SCAL vs MTC Round 2

It looks like I may have to hold off on my purchase of Sure Cuts a Lot. The MTC version that is to be released soon, looks very good. However, the creator didn't share all of his improvements on the web cast Tuesday night. I may hold off a little bit just to see if he includes dashed lines in the next release.

One thing that did catch my attention is the ability to create very easy rhinestone templates, and lattice work.

SCAL vs MCT

I've put a lot of time in to trying out the "Sure Cuts A Lot" (SCAL), “Make the Cut" (MCT), and Cricut's "Design Studio" (DS) software over the past few days since I ordered my Cricut Expression. I think I've finally reached a decision, and the Cricut hasn't even arrived yet.

Cricut Design Studio Software
Cricut Design Studio was the big loser in my book, even though it is a handy tool to use with the Cricut cartridges. You can manipulate the shapes and fonts in the cartridges, and create some good designs; however, there just isn't enough freedom. I think this is a good call for someone that isn't very good at designing in other software programs, or just wants something simple, but more flexible than working straight from the machine. The good thing about DS is that you have access to all of the shapes and fonts in the Cricut library. However, to actually cut the shapes you need to have the cartridge in your machine.

Make the Cut (MTC) Software



Make the Cut (MTC) is a very impressive program. It is great for converting images into SVG files. I love the way that it shows the entire image, so you can tell what areas are being left out of the current selection. I also like the way that you can distort the shapes, changing the perspective. The Bezier warp was also nice. Over all I really like this program, and it almost won me over. I may have to purchase it at some point, especially since updates are included free, and the creator updates the program often. It hasn't been around nearly as long as SCAL, but is pretty much neck and neck with the development. MTC has a few features SCAL doesn't, and vice versa. I won't be surprised if MTC comes out ahead in the end.



Sure Cuts A Lot (SCAL) Sotware



That said, at this point I'm going to have to go with SCAL. Two features won me over, the dashed lines, and the ability to change the font after it is typed. The font isn't necessarily a big deal, because I could use a graphic program to select the font. However, if I'm going to do that, I can also mimic the features of MTC in a graphics program. The dashed lines however, can't be used in MTC at this time, and I would really like to use them for pen outlines.

I also like the library files in SCAL. It seems that it will be easier to organize my custom shapes in SCAL, than in MTC. However MTC has a really nice feature that allows you to search SVGs that have been added to their database by other users. I do like that feature quite a bit, but it can wait until I have more money to spend.

So there it is, unless I change my mind before I purchase the software on Monday, I'll be buying Sure Cuts a Lot to create custom shapes with my Cricut. I can hardly wait.




Where to find:
Sure Cuts a Lot can be found on Craftedge.com and Make-The-Cut.com. Cricut Design Studio can be found in stores and online all over the place, but can also be downloaded at the Cricut website.

Cricut Winning Bid!

So, my search for a Cricut is over. It ended while setting through two red lights waiting to turn left on the way home from work.

During the first red light I checked EBay on my phone to find that the bundle I wanted was in striking distance, and the auction was about to end. So I put it a bid, and what do you know I was ahead. Refresh…behind.. bid again.. crap the light is green. Oh good, there are too many cars, and the light is red again. Bid again, still behind, and just seven seconds to go, and that light will be turning green again soon. BID! BID! Darn green light.

At the next light I checked again to find to my surprise, I had won the auction. I turned the car around, and took the Cricut Expression that was sitting in the back of my car back to Joann Fabric for a refund.

My final price was $222.50. That is for the Cricut Expression, the four cartridges that I had wanted: “Storybook”, “Paper Doll Dress Up”, “Home Accents”, and “Doodlecharm.” Plus it comes with two different ink packs. $22.50 more than I had wanted to pay, but what an incredible deal!

Now the only problem is that the reason I was trying to go so cheap, is to save money to buy the Sure Cuts a Lot software, which is what pushed me over the edge from “I would like to have a Cricut” to “I MUST have a Cricut!”

Must Have A Cricut!

