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Post by crimsoncat05 on Apr 5, 2016 20:30:37 GMT
^^^ I am planning on doing that type of pre-planning... (how's that for a sentence, lol?) but I don't want to do SO much ahead of time that it feels like I'm only *assembling* things at the crop, if you know what I mean-- because for me, the assembly isn't the funnest part of the process.
This is the first whole album project I've ever tried, though, so it does need a fair amount of planning. So far I have the basic album outline decided, but that's about it. Now I need to do a pass through to determine what basic stories / layouts I want to make, then do the (tedious, to me) photo-editing and photo-choosing process. I think I'll choose sketches or layout designs after choosing the photos to print; that way I'll still have some flexibility. (or maybe I'll end up with way too many pictures if I do it that way...)
You have a very good point about looking at sketches ahead of time, though; some of the SG sketches have spaces for very large embellishments, for example- knowing that would help determine what size embellishments to cut.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Apr 6, 2016 3:52:58 GMT
crimsoncat05 I sometimes use the SG sketch books too and they make it pretty easy to be able to tell how big stuff should be based on the measurements of the other stuff on the sketch. When I'm cropping away from home I tend to stick fairly close to the sketch (maybe rotating it or flipping it, but that's about it) so I know how many kinds of papers to bring and what kinds/sizes of embellishments would look good on that page. When I'm at home (and have my computer/e-cutter right there) I tend to do things a little more freestyle because I can create a custom sketch right in the cutter software and make everything fit!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 6, 2016 9:02:10 GMT
I don't know if this will help anybody but this is how I pre-plan. I do a lot of digital work. I have a folder that I keep my digi ideas and files. Every night after I finish my web things- reading e-mails, RSS feeds, etc... I will go in my digi folder and prepare my files. I always give myself fifteen minutes at a time to do this. I can get a lot done in fifteen minutes. Some files take longer but I can work on them in sections. You can get a lot done in fifteen minutes. The more you learn your software programs the faster you get at using them. The next time I go in my craft room I already to print, cut, foil my designs. That is the first thing I do when I go work in my room is take care of all my digital files. Then I have all my files ready and I don't have to stop to make something in the middle of creating. This is how I learned using my machines too. I took fifteen minutes a day to learn a new tutorial and then practiced it until perfect. Add me to the I am cheap and won't pay $5 for a package of Thickers. I think pre-made embellishments are really pretty. I have been tempted. I do own some pre-made embellishments. I have six packages of embellishments and one package of Thickers.  I really love to make my own. I rather save my art money for new pattern paper, Washi & coloring tools. I stack my paper to make my own embellishments. In some ways it's nicer than chipboard because it such a unique look and you can get the thickness you need. |
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Apr 6, 2016 16:14:24 GMT
@amayalylac, thanks for your post; it really was helpful!! I think part of my issue with planning and with the Silhouette in general is that I never do any planning before I actually sit down with the idea of making something; I have plenty of time every evening where I could be on my laptop while we watch TV; instead of surfing (or pea-ing, lol) I could be pre-planning cut files, etc. and saving them to cut LATER. That's the part I never thought about. And I like buying patterned paper, washi, coloring tools, etc. too; I just never think about using it to make my embellishments, lol. I am going to make myself a list of tasks that I can do in 15-30 minute increments, including choosing / editing photos, choosing and designing cut files, etc. so that when I have the time, I can 'batch cut' a whole bunch of things-- THANK YOU for your suggestion!! (of course, if I end up not doing any of this stuff, I'll be too embarrassed to say, so you'll never know...  ) |
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Post by lisacharlotte on Apr 6, 2016 17:56:34 GMT
Ashley Laura has a great you tube series where she dupes popular current embellishments using her stash. Really great ideas.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Apr 6, 2016 19:00:15 GMT
Ashley Laura has a great you tube series where she dupes popular current embellishments using her stash. Really great ideas. Cool channel! Thanks for sharing!  |
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tiffanytwisted
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Post by tiffanytwisted on Apr 6, 2016 20:44:29 GMT
tiffanytwisted there are all kinds of free True Type fonts that you can use to cut titles or alphas on your Cameo, you don't have to use only the paid ones from the Silhouette store. You can use any font, that's the beauty of machines like that. I would do that first and only buy a font if you really, REEALLY have to have a certain one. If you register at creativemarket.com they offer at least one cool free font to download every week. There are all kinds of places that offer free cutting files too, you just have to do a little Googling to find them. In fact, I think I remember there being threads on here about the best places to get cutting files online too. Have fun with your new toy! Dippy me actually knew that (one of the reasons I wanted the Cameo!), but completely forgot when they had their sale and bought a few. Duh! Thanx for telling me about creativemarket. I'll check them out! This also reminds me to hunt around for a couple CD's of Creating Keepsakes fonts that I got a looooong time ago. There were some really cute ones that I'd love to be able to cut out. Thanx for jogging my memory! |
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tiffanytwisted
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Post by tiffanytwisted on Apr 6, 2016 20:54:23 GMT
