Planning a card in Design Studio

One of my favorite ways to use Design Studio is as a "planner" to create cards and page layouts virtually before I cut (and potentially waste) my paper.  I was thinking about an idea for a Valentine's Day card tonight and here is my current "take" on the card.  Of course, there will most likely be some "bling" added to the final product!

Sometimes new users of Design Studio are confused about how to use the preview function to show a design as they have imagined it.  I thought I'd make sure you know a few things that may or may not be "old news" but are good reminders on a helpful way to use the program.

 

First, in order for a color to show in preview, the item can not be welded.  This does not mean that you can't weld the items together for your actual cut, but if you want to preview the design in color you will need to "uncheck" the weld box for each item.  In order to make things simpler, I often include two mat pages in the file - one marked CUT for the actual welded pieces and one marked PREVIEW ONLY to use for the color options.  In this particular file, I used a prewelded word so I didn't need to create an extra mat.

Next, you need to think about the layers from the top down which is the way the program will build the preview. In other words, the items on the first mat should be those that will be the top layer of the card.  Depending on the way you plan to layer the items, you may need to make multiple mats that will preview in the same color.

If you click on this image to enlarge it you can see that I have seven mats in the file.  The first mat is for the tiny heart in the center of the heart medallion and is set to preview in red.  The next mat is for the top layer of the medallion and is set to preview in dark pink.

The third mat is the shadow layer of the medallion and the top layer of the word love and is set to preview in red.  I could also have included the "love" on the first page of the file which also previews in red since there is nothing else in that area of the mat.

The fourth mat has the shadow layer of the "love" and is set to preview in dark pink.  I couldn't include this on the second mat because it would block out the top layer and I would not get an accurate image of the card.

The fifth mat is a simple guideline rectangle in the size of an A2 card before folding. (If you have been in one of my Basic Cards classes you will know all about these guidelines!).  This page is not to be cut - you would be assembling the card on a piece of 8 1/2 x 11 inch cardstock cut in half and folded in the normal way. I also included another page with a square to help me center the medallion for the preview and the final page is a blank preview page.

Once you have your layers all set up, you need to add in the colors.

To begin, right click on the mat and select "set preview color" from the drop down menu.  There will be a random color for the preview on each page that you will need to change to one that suits you.

When you click on the "Set Preview Color"  box - this color selection box will pop up.  You can quickly choose one of the basic colors here and click OK to change the color.  You also have the option to define a custom color by clicking on the "Define Custom Colors" bar.

After you click "Define Custom Colors" the window will expand and you can click anywhere in the rainbow box to choose a color and then adjust it with the sliding scale at the right side.  You can also set precise values in the Hue/Sat/Lum/Red/Green/Blue boxes.  Then click ""Add to Custom Colors" and the color will appear in the Custom colors boxes.  Click OK to change the preview color.

Unfortunately, the program does not seem to save these custom colors (on the list of things that need fixing...). If you want to duplicate an exact color, you will need to record the values in the six boxes (or you can take a screen shot to help you remember).

I usually just work with the basic colors which are generally adequate for a quick plan.  However, I did set a custom light pink level for the background card in this file.  Ideally, I'd love to be able to add digital representations of the papers I'd be using to preview the card.  I can do this by taking a screen shot and importing it into my Creative Memories program which has digital representations of many papers.

 Here is my "paper" version of this card done with Creative Memories "Blush Blooms" digital papers.  I have these actual papers so I could use them for cutting the pieces.  This conversion process is time consuming and if you have a good "eye" you can visualize your card just by adding colors in tones and intensities that are close to the papers you think you will be using.

When you have made all of your color choices, you can copy and paste the shapes that need to be cut and set up a mat for each paper you will be using.  You will be able to be very efficient in your use of paper by doing this.  Keep your file with all of the preview mats if you think you might make the card again - it will definitely save you some time!

I hope this was helpful - I got so involved in trying to explain things that I ran out of time to actually make a test cut of this simple card(!)  I will try to share a finished version of the card soon.  By using Design Studio I know that my sizes will be correct so I will be able to cut once and be ready to assemble my card.  I have two or three projects to assemble tomorrow - several need to get out in the mail - so it will be another busy day.