I've finally decided I must have a Cricut. I've wanted one for a while, but was holding out until I could pay for the larger one with money made from selling crafts, rather than using my pay check, and take money out of the "family" budget.

That was my plan. Then the little Cricut went on sale for $79 at Joann Fabric this weekend. I couldn't resist the urge to buy anymore, so I grabbed one.

When I returned to the car with it my husband just had to point out that it wasn't the one I wanted. Like I didn’t already know that.

What resulted from his comment was a three day EBay binge, with me bidding and bidding and bidding to get the Cricut Expression for less than $200 without waiting until Black Friday.

I'm not sure how this will end, but I will keep you posted.

Mojo Monday 153 - Birthday Card

This is the card I made for the Mojo Monday 153 challenge. This is also one of the first cards I've made. Just picked up my fist batch of foam adhesive, and distressing ink today. The scallop squares were die cut with the Cuttlebug dies that just came today! Just in time to make the card. I used chalk ink for the green stamps, and I love the smooth coverage it provides. I didn't have any stamps small enough for the "Happy Birthday" at the bottom, so I printed that with my ink jet printer and cut it out with scissors before adhering it to blue card stock.



This one is my nine year old daughter's version. I had to help a little bit, attaching the bow, and cutting out the ovals, but she did pretty good on her own. I like the colors she picked out.

This was a lot of fun. I'll be trying it again next week!

Stamps from Craft Foam

This my very first attempt at carving a stamp. I tried to find the rubber normally used to carve stamps, but they didn't have it at Michael's or Jo Ann Fabric. I opted to use the cheap craft foam from Dollar Tree, since it was all i had. I'm very pleased with the way it turned out. I glued the cut out to some recycled plastic and made a nifty clear stamp out of it. After this picture was taken i added a lid from a milk jug as a handle, and it is easier to use now.

I made a couple more stamps last night, and I plan to purchase some thicker foam to see if it is a better medium.

Great Deal on Alphabet Dies

I'm so excited. I just got my new Cuttlebug alphabet dies in the mail. I ordered these on Ebay from OhMyCrafts, and got all three for $18 including shipping. I cant' wait to get home and try them out.

Covered Brads- No Tool Required

There is a sucker born every minute, and today it was almost me.

Lately I've started to admire fabric covered brads, and was tempted to buy the I-top tool from Imaginisce. This maybe a is handy little tool if you use a lot of brads, and maybe someday I'll want to shell out thirty-five dollars for it, but not today. I was very close to buying one on Ebay for the low low price of $10, plus $8.50 for shipping. Then this thought occurred to me, "Do I really need this tool?" Then I wondered if the tool that comes with Dritz fabric covered buttons would fit the brads, so I hopped in the car and headed to Michael's to purchase a package of the small Brad Daddies.

When I arrived home I couldn't locate my fabric covered button tool, so I went ahead and gave it a shot without either tool. The picture above is how it turned out. Both brads above were made without a circle punch or even a good circle cut out. These are the results of cutting the corners off of a square and wrapping the square around the top of the brad. With a little pressure the back of the brad pops right in.

Final verdict. Unless you use a lot of brads, or are just not strong enough to push the back of the brad on without the aid of the tool, don't buy the Itop tool unless you find it on sale...cheap! It just isn't needed. However, I highly recommend the Brad Daddies themselves.

Make an envelope for any size card!

I wasn't having much luck making or finding an envelope template for note cards. Then I found this tutorial on YouTube. It is very simple to follow envelope tutorial, that shows you how to make an envelop for any size card. I highly recommend it if you have been having trouble making envelopes for the cards you have created.

Coffee Filter Flowers

I found this wonderful idea at Totally Tutorials, and I had to post it before I forgot it.

These are a wonderful idea for cards, or gift wrapping. The tutorial is on a Swedish blog, Trisa Prickaformar. The only word I understood was "brad", but the video instructions are easily followed.

Here is the link: http://tesaprickiformar.blogspot.com/2010/04/kaffefiltersblommor.html#comment-form.