THE HOBBY LADY

Get Well Cards

2011-05-14T16:35:00.000-04:00

I made two Get Well Cards today. This tent card is for a little boy, Dylan, that is sick. The MTC forum posted a challenge to get everyone to make cards to send to him to lift his spirits. You can read about him HERE.

My husband also has a co-worker that has had surgery recently and he ask me to make a card for him. So this is the card.

Both cards were made using a Riley Moose stamp, nestabilities dies, Fiskars embossing plates and Copics of course. Tried to make them "manly or boyish" so Riley the Moose was the perfect choice. Thanks for looking.

Expecting Baby Layout

2011-05-07T20:19:00.002-04:00

I am starting a scrapbook for my daughter, who at this time has had my granddaughter. So this layout with more to follow will be a little late.

I love to create my layout pages in Make the Cut beforehand so that I can see how placement will be and what embellishments I want. This was all cut with my Gazelle!!

(hid daughters belly since she was showing it-not sure she would appreciate showing the "world")

I have attached the MTC file if you would like this layout. When you open it in Make the Cut you will see the layout page. The lock is on the page. This is to show you how to assemble it, although you can move it around to the way you would like. I have made three cutting pages(tabs) for this file (included) so that it will make it easy to cut the separate elements. See the journaling tag, baby peeker and stork tabs on this file. Unlock them before cutting and move the group around for your paper placement and cutter. Also on the stork page remove the note that I added to the page about the stork color before cutting.

Click HERE for the MTC file.

I used Peachy Keen face stamps (Everyday Faces) on the baby peeker. I will have the stork holding the baby in a future layout to share. Look for it soon.

Hope you like this.

Envelope Photo Keeper Album

2011-05-07T15:51:00.000-04:00

I had already started this project but figured what better day than today to finish it. National Scrapbooking Day!

Okay so if you are like me you have tons of photos but only pick from a few to put on scrapbook pages. Sometimes I have a lot that I still would like to show off. So I have made another type of mini-album to hold all of the extra photos and keep them arranged by event.

Directions:

This mini-album is made using 5-3/4" x 8-3/4" white greeting card envelopes. It will fold accordian-style once completed. You can use whatever number of envelopes you choose to depending on how many photos you have to put in the envelopes and how many envelopes you wish to decorate. With this one I used 7 envelopes.

To make, you layer the envelope bottom edge (open side of envelope) facing up, over the flap of the next envelope, sealing the flap to the front bottom of the envelope with adhesive. Once you have all envelopes attached. You will need to make a front cover for the first envelope flap that has not been attached to an envelope. Cut two pieces of heavy cardstock 5-1/2" x 8-3/4". Attach these to the front and back of the first envelope flap as well as to each other to make a cover.

Then you can begin embellishing the front and back of the envelopes.
Here are the dimension of the scrapbook paper pieces you will need to complete the book:

Inside Liner (where the photos are kept): 8" x 2"

Inside Liner (for the outer envelope): 8-1/2" x 4-1/2"

Front of envelope: 8-1/2" x 5-1/2"

Ribbon to add to the front cover and to the last page.

Tip: Before starting this project or any other project I like to draw out a diagram of how it will be put together, then I can make changes as needed. After completing this project, I found that this would fold easier using an even number of envelopes.

Hope you like this project.

Happy National Scrapbooking Day!!!

2011-05-07T12:18:00.000-04:00

Today is National Scrapbooking Day!! A day where we try to find as much time as possible to work on scrapbooking, card making and other paper crafts. I hope you are getting to enjoy some crafting time. I am. I will try to post some pictures of the projects I have been working on a little later today.

Have fun!!!

The Gazelle Has Arrived

2011-05-03T14:03:00.000-04:00

My Gazelle arrived today!!! I have it unpacked and ready to read the operating instructions. I got in on the special that included the Gazelle and everything that comes with it (Gazelle Cutter, Funtime 2010 software, 700 shapes and 200 fonts, cutting mat, blade, blade holder, usb cable and the instruction manual). Along with this I received a bonus package extra deep cut blade, extra replacement blades, vinyl blade and an extra cutting mat. This extra gold cutting mat is an extra sticky mat that is great to use with chip board and other heavy cutting materials. I also ordered the Pre-set blade holder as this was highly recommended by other Gazelle owners.

The features of the Gazelle are:

**12" cutter, 500 grams of pressure

**Cuts a variety or media, including: chipboard, glitter paper, vinyl and much more

**Optical eye, used for print and cut

**Draw, cut, weld, outline, shadow, pierce, embroidery, engrave, cut decorative edges with the scissor tool and much more

**Scan and vectorize your own images

**Cut True Tpe Fonts

**Works with Windows OS XP, Vista or 7

**One added feature not on the box but that I know...It will cut with the Make The Cut software. It is one of the cutter options when ready to cut your project.

I hope to share my learning experience with this cutter and maybe make a few tutorials to share. Now off to register my cutter on the Bosskut Forum site and then to start playing.

Easter Egg

2011-04-09T18:14:00.002-04:00

Click Here For this MTC File.

Easter Basket With Eggs

2011-04-09T18:10:00.002-04:00

This file has a lot of detail pieces. A suggestion when cutting, cut by sections, as it's layered in the file. Leave the pieces on the cutting mat and take off each piece and place it in place on the background, one piece at a time. This way you will know where each little piece goes.

Click Here to get this MTC file.

Easter Bunny Photo Peeker

2011-04-09T14:53:00.003-04:00

What a cute bunny to place on top of your favorite Easter picture.

Click Here for the MTC file.

