start personalizing today!

Some favorites from Cardstore:



Photobucket