Provo Craft has a new bug.  The Cricut Imagine is coming soon.  This bug will combine cutting with a full color printer.

So this is what I see.  A professionally printed die cut that will be equal to those you purchase.  Now you can cut as well as color your die cut with one machine.

This is what I have discovered so far.

1.  Price tag.  Looks like it with retail at around $500 to start with.  This is coming to HSN on September 14th.

2.  You can use it to print your own scrapbook paper across the entire page or use it to color only the object you are cutting.  It uses HP inkjet printing technology.

3.  It will work with the gypsy, cartridges that fit the current line of cricut products plus it will work with cartridges designed specifically for the Imagine.

4.  It will not connect to your computer via USB as far as I can tell.

5.  It will use different mats than your current Cricut but you can use the Cricut Imagine Mats in your Cricut Expression.

6.  It will not cut chip board.

7.  It will use the same blades as other Cricut machines.

8.  You can use your current scrapbooking paper scraps, print your own paper or use other full pages scrapbooking paper.

9.  No more dials.  Everything is done from the touch screen with a stylus.

10.  You can use the color palette to color graphics from your current Cricut Cartridges.

This looks like another great product from Provo Craft.  I won’t be selling my Cricut Expression because I enjoy the SCAL program as well as the ability to cut thicker items.  I would like the ability to cut and color die cuts so I will probably have the Imagine on my Christmas List this year.

This is the official Provo Craft video.  Watch and let me know what you think of the Cricut Imagine machine.

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Hello Everyone

I am been MIA all summer.  Summer kicks my butt.  Lots of camping, gardening, ballgames and kids, kids and more kids.  I have been missing my craft room so now that kids are in school and the vegetables are in the freezer it is time to get back at it.

I started off with a quick and easy thank you card using a Scut2 file created by MyScrapChick.com.  While I was picking up my freebie I also came across a huge collection of back to school ideas and cuts. 

The apple tree cut is available until August 30th, 2010 at MyScrapChick.

WTRS37223319

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Whew another school year behind us.  I did my best not to shed a tear when “Little Boy,” finished his last day of kindergarten.  I will save those for later when “The Girl,” goes off to 7th grade.  I wish all of them could stay little a little longer but that just isn’t the way it goes.

We had awesome teachers this year.  Definitely not a bad one in the bunch.  I am grateful for all the work they do to help my children succeed.    There is one extra box for a our completely, fantastic bus driver.  Without her I would have been making a few extra trips to school for forgotten saxaphones and math books and probably made a trip or two to the office for my overly energetic little person. Below are the Cookie Towers I created a little thank you for everything they do.

I filled each box with a stack of chocolate chip chookies.  I wrapped the cookies in wax paper before I put them in to prevent the cookies from causing stains on the boxes.

“The Duff,” had a guy teacher this year.  I didn’t think pastel would do the trick for him so his box is black in gray in honor of his favorite football team.

You can cut the boxes with Sure Cuts a Lot using the file created by “The Frugal Crafter.”

I will post the digital stamp for the card tomorrow.

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I use Inkscape to design and modify my SVG and SCUT files.  I also use it for digital layouts as well as my desktop publishing designs.  I wanted to learn how to make swirls for cutting as well as for my digital designs and so I did.  Once I learned how it easy it was I thought maybe you would like to learn to so below find my video tutorial on how to make swirls in Inkscape.

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I was hunting through a few blogs looking for baby related cuts and came across Bits of Paper.  If you haven’t been to Bits of Paper please go.  Jamie Lane the owner of Bits of Paper has some really adorable designs.  Her color choices are absolutely outstanding.

She uses several different techniques for her card and scrapbook layouts.  You will find SCAL files as well as design studio files.  I love that Jamie also lists all the products she uses to create her projects.

I stopped by Bits of Paper to pick up here SCAL Baby Feet File.

Bits of Paper Screen Shot

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Still on my baby streak.  I found some of the most adorable paper for invites, layouts and decorations for baby related projects.  I wanted a to share a few with you.  Here are my favorite baby papers.

Anna Griffin – Hannah Collection – 12×12 Flocked and Embossed Cardstock Pack – Pink

Fancy Pants Designs – Little Sprout Collection – 12 x 12 Double Sided Paper – New Arrival

K and Company – Brenda Walton Collection – 12×12 Patterned Cardstock Double Sided Paper Pad – Small Wonders Girl

Karen Foster Design – Baby Boy Collection – 12 x 12 Paper – Baby Boy Collage

Creative Imaginations – Melange – Rock-A-Bye Baby Boy Collection – 12 x 12 Double Sided Paper – Rock-A-Bye Baby

Creative Imaginations – Melange – Rock-A-Bye Baby Girl Collection – 12 x 12 Double Sided Paper – Baby Rock

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I love to make paper doll die cuts.  For the most part I actually ask my 12 year old daughter to draw the faces on.  My hand is just not steady enough and on top of that I would absolutely never be happy with my freehand drawing skills.  I have found a solution called Peachy Keen Stamps.  They work well with the Cricut Paper Doll Cartridge but there is no reason why they would not work with SCAL or other electronic cutting systems.

They have the cutest faces to work with in several different designs.  I took a screen shot of the site to give you and idea.  Be sure to stop over and review all of their stamps if you are in needs of some adorable faces to compliment your die cut creations.

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I have what we think is a new niece coming in a few months which means baby shower time.  I finally asked the other day if I could start planning for the event, as if I don’t already have a file full of baby shower ideas, and received the green light.  So don’t be surprised if you get a rash of blog updates with baby cuts, papers, products and baby shower ideas.  It has been 6 years since my last baby and 10 years since I had a brand new niece of a nephew so that means this kids is going to get the royal treatment at least from this auntie.

This is a quick die cut I came up with.  I will be blowing it up for table decorations but this is the smaller version that would be great for cards.  I drew the face on, which is not really my forte  but this is just a sample I have a solution for faces that I will be sharing on another post.

Click Here for Baby Cakes Files

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One of my favorite flowers is the Gerber Daisy.  I also like to make them using the Cricut.  This is a card I did with a gerber daisy.

Click here to download the Gerber Daisy file in SVG and SCUT2 format.

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It is graduation season.  We were blessed with several invites this years so lots of card to make.  This is a quick and easy card that use a graduation paper I created.  If you have Inkscape you can download the file and easily change the color of the paper.  You can also print this paper using the bitmap or the pdf file also enclosed.  The font is Times New Roman Bold.  If you don’t have the font and you own Sure Cuts a Lot you will find an scut file with the title enclosed as well.

Click Here to download the files for this project.

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