Happy Tuesday

2011-03-22T19:49:00.000-04:00

I have not updated in awhile. I got caught up in the Facebook craze of playing the games, was especially addicted to Frontierville.....it took over my life. No crafting, reading, anything. I have taken hold of my life again and pushed Facebook to the side. I will check in periodically to keep up with friends but it is back to what I like to do....crafting.

Some of you may have heard recently that the lawsuit between MTC and Provocraft was just settled and MTC will no longer support the Cricut machines. I still have the latest version of MTC. It has been said that as long as you don't update, you can still use MTC with your Cricut machines. I don't plan on updating for now. I have decided to boycott, along with many others, Provocraft and refuse to purchase any more of their products. I believe this was a huge mistake on PC's part. So just in case something goes haywire and my copy of MTC will no longer work with my Expression forcing me back to just cartridges, I decided to take an alternative route to keep my own creative freedom.

With that said, I am EXCITED to say that Bosskut was having a fantastic sale last week and part of this week on the Gazelle. And I caved. This is going to be my new toy for cutting. The reviews have been awesome and I am so looking forward to getting my package....where are you UPS man? I heard it even cuts a "full" 12 inch border, unlike the Expression that can't.

Hopefully soon, I will be adding more cut files to share and maybe even some tutorials or videos.
Have a Happy Tuesday!!!

My new Gazelle will be at its new home soon!!!

Baby Shower Diaper Cake

2010-11-07T17:17:00.000-05:00

I decided to make a diaper cake for my daughter's upcoming baby shower. Take a look, hope you like the pics.

FRONT VIEW

BACK VIEW

LEFT SIDE

RIGHT SIDE

To make this I used 8 diapers on the top tier, 22 diapers on the second tier, 44 diapers on the third tier and 66 diapers on the bottom-fourth tier.

To make this I rolled a Pampers size 1 diaper from the open waist edge to the crotch edge. Secured it with a rubberband. Once I had 8 done, I placed one in the center and surround it by the other 7. I then secured them all together with another rubberband. This was my first tier.

For the next tiers I followed the above and made another 8 diaper circle then I stuffed additional diapers in between to make another outer layer around the seven. This become my second tier. For the next two tiers I did the same thing just adding another outer layer around each time to increase the layers.

Using a cardboard cake platter found in the cake decorating department I placed the fourth layer on top. Then I placed the third tier on top of the fourth tier added two dowel rods down the layers on opposite sides. This helps keep the layers together. Then I added the second tier on top of the dowel rods and then the top layer. I placed wide ribbon over each layer to hide the rubber band. And then added a big bow with the matching ribbon. I then used thinner ribbon to secure different baby items all around the cake. After it was all completed I wrapped the entire cake in tuille (pic not shown) with a big bow on top to deliver it to the baby shower.

This was a lot of work but the end results were so worth it. I think it turned out fantastic. Hope you like it and are inspired to try one yourself.

Baby Shower Stroller Decoration

2010-11-07T17:00:00.003-05:00

This baby stroller was created in the Make the Cut software and cut out with my Cricut. I am not the creator of this wonderful idea. It was shared with me by a wonderful person over on the Make the Cut forum: Rachellann. Rachellann designed this file and shared it with me so that I could make one for my daughters upcoming baby shower. Someone on the forum suggested that it could sit on the refreshment table and hold either nuts or mints.

Thanks Rachellan for sharing this file. If you would like to see this file or other creations she has made you can visit her on her blog: rachellsmanycrafts.blogspot.com or over at the Make the Cut forum: make-the-cut.com.

Baby Shower Treat Holders

2010-11-07T16:46:00.001-05:00

Baby Bootie Treat Holders

I made these Hershey Kiss treat holders for the refreshment table for each party guest attending my daughter's baby shower.

To make these treat holders, you will need a beverage size paper napkin, plastic disposable bathroom cup, three cotton balls and ribbon approx 13 1/2" long. Unfold the napkin, place the cup almost in the middle of the napkin. Place the three cotton balls beside of the cup to form the toe section of the bootie. Pull the paper napkin up over the cotton balls and the cup, stuffing it into the inside of the cup. Tie the ribbon around the middle of the cup, ending with a bow. Fill with Hershey Kisses (takes about 7 pieces for one). Makes a cute treat holder to add to any baby shower. Make one for each guest coming.

Daisy Border, Corner "Punch" and Daisy Frame

2010-06-14T11:42:00.001-04:00

Here is a Daisy Border and corner "punch" that you can use to make any borders or even Frames. I created the 4x6 frame to show how this can be done. If you need a smaller border, use a cutting shape and change this from 6 or 4 to 2, 3, or 5 daisies. Add two of the 6 daisy borders together to create a 12 inch border. The possibilities are endless. To create the frames just use the copy, mirror, flip and weld functions in MTC.
Enjoy!!

If you would like this MTC file click HERE.

If you would like this SVG file click HERE.

Update.....

2010-06-09T14:49:00.002-04:00

Hi all,
been away a little bit doing the vacation thing. We went to Myrtle Beach for the last week of May and had a blast. But then of course once vacation is over you sorta have to make up for it at work because that weeks work doesn't stop.

So I haven't had a chance to post for a little bit.....BUT......

I will be very shortly as Make the Cut has now come out with another update. It is still in the Beta version...but Andy has really out done himself with this newest version. Take a peek at what he has done: HERE-Make The Cut!

NOTE: This new update is still in the Beta Test version, so if you haven't downloaded the prior version or the trial do that first and play with that. Experienced users are trying out the new Beta update to work out any "kinks" before Andy actually releases it to everyone.

I am so ready to play with this new version and will be sharing some more info (maybe even some new tutorials) very soon.