Plum Blossom (one of eight new Cuttlebug embossing folders)

I can't seem to stop adding Cuttlebug embossing folders to my collection.  I find the textures that they add to be so appealing.  One of the newest collections to become available is the "Asian Bundle" which coordinates nicely with the Pagoda Cricut cartridge.  Here is a LINK to the page on the Cricut.com site where you can see more information about the bundle.

There are eight folders in the bundle, four are 5 x 7 inches (Plum Blossom, Oriental Weave, Kimiko, Bamboo) and four are A2 size (Japanese Scales, Mandarin Screen, Koi, Lanterns).  I am not sure if they will be sold separately - I have only seen sold them as a bundle at this time.

I ordered these folders from Creative Express and they arrived yesterday.  The one I was most eager to try was the Plum Blossom, so I decided to make a quick card.

I realized that this folder coordinates nicely with the widest border folder from the "Just my Type" set.  I embossed most of the front of an A2 card with the Plum Blossoms folder, leaving an area about an inch or so wide for the border.

You could just leave the card plain - it is simple and elegant and would be nice for notes of all sorts.  I added a thin strip of blue glitter cardstock between the two embossed sections and used the "Thank you" from the Cuttlebug "With Gratitude" A2 combo emboss and die set for a sentiment.   The butterfly is the Martha Stewart "Royal Butterfly" punch.


Just a quick post tonight - I have been working on a few "secret" projects that I can't show you just yet (but I think you will like them!).  It is really cold here - at least we expect this weather in New England.  I hope all my friends in the South are staying warm.

Quick and Easy Backgrounds

I have created and shared lots of full page mesh designs but this one is a bit different.  Instead of welding shapes together to create a mesh, the page design is actually created by the negative space from an element on the Accent Essentials cartridge.  This is a quick and easy way to create an interesting page background (and there is no waste since you will have dozens of shapes that can be used for other projects).

I used this element from Accent Essentials - it is actually a group of snowflakes or stars.

Here is a clearer view of the elements cut by this key.

I simply repeated the group four times and then sized the group to fit comfortably on the page.  I duplicated the group four times and arranged the groups evenly on the page.

The width of the group is 11 inches and it is placed at one half inch from the sides of the mat.  This is all set up by using the Shape Properties box to define the exact values.  Due to variations in the calibration and loading of the mat, your design may not be exactly centered on the 12 x 12 page.  You can do a test cut and determine the likely offset needed (usually less than 1/8 of an inch), trim the paper slightly after cutting or just live with a slightly off center design!

For a second version, I flipped alternating rows to create a pattern with a zig-zag flow.

I test cut the version with alternating flipped rows in heavy Bazzill cardstock.  Here you can see the cut on the mat before lifting.

It works best if you lift from one corner and pull back on the diagonal.  You will have better luck getting the cut shapes to stay on the mat while you remove your background page and won't have to "poke out" all of the shapes.

Here are all of the "leftovers" on the mat - they are actually the items the key was designed to cut but we are thinking backwards (!) and using them to create the cut out background page.

Of course, these should be saved to use for cards or other projects - you will have quite a collection!

You may remember seeing this simple card on my post on January 3.  It was made with just a few of these cuts and some gems.  There are many more of these cuts that I can use.

This is my test cut of the simple duplicated rows pattern.  For this cut I used the DCWV Shimmer paper (this accounts for the shine on the photo since I took these photos at night and couldn't get a clear image without a flash).

This type of design can be made from many cartridges.  This version is very quick since I used items that were already in groups and could quickly create a pattern.  You can make your own sets of images and if you keep the entire group in one box sized to fit across the page you will be able to copy and paste to fill the page quickly.

If you have the Personal Cricut or the Create you can adapt the design a bit to fit on the 6 x 12 mat.  You could then use one or two on the 12 x 12 scrapbook page for your background.

Full Page Snowflake Background

Tasty Cupcakes!

One of my swap groups is all about cupcakes this month