Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Finally Filigree!



I know some of you have been eagerly waiting for me to get this file posted. I have to tell you that this has been one of those "troublesome" files -I kept running into problems in the test cuts and I really don't know why some of the problems occurred. I will explain some of the issues I had so you won't be surprised if you have problems too (please let me know if you do - maybe we can figure out why there is such erratic behavior by these bugs!). As of tonight, I have successfully cut everything multiple times and I hope that you won't run into any problems.



Above is another variation of the full card topper. I used "hide contour" to "fill in" the ovals at the edges of the topper. Unfortunately, the element I used has only two contours, so, each time you want to cut the "filled in" version, you will need to re-hide the inner ovals. Perhaps a future update will fix this glitch of contours not staying hidden - my fix (described in the post linked HERE) will only work if there are three or more contours in the design.



I wanted to keep this card very simple since the filigree design is so elaborate, but I thought it needed just a bit more so I added a butterfly made with the Martha Stewart monarch butterfly punch.



The sentiment was cut with a Cuttlebug using the die from the "With Gratitude" A2 cut and emboss set.



In an amazing bit of serendipity, the letters align perfectly with the scallops!



Above is a photo of the card from a few days ago - that border cut perfectly the first time I tested it (and made the card using the test cut).



Tonight, I tested the cut again and you can see the result above (!) I was using the Expression instead of the Original Cricut for this cut - but that shouldn't make a difference.... I checked my blade assembly (took it out and looked for any paper bits stuck in the blade housing but there were none) re-tightened the assembly, checked to be sure that the paper was firmly stuck down on the mat and tried the cut again.



This time it cut perfectly - I can't say what made the difference since I hadn't discovered any problems in my checks after the first cut....



A few days ago, when I was testing the file I had the "Cricut mysteriously stops cutting at X % problem" - 62% in the example above and 90% in the example below.



Once again - this is something that used to happen frequently but it hadn't happened to me for quite a while. Everything "freezes" and you have to turn off the Cricut, and close and restart the Design Studio program to try cutting again. In both cases, the file cut perfectly the second time. I have no explanation for why this would happen but it did "clear" by restarting everything - whether or not it could happen again is unknown (I am just trying to give full disclosure so you know what "could" go wrong).

You will need Mini Monograms for either file. I did two separate versions with George and Plantin Schoolbook - the file will cut on the 6 x 12 mat so it is "baby bug compatible."

Filigree Card Toppers (George)

Filigree Card Toppers (Plantin Schoolbook)

14 comments:

  1. WOW! This is absolutely beautiful! You are so talented. Thanks for sharing all of your creations with us!

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  2. Once again a very clever design. Thanks so much for sharing.

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  3. Diane, Once again you have come up with a brilliant design. You are so clever and talented. Thank you so much for sharing your creations. It is very much appreciated.

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  4. This is absolutely outstanding! I am sure it took quite a bit of time!! You are so talented. Thank you for sharing all of your hard work with us! I know you have been very busy lately and yet you take the time to do your daily blog and send the emails. You are incredible! Thank you so much for sharing with us!!

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  5. TFS your files!! I love what you do.

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  6. These are so beautiful - THANK YOU for sharing.

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  7. You are so very talented. I was reading your blog last night and learned so many things about DS. Problems I was having that you addressed and gave work around, like the dreaded red X. Thanks for sharing. I just referred a Sherri from the MB to you
    http://www.cricut.com/messageboard/tm.aspx?m=4321220

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  8. Absolutely love this! I can see this on a lot of cards! Once again, awesomed designs - you're very talented!!! TFS!!

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  9. These are so lovely. Thanks again for sharing your amazing work.
    Carol

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  10. Thanks Diane. You must be so busy.

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  11. Thanks for sharing.

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  12. Mini monograms is now on my wish list. Thanks for sharing the cut file.

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  13. You and Jen are such awesome ladies. You do such wonderful designs and then you are willing to share your knowledge with others. By watching your videos, some questions I had after reading tutorials were totally answered. And I learned even more things that I didn't have a clue about.

    Thanks,

    I plan to take some of your classes a little later.

    dj

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  14. I found your blog following a blog hop, oh, man, I forgot I was hopping because I found you and I am stuck here.
    Thank you so much, I don't even know how to thank you!

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