Check back for some more free files that I will be adding soon.

CyberCrop Weekend

2010-05-16T19:41:00.001-04:00

This has been a busy weekend of crafting. Over at the MTC forum, I participated in their first ever CyberCrop weekend. There were 10 Challenges and 9 Bonus Challenges. You had to do a separate project for each challenge. I was only able to get 7 out of the 10 Challenges completed. Hey but that is more crafting in a weekend than I think I have ever done. LOL!!!

See below for my projects.

Challenge #1 - Color Challenge. Use only the colors Purple and Turquoise (white/black could be used for any journaling).

Challenge #2 - Create a title in MTC with a graphic attached to the words.

Challenge #3 - Create a project using vinyl.

I did not get to Challenges #4 & #5.

Challenge #6 - Paper Piecing. Create a paper piecing piece using MTC.

(note: This is the little lamb from the Strawberry Shortcake series I shared.)

Challenge #7 - Create a project using an animal theme.

Challenge #8 - Use three flowers on your project.
(Made this Get Well Card)

I did not get to Challenge #9.

Challenge #10 - Use metal or embossing.

(I used my cuttlebug and nestability embossing dies

for this birthday card.)

Well, that was my first ever online crop and it was a lot of fun. I am looking forward to participating in many more. Want to join in on some of the fun, join us over at the Make the Cut forum.

Strawberry Shortcake (the New Series)

2010-05-15T21:56:00.003-04:00

Here are a few files from the new series of Strawberry Shortcake. Hope you like them. You can download the layered .mtc file that is ready to cut, or the .svg file.

New Strawberry Shortcake.mtc - Click HERE

New Strawberry Shortcake.svg - Click HERE

New Huckleberry Pie.mtc - Click HERE

New Huckleberry Pie.svg - Click HERE

New Orange Blossom.mtc - Click HERE

New Orange Blossom.svg - Click HERE

Strawberry Shortcake Pets.mtc - Click HERE

Strawberry Shortcake Pets.svg - Click HERE

New Series of Strawberry Shortcake

2010-05-14T07:59:00.002-04:00

In the next day or two I will be adding several characters from the new series of Strawberry Shortcake.
Check back soon.

I hope you enjoyed the vintage characters, please let me know what you think of them.

Strawberry Shortcake

2010-05-14T07:56:00.000-04:00

Strawberry Shortcake.mtc - Click HERE

Strawberry Shortcake.svg - Click HERE

Strawberry Cake.mtc - Click HERE

Strawberry Cake.svg - Click HERE

Stawberries.mtc - Click HERE

Strawberries.svg - Click HERE

Orange Blossom

2010-05-13T07:46:00.002-04:00

Orange Blossom.mtc - Click HERE

Orange Blossom.svg - Click HERE

Orange with Blossom.mtc - Click HERE

Orange with Blossom.svg - Click HERE

Basket of Oranges.mtc - Click HERE

Basket of Oranges.svg - Click HERE

Keep checking back this week,

more to come!!

Lemon Meringue

2010-05-12T09:54:00.000-04:00

Some of these files have a lot of small pieces, so remember to use my tip in todays post to work with all of the small pieces.

Lemon Meringue.mtc - Click HERE

Lemon Meringue.svg - Click HERE

Lemon.mtc - Click HERE

Lemon.svg - Click HERE

Lemon Halved.mtc - Click HERE

Lemon Halved.svg - Click HERE

Lemonade Stand.mtc - Click HERE

Lemonade Stand.svg - Click HERE

Tip on working with Layers and small pieces

2010-05-12T09:39:00.003-04:00

TIP: When working with files with lots of small pieces for layers.....after you have cut the section of the file that has lots of little pieces that look alike, leave the pieces on the mat.

Take the pieces off one at a time and glue them at that moment onto the background piece or where they are to be placed.

This way it makes it easier to place them exactly where they go and you don't have a lot of loose, little pieces all over your work area to try to remember later which piece goes where.

Hope this tip helped.

Huckleberry Pie

2010-05-11T10:50:00.001-04:00

Here is another Strawberry Shortcake Friend. You can download the .mtc file which is layered and ready to cut or resize. Or the .svg file which is just the image.

Huckleberry Pie.mtc - click HERE

Huckleberry Pie.svg - click HERE

Basket of Huckleberries.mtc - click HERE

Basket of Huckleberries.svg - click HERE

Huckleberry Pie Plate.mtc - click HERE

Huckleberry Pie Plate.svg - click HERE

Check back tomorrow for another Friend.

Apple Dumplin

2010-05-10T09:19:00.017-04:00

Welcome to Strawberry Shortcake week!!

This week I will be posting several of the Strawberry Shortcake characters for use with MTC. You may download these .mtc or .svg files for personal use only. Check back each day for more characters.

Apple Dumplin .mtc file-click HERE
Apple Dumplin .svg file-click HERE

Full Apple .mtc file-click HERE
Full Apple .svg file-click HERE

Apple Halved .mtc file-click HERE
Apple Halved .svg file-click HERE

Happy Mother's Day Everyone

2010-05-09T22:26:00.003-04:00

Hi Everyone, I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day. I sure did. My family is so thoughtful.

My daughter Brittney and her boyfriend Miles brought me these balloons, an Edible Fruits basket arrangement and a teddy bear from Edible Fruits.

2010-05-09T22:22:00.003-04:00

My husband brought me this bouquet of flowers and cooked dinner for me. Yum, Yum!!! He did a really good job.

2010-05-09T22:15:00.006-04:00

My son Tommy and his girlfriend Meya got me these balloons, picture, card and flowers for Mother's Day.