Of all the years I have been die cutting and all the die cutters I have tried using the Cricut Create with SCAL was my favorite setup. It was so simple and it worked. If I needed a quick cut of something just put in my cartridge and it was done. I was thinking about my cutters today and my biggest cutter regret was getting talked into buying an Expressions. I have never cut anything from any of my die cutters over 5 inches. Seriously! I have been die cutting for over a decade now. Small die cutters are the best. I bet that is a lot of reason why scrapbookers and crafters don't utilize their machines because the machines are so big, take up a lot of room and it's just a hassle. Tonight I have a few Cricut projects I want to make. I had a big day of house things to do and remodeling projects. I just don't feel like running in with my computer or iPad to cut things out on my Explore. I am playing Regency Solitaire instead, lol. TiffanyTwisted- It's not sad about your setup. I have a portable DVD player in my room so I can play movies because my computer is always doing something for crafting- using my printers, die cutting. I didn't like to alternate either. It was annoying. I have an iPad but I am usually reading on it. It's become my e-reader. I do have to take my laptop and mouse in my room too. I have a large gaming notebook. Even though my room is only a few feet away my animals think it's stampede time when they see me to go to my room so you can imagine the melee of balancing my notebook while being tripped by the critter patrol looks like, lol. I use free fonts too. I have never bought an alpha from the Silhouette store. I miss the Slice. My little portable punch machine. I was the unlucky lot that had the wonky Slice. I would love a portable DVD player, but it's just not in the budget right now. My birthday's in October, so I guess I can hold out til then, lol. This is why I have a hard time understanding the Thicker love. I get it that it's easy, but I can just as easily find free fonts that's similar to the styles I want, cut exactly the letters I need from exactly the right color paper (or patterned paper, should I want that) and even weld it all together into one piece if I want--and make a shadow mat too! All for the price of a piece of cardstock.  Once my computer is turned on it only takes a few minutes to do. I must just be really cheap, because the thought of spending $2-5 on one pack of letters I would only partially use when I can basically get the same thing for less than 50¢ (and still have paper left over) seems like such a waste. Something I've seen a lot lately but haven't tried myself is using the same diecut stacked and glued 2-3 together to make it thick like chipboard. It looks like custom Thicker words. You're so right. In my defense, I bought my Thickers before I got the Cameo. So no more for me, lol. Especially since I love the foam ones and apparently you can make them using kiddie craft foam. Haven't tried it yet, of course, but I will! BTW, where am I finding 'Pacifica' & 'Lobster' fonts? I am intrigued! |
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Post by crazy4scraps on Apr 6, 2016 22:15:12 GMT
You're so right. In my defense, I bought my Thickers before I got the Cameo. So no more for me, lol. Especially since I love the foam ones and apparently you can make them using kiddie craft foam. Haven't tried it yet, of course, but I will! BTW, where am I finding 'Pacifica' & 'Lobster' fonts? I am intrigued! I found Pacifico and Lobster at fontsquirrel.com for free. Pacifico is a script, Pacifica was a blockier font that I didn't like as well. I also find a lot of links to great fonts on Pinterest. |
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tiffanytwisted
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Post by tiffanytwisted on Apr 6, 2016 22:42:10 GMT
I found Pacifico and Lobster at fontsquirrel.com for free. Pacifico is a script, Pacifica was a blockier font that I didn't like as well. I also find a lot of links to great fonts on Pinterest. Got 'em! Thanx! And I was able to find my 8000 year old CD's of Creating Keepsakes Creative Lettering & Scrapbooking with Lisa Bearnson and I put those fonts on, too. Woo hoo! Off to browse font sites . . . |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 7, 2016 7:39:24 GMT
I would love a portable DVD player, but it's just not in the budget right now. My birthday's in October, so I guess I can hold out til then, lol. Believe it or not I got my portable DVD player at the pawn store. It was practically free. It was close to a $200 player retail. I got mine in mint condition. I also got an expensive digital camera out of my pawn store too. I paid $20 for my camera and DVD player. Yes girls my store is legitimate and no stolen goods. The store is mainly for tools. A lot of guys shop there so when they get "girl" stuff in they price it fair since it's not going to sell fast like the tools. |
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Post by crazy4scraps on Apr 7, 2016 15:00:24 GMT
I would love a portable DVD player, but it's just not in the budget right now. My birthday's in October, so I guess I can hold out til then, lol. Believe it or not I got my portable DVD player at the pawn store. It was practically free. It was close to a $200 player retail. I got mine in mint condition. I also got an expensive digital camera out of my pawn store too. I paid $20 for my camera and DVD player. Yes girls my store is legitimate and no stolen goods. The store is mainly for tools. A lot of guys shop there so when they get "girl" stuff in they price it fair since it's not going to sell fast like the tools. I was going to suggest that too if you don't have a spare laptop with a DVD drive you could play them on. The pawn shops around here (I live in the burbs) aren't skeevy at all. |
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tiffanytwisted
Pearl Clutcher
you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave
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Post by tiffanytwisted on Apr 7, 2016 20:40:14 GMT
And I'm off to look for pawn shops in my area!
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I really love to make my own. I rather save my art money for new pattern paper, Washi & coloring tools. I stack my paper to make my own embellishments. In some ways it's nicer than chipboard because it such a unique look and you can get the thickness you need. 
)