I hope you had just as nice a Mother's Day as I did. This was an awesome day!!

Have a great week!

Challenge #5 - Pet Adoption

2010-05-04T19:45:00.005-04:00

Okay here is my entry for the Challenge #5 over at the MTC Forum MB. If you would like this file click HERE.

Things to make for a Tea Party

2010-05-02T16:43:00.014-04:00

Saturday, May 1st I helped with putting together a Mother-Daughter Tea Party for our Girl Scout District. We had 92 participants. One of the my duties was to create the teabag holders and a Bingo game. I spent all of last week cutting and putting these together for each participant. You can see the pictures below to see what I came up with.

Teabag Holder. I used pastel cardstock, ribbon, Glue Dots (the strips), and teabags. I cut the file from my .mtc file and then scored on the score marks. Actually I used the first scored one for a guideline, then removed the scorelines on my mtc file to cut the rest and just measured with my Scor-Pal and scored the lines - much neater. Then adhered the teabag to the back section at the top of the teabag with a Glue Dot strip . Then used a 3/16 inch punch to punch two holes at the top above the scalloped edge and added ribbon. Then added another Glue Dot strip along the top section of the panel with the cutouts, to close/seal the holder.

If you would like this Teabag Holder mtc file, click HERE.

Teapot Bingo Cards

Teacup Bingo Cards

For these Bingo Cards, I used the same matching pastel cardstock. And cut the teapot and teacup from my .mtc file. I then created the Bingo Cards in Excel and changed the heading from B-I-N-G-O to I-(heart)-T-E-A.

* * *

If you would like the Teapot Bingo Card, click Here.

If you would like the Teacup Bingo Card, click Here.

If you would like the Excel Bingo Cards, click Here.

* * *

This Excel Bingo Card file can actually be used for

any type of party where a Bingo game is needed.

* * *

The Excel Bingo Card file has three tabs to click on. The first tab is the callers sheet. There are two call sheets on it. I printed this out on white cardstock to make it sturdy. One of the call sheets, I cut all of the squares so that those would be my Bingo numbers to call out. The second tab has 80 different Bingo Cards. The third tab has a few extras.

* * *

***If you download this file for use, you can change the "Bingo" title to whatever the theme of your party is and change the "graphic" in the Free Space to the theme of your party.

Hope you find these files useful.

If you would like to see some pictures from the event, click on the play button below.

PM Teddy Bear

2010-04-30T13:53:00.005-04:00

I haven't been here in a few days. I have been busily creating things for a Mother-Daughter Tea my Girl Scout district is hosting this Saturday. I will be sharing files for a Bingo Card and a Teabag Holder I have made. So remember to check back after Saturday to have a look.

For now, I wanted to share this little bear that I traced into the Make the Cut software from another coloring book page. Remember all of these files are for personal use only. The pieces are "locked" in the layers section of the software, so remember to click on the "unlock" when you get ready to cut the pieces.

Click Here to download the .mtc file.

This file can be cut with the Make The Cut software and several types of electronic cutters.

One more Shape Card to share

2010-04-25T12:15:00.004-04:00

Here is my second card I made for the Shape Cards challenges. This one is a tri-fold card. I had already stamped this Tilda stamp image onto cardstock and had colored it with my Copic markers, but didn't know what I was going to do with her yet. So I thought about adding her to a card. I was having a hard time thinking about a "shape card" to do then it hit me....why not make Shape cards using the same concept as the Shape books. So this is what I came up with. I traced my Tilda image into the MTC software to create this card.

If you would like to know how to add "stamped" images to Make the Cut, check out my written tutorial: Using Stamped Images in Make the Cut, in my tutorials section. Same concept as the tutorial.
I sponged inked the sun with an orange and red ink pad. The clouds are cut from vellum. The rock is a textured paper. The flower, I cut out four layers and put them together using a brad. Before putting together, I ran the separate pieces through my Cuttlebug with the Swiss Dots folder. The fence was also done with a "woodgrain" paper. I used the Peachy Keen face stamps for the nose/mouth on the Tilda stamps and for the face on the sun.

Hope this card inspires you to try to make Shape Cards.

Shape Cards Challenge

2010-04-25T12:11:00.006-04:00

Over at the Make The Cut forum, this weeks challenge is to make a Shape Card. Also there is another challenge going on for Card Angels to send cards to a little girl named Cheyenne who is very sick. So this is one of two cards I made for both of these challenges. This entire card was made with the Make the Cut software, my Cricut Expression and Stickles.

Precious Moments Lion

2010-04-19T16:06:00.003-04:00

This little lion is from a Precious Moments coloring page. If you would like the Make the Cut cut file, click on the link below.

Click HERE.

One more file to share...

2010-04-18T17:27:00.005-04:00

Here are some Dessert Goodies to share. Each image and the layers that go with it are locked. Check the layers property box in Make the Cut to unlock each image/layer.

Click Here for this file.

Hope you find this file useful. Enjoy!

More Make The Cut Files

2010-04-18T17:19:00.003-04:00

Here are more files to share. Remember to check the layers property box, as the layers are locked. You will need to unlock the layers as you use them. Click on the link below each picture for the Make The Cut file. Remember for personal use only.

Click Here for the file.
Click Here for the file.

Click Here for the file.

More files to come.

Precious Moments Graduation Kids

2010-04-16T17:10:00.009-04:00

I have traced these images into MTC from coloring pages found on the internet. They are already layered and ready to be cut. The layers in this file are locked. To use make sure to unlock the layers as needed. If you would like these MTC cuttable files, find the link below each image. Click HERE for the PM-Graduation Boy

Click HERE for the PM-Graduation Girl

Check back again as I will be posting more as I get time to do them and share. Remember these should only be used for personal use only.

Wicked 2-Page Layout

2010-04-13T21:28:00.002-04:00

I did this for another challenge over at the MTC Forum message board. This challenge was to use a silhouette image. The image of Elphaba the Witch was from a colored graphic, which I traced around in Paint and then brought it into MTC to finish and cut. The Time Dragon Clock was a photograph that I traced around and erased the background using Paint and then brought it into MTC to finish and cut. The flying monkeys were already a silhouette image.

My daughter and I are going to see Wicked the Musical in June when it comes to Charlotte. This will be our second time seeing it. We saw it June 2006 in New York City. If you haven't seen this show and ever have a chance to go see it, I highly recommend it.
Thanks for looking.

Pebbles in her carriage

2010-04-11T19:44:00.005-04:00

HI all, been a busy week at work and even more so this weekend. I do have one file to share if you like this one. This was a coloring page image found on the net. I then brought it into the MTC software program so that it can be cut out for a scrapbook page.

This file does have a LOT of small pieces. So make sure when you are cutting the pieces you know how they will be placed on the background piece. Please also make sure to look at the layers box. I have created all of the layers for this file.

If you would like this file click HERE to download it. Remember this is for personal use only and not to be included on anything for sale.

There are several challenges going on over at the MTC forum that I am going to try and do. So check back to see what I post.

Layout for a Challenge

2010-04-05T19:24:00.003-04:00

Here is a layout I did for a "border" challenge. If you will see I used the cat border that I had shared. Check my site for the Borders mtc file for this.

On this layout I used mtc to create and cut the cat border and the large spiderweb. I used silver stickles on the spiderweb. I used a Tilda stamp (from Magnolia stamps) and colored it with the Copic markers. I also used the Martha Stewart Punch around the page - spiderweb punches around this mat and then added a couple more mats with ribbons.

The Dwarfs

2010-04-03T15:26:00.006-04:00

Hope everyone is enjoying this long weekend. I have been working on converting more files. Here is one I hope you like. If you would like this .mtc file, click HERE.

I have these images "locked", to unlock click on the unlock button at the bottom of the layers bar to unlock all or click on the lock on each individual layer.

Comments about the borders

2010-03-31T20:57:00.003-04:00

Hi All,
just wanted to say thank you to all that left a comment. It is truly appreciated and I am glad to share these with you.

Now I started to just answer this comment, but thought ....Uhmmm, others may want to know too. So....

jjred40 said...
thanks for sharing your awesome borders - how did you do these. I played around after watching Rob's video but didn't come up with anything this cute. How did you get the words inside the border? Thanks for sharing.

Here was going to be my response but sharing in case others were wondering also:

To get the words inside the border: You just type in the words in the add text group box and then place it on your mat. Then move/drag the word(s) "inside" of the border (rectangle) where you want them to be. Then you select all of the "rectangle/with words" and then just click on "join".....they are now in the border like the one in my Happy Birthday border.
PS.....I used the stencil font for this one. Remember when placing letters inside, think of how they will cut out. For instance an "a" the inside will be cut out so that you just have the edge layer....so you would have to somehow keep that inside to glue in place. The stencil font works great for these though.

As far as the other images. Just add them to your mat then place them along the border they way you want them placed. Make sure a little of the bottom edge of the image is touching the top (or bottom if you have the image descending) and once you have them overlapping "just a little" then select all of the border/images in one selection box, then do a weld. This makes it all one piece.....PS....you do not want to add any words until you have finished the weld....so that you can do a "join" with the letters. If you add the letters first "inside" of the border and click on weld they will disappear and be welded into the border.

Hope this helps with some questions about how to make these borders. The possibilities are whatever images you choose to work with....just think of a "theme" and go for it!!!

More Borders

2010-03-29T21:16:00.007-04:00

NOTE:.....When you download these files, I have the images locked. On the Layers Property box click on the global lock at the bottom to unlock all images to move them around on the mat for cutting. **You will have to move the ones that are placed on the edge of the mat to move them from the grey/shaded border around the mat. Please leave me a comment if there are any problems so that I can help. Thanks, Sandy

And here are few more....I am having so much fun creating these.

Click HERE for the .mtc file

Borders

2010-03-29T18:32:00.008-04:00

I have been playing around creating borders that can be used for any papercrafting project.

Over at the MTC-Hints Yahoo Group (which I am a member of) this weeks challenge is to create a border(s). So here are a few I have put together. I am having fun with these.

If you would like to have this .mtc file, please click HERE.
The name of each border is listed in the Layers Property Box. I hope you enjoy them and find them useful.

I will be making more to post, check back again.

Videos to Share

2010-03-28T12:38:00.002-04:00

Okay so I have had a Flip camcorder for awhile now and have played around with family videos. I am trying my "hand" at using it to do some tutorials. These are a few that I am starting with. Still working on the quality of them so please excuse if they are not at all "professional"....which they are only meant to be informative. So hopefully they will help you in learning and/or working in the Make The Cut software.

I will be doing quite a few of these "Short Take" videos focusing on "one" feature for each video. I work a 40 hour week so I may not get more updated until the weekends....so just remember to check back to see what other features I will be introducing.

Thanks for stopping by and HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!

Video Tutorial - Layer, Split and Break Features

2010-03-28T12:33:00.000-04:00

And here is another video showing the differences of the Layer, Split and Break features used in Make the Cut as well as when to use them. Hope you find them helpful.

Video Tutorial - The Mirror and Flip Features

2010-03-28T12:31:00.000-04:00

Here is another video that shows how to use the Mirror and/or the Flip features in Make the Cut. Hope you find it helpful.

Video Tutorial - The Selection Properties Box

2010-03-28T12:28:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone, here is another video I did showing how to use the Selection Properties Box. Hope you find it helpful.

Video Tutorial - Customize Your Workspace in MTC

2010-03-27T11:33:00.003-04:00

Hi everyone. I have attempted my first tutorial video. This video shows how to move things around and customize your workspace in Make The Cut.

Hope you enjoy it.

Written Tutorial-How to Make A Shapebook in Make The Cut!

2010-03-23T07:52:00.015-04:00

I have written another tutorial for using with the Make the Cut software. This tutorial will show you how to make a shapebook like the one pictured above. For ease, I have only created a 6 page book with only using 5 elements. You can create these books with as many pages as you desire that will fit on your mat and with as many elements as you have pages. The pages sizes in this tutorial are used for this demonstration, your pages can also be adjusted to the width and height that you desire.

To download this tutorial click HERE!

If you would like the MTC image used in the book:

For the Picnic Basket click HERE!

For the Sub-sandwich click HERE!

For the Ant click HERE!

For the Watermelon click HERE!

NOTE:!!! After making this tutorial, I left one step out that you will need for using these images in this book, this may not be necessary for any other images used. For the pieces that are welded to the pages, after making your second copy and removing it, using the first copy, break the image and remove all of the pieces except the background piece. This is the piece you will want to "weld" to the book. For some reason with these images, when I tried to weld the pieces the parts that were on the page welded, the parts off of the page did not weld.

Hope this tutorial helps you in creating these books. If you find that I need to elaborate more on a specific part of this tutorial or you are having difficulty with the tutorial, please leave me a comment so that I can help.

Baby Shower ShapeBook

2010-03-21T22:55:00.002-04:00

Baby Shower ShapeBook, continued

2010-03-21T22:04:00.014-04:00

This new version of MTC has made it so easy to do shapebooks now. With the prior versions you had to have a separate file for each page. With this new version and the layers feature, you can do it all on one page. I have put together this Baby Shower shapebook. For the picture below, I have the "eye" open on all pages to show the effects of the book and the layout of the pages. If you will notice at the bottom of this page are all of the page elements that will be cut.

As you see in the picture above, all of the elements are on top of each other and I know you are wondering how do I cut them. But if you click on the "global eye" at the bottom of the Layers property box, it will close all layers and make them invisible so that your Cricut will not cut them. Then as you begin to do a page, click the "eye" on that layers page and it will only show the items to cut for that page, as shown below in the next picture. So for this picture you can move the pieces around if needed to like colors of cardstock on your real mat. Remember when cutting out shape books you will need to cut a second copy of the page layer for the back of the page.

To cut the back of the page, you will need to place your cardstock face down on the mat and then cut the page layer again. You will not need to cut the elements again. Another option is to "flip" the page layer and then you can place your cardstock face up and cut.

In this file, with the elements being attached to the Page layers, you do not have an option to make just the "elements" invisible, so you will either need to move these to their own layer, or I find it easier to open up a new page in MTC, and then just do a copy of the page layer, click on the new page and do a Paste in Place, then cut using one of the two options above for the back of the page.

The Layer Properties box. I have labeled each "grouping" by Page numbers and within the Pages are the Page Layer itself and the elements for that page.

This shape book would be a great gift to give at a Baby Shower. After cutting the book, you can bind the book; my choice is to use my Bind-It-All, you may have another preference. Then you will want to create other page elements such as tags, mats for pictures, etc.

Some examples to include in the book could be: copy of the shower invitation, guests that attended, presents received, games played, refreshments served, etc.

Hope you like it and find it useful.

If you would like this .mtc file, please click HERE.

My shapebook is almost done...

2010-03-20T15:59:00.006-04:00

I have been working on getting this finished for quite sometime now. Just have been really busy and even today trying to get this much done, my 3 granddaughters came up for the weekend. Thanks to my darling hubby, he kept them entertained playing outside for awhile while I worked on this. The only thing left now is to add more embellishments (tags, mats, stickles, ribbon, etc) and the pictures to the inside pages.

My Girl Scout troop (I was the leader for 11 years), went to Europe in 2007 for our last year of scouts. We did a 10 day tour visiting London, Paris and several cities in Switzerland. (The dragon is from the legendary Mt. Pilatus in Switzerland.)

I used the Make the Cut software program to create this shape book and several other images from clipart.

I used my Zutter bind-it-all to bind the book with white 3/4 inch O-wire. I just love this little machine it does a wonderful job in making these books.

I am hoping to have the rest of the embellishments done very soon. I will then share a picture-video of the book to show all of the pages and all of the elements I used.

Again, thanks for looking and check back soon.

Chipboard or Posterboard

2010-03-20T15:35:00.005-04:00

I have made a couple of shape books now and the previous shape books were made with brown chipboard that I got from the inserts that are in the boxes that reams of paper comes in. This is the chipboard. It is already sized at 8 1/2 by 11 inches.
I am not quite happy at the results using this kind of chipboard. The edges show sort of a grey shade, which to me looks like an "unfinished" piece of work.

The current book that I am working on, I wanted to try something different. So I bought several packs of this white posterboard at Wal-Mart. It comes in a pack of 5 pre-cut sheets of 11x14 in size. I wasn't sure if this would hold up sturdy enough or not, but decided to give it a try.

The posterboard cut out very nice with the Cricut machine with no problems at all. I then used DCWV cardstock for my layers to attach to the front and back of the posterboard. This cardstock helped make the posterboard thicker. And it is just as sturdy as using the brown chipboard I had used previously. I am now convinced this is the type of material I will use for my shape/word books and was impressed at how "clean" the edges looked.

I definitely would recommend using this posterboard for these projects.

MTC Version 2.2.1 just released

2010-03-18T09:04:00.003-04:00

Well it is official, the upgraded version of Make the Cut is out. It went through several more updates from the Beta version and is now Version 2.2.1. I have been playing with the new features and am really excited about the new version. If you haven't tried this wonderful software please click on the link under My Favorite Places to Visit to check it out.

Update: I have been steadily working on my Europe Shapebook and have all of the page layers added and will now be adding the embellishments. I am really pleased at how this is turning out and will be sharing it with you shortly. Please remember to check back in a few days I should have pictures to post by then.

Oh yeah and the "posterboard" I am using, purchased from Wal-Mart, is holding up as well as the brown chipboard. I do believe this will be what I use from now on. The white seams just look so much better than the brown seams.

Have a great day and remember check back soon for pics of my book.

MTC Beta Test is here!!

2010-03-12T08:38:00.007-05:00

The new 2.03 version of MTC is now out for Beta Testing. It is not "officially" out yet. However, if anyone would like to start testing it out and giving feedback on it, you can download this version by clicking "HERE" and make sure to give feedback to the forum.

Here is my Review for now. (I am still testing and making my way through it)

This is going to be a great version. Working through the Beta testing I have found several things have changed.
The Objects Property box has been replaced with a Layers Box.

The Layers box is wonderful and makes choosing layers and coloring the layers so much easier. You no longer have to do a Shift-Tab to move through the different pieces.

The warp feature has changed. You no longer have a box that will open with the warp feature. Now you click on the image and you will see "arrows" all around the box. By clicking on these arrows, this now is the "warp" feature. You will need to click on it through a three-part cycle. The cycles are the "sizing", the "rotation" and the "warping". Click on the arrow until it allows you to get to the function you want to perform.

The Boolean Join function has changed slightly. Instead of a box coming up and having a preview in the box, the "preview" is now directly on the mat. Once you have your two images selected, and click on the Boolean button a small line box will come up. When you go through the different choices it will put the choice on the mat for you to see, if you decide you like the feature, then click on the mat to accept it. If you find that those choices do not work for what you are wanting to do, then just click the "X" on the box and it will restore your image back to what it was before you started the Boolean join.

There is a "Snap" function which I have not had a chance yet to play with, so not quite sure I understand what that does....well not yet anyway. Will be playing a little later.

A couple of things missing on this version and hoping Andy (the creator of MTC) puts these back in are the "Select All" button on the Shapes toolbar, the Scale is gone which was used to make an image an exact size.

I am not quite sure at this time if I will make tutorials for these changes, as Andy stated that he is working on a manual to put out. So will see....

Back to playing.....

EDITED: .....The Snap feature is soooo cool....it is like an invisible ruler, and when you "slowly" move your image it will move over/down/up, etc in the increments you have chosen. If you choose 1 inch, your image will move 1 inch everytime. If you choose 1/8 inch it will move by 1/8 inch as you move it. The KEY TO THIS is you have to move it slowly to see the effects....if you move the image to fast it will not really "register" as to what it is doing.

Also the "nudge" feature works differently now...you just use the arrow keys (up/down/left/right) to move "nudge" the images.

Love this new version.

Pebbles and BamBam

2010-03-08T21:14:00.005-05:00

I can remember the first time ever watching the Flintstone cartoons. I was around 5 years old and watched it when it first came out in PrimeTime television. The Flintstones have ALWAYS been my favorite cartoon, even bought a Seasons worth on DVD's.

I have traced this image in MTC! as a file for sharing. If you would like this file, click HERE to download. ****Please make sure to read the NOTES section of the file before working in this file. I have already did the work for you and the notes will tell you how to move the pieces.***

Please check back again as I will be adding lots more of these images....the whole family as a matter of fact.

More Wall Art for my Work Office

2010-03-08T11:46:00.006-05:00

We just moved into our new office building mid-December and already the middle of the building in some offices and hallways has developed a crack. My office is one of those. They have repaired the "cracks" in the hallways, but I believe they have forgotten about the offices. Everyone that stops by says....did you know you have a crack in the top of your wall.....well yeah.....So I decided to do a little more art on my wall to show off maybe the "humor" in the crack......(So, drip, drip, drip.) What do you think....see the humor? LOL!!!

A close-up shot:

Everyone that has stopped by this morning is laughing and loving this...... (I have laid the water drops in the open spaces so that I could save on the vinyl (Well contact paper-Black Faux Contact Paper purchased from Home Depot.) The water drops were easy to just pull off of the backing....no need for transfer paper for them...so cut them out and just use the transfer backing on the little boy and pond.

Hope you enjoyed this, and if anything got a laugh for the day.

Have a great day.....and will be having more things to share soon.

Europe Shape Book

2010-03-08T11:41:00.003-05:00

I am still continuing to work on the shape book I have started. Here is the first picture of just the pages cut out of the white poster board (trying this instead of the grey/brown chip board). I spent a lot of yesterday afternoon cutting out the page layers and need to finish a couple of more pages, then once I adhere those will probably show an "update" picture as I progress.

To see how this turns out....check back again soon.

MTC files to share

2010-03-07T13:56:00.012-05:00

Here are a few of the images I imported from clip art into MTC and created the MTC file so that it can now be cut in MTC. I have also attached the files for sharing, please use them for personal use.

Precious Moments Bunny Rabbits

Click here if you would like this file.

Baby with Teddy Bear

Click here if you would like this file.

Clifford the Big Red Dog

Click here if you would like this file.

Again...for these files are shared for personal use only.

Written Tutorials for Make The Cut! Software

2010-03-07T10:39:00.022-05:00

I have written several tutorials for the Make The Cut! software. Below is a list of what I have currently written. You can click on the links to view the written tutorials.

*********************************************

Functions of the Edit Dropdown Box:

Main Objects and Properties Box:

**The Main Objects and Properties Box tutorial was written on an earlier version of MTC. The first half of this tutorial is still correct the second half on the Object Properties box is no longer correct. This box has been replaced with the Selections Property Box, which does allow you to size your image to the size you want, to proportion and to use the x and y axis to place your image on the mat. If you have any questions leave me a comment and I will be glad to help.

Opening, Importing and Saving Images - Section 1 Fonts:

Opening, Importing and Saving Images - Section 2 SVG's:

Opening Importing and Saving Images - Section 3 Other File Types:

Using the Boolean Join Function:

Using the Shadow Layer Function:

Using Rubber Stamps with MTC!:

I hope that you will find these tutorials helpful. Please check back often, the creator "Andy - Tucirc" of Make The Cut! is coming out with an updated version 2.0 very soon. I will have more tutorials to share on the new features that will be added.

Have a great day!!

Make the Cut written tutorials

2010-03-04T10:03:00.003-05:00

Over at the MTC forum, I have shared the MTC "Owner's Manual" that I have written. I have decided that I will also add this to my blog. Now all I have to do is figure out how to include this, maybe as a post and as a link to where I have them stored.

Watch for these to come shortly.

Update: Still need to share the Europe Shape Book I am working on. I haven't had much time lately to work on it. I did get it designed and cut out using the MTC software and my Cricut Expression. I am trying something a little different this time. Instead of using the "brown" looking chip board, I wanted it to be white. So I bought the poster board that is in sheets about the size of the Cricut mat to cut out. It is a little flimsy, but I am going to see how it works once I start gluing the thicker cardstock onto it. So that is where I am at with this project for now.

Shape Book project in the works

2010-02-25T11:11:00.006-05:00

I am currently working on another shape book. This one is on a trip my daughter (Brittney) and I took a couple of years ago to Europe. I designed it Tuesday evening using the Make The Cut! software and an image off of the web of the Mt Pilatus dragon.

I cut the "book" pages out last night and will start working on the layers and embellishments later today and the rest of this week. I am hoping to have it completed by the weekend so that I can share. So check back later to see my updates or either the finished project.

My wall art on my office wall

2010-02-22T13:35:00.008-05:00

Okay I did it!!! I went to work early this morning and put this on the wall in my office. It was so easy to do using the transfer paper to transfer the image on to and then removing the back and attaching the images right to the wall, then removing the transfer paper. There it was....all done. I think it turned out pretty good, if I do say so myself. I am so excited with this project that my head is thinking of what can I do next. We will be painting this spring so holding out before I add any to my home...but it is definitely next. For now maybe some butterflies on the wall behind me in my office.

Don't forget to check back to see what other projects I will be adding. Thanks for stopping by.

Working with "Vinyl", Cricut and MTC

2010-02-21T16:59:00.010-05:00

Well today I have been playing around with using the vinyl technique with my Cricut. For this project, however, I have used the faux leather contact paper instead of vinyl and it works great and is a lot cheaper. Found it at Home Depot.

I made this sign for my son as the first cut to see how it was going to work. I put together the layout in my Make the Cut software and used it to cut the images out with my Cricut Expression.

This next picture is going to be wall art that I am going to add to my office wall. One of the ladies, KLee from the Make the Cut forum inspired me to do this after seeing her work on her wall. It was just beautiful. So I cut these images from my Cricut "E" using my 12x24 mat with the black faux leather contact paper.

Isn't the cat just fantastic. The cat design was a file shared by KLee. I created the other images using the CDS software, Home Decor and Serenade cartridges. The stool I found a graphic online and pulled it into the MTC software to cut.

Check back later this week to see a picture of how everything is put together on the wall.

A Birthday Card

2010-02-21T11:24:00.007-05:00

Here is another birthday card I made for another co-worker, Naaja.

Recipe: Magnolia Tilda stamp, Nestabilities Scalloped Oval and Circle, Cupcake stamp and Kids Quotes stamps. And this one I used Copic Sketch markers instead of coloring pencils.

A Thank You Card

2010-02-21T09:04:00.007-05:00

This is a Thank You card I made for a co-worker for her help on a huge project I was working on. Thanks Linda!!

Recipe: Cuttlebug-Just My Type embossing border, Magnolia Stamp-Pink Tilda with Rose and colored pencils for coloring and shading.

My First Card

2010-02-21T07:53:00.008-05:00

I want to share my first card that I made. I made this birthday card for a co-worker, Roxanne. Unfortunately, I was a few days late getting this to her.

Recipe: Cuttlebug-Happy Birthday embossing folder, Nestabilities-Scalloped Circle, Hanna's Stamps-Riley the Moose. I also used colored pencils to color Riley. And I added the stamped image to the envelope.

Welcome to The Hobby Lady's Blog

2010-02-20T20:20:00.003-05:00

Welcome to my spot on the web. I hope you will take time out to share in my many hobbies.

This is a new year. I tried to start a blog last year but just never got it going. So I am going to try hard to dedicate some time to keeping this one updated. I know that I will not post everyday but I will try to post at least once a week. Hopefully.

I will share my hobbies as the mood strikes me to work or play with them. You know how that is .... what mood will I be in tomorrow. What will I want to do. Come back later to find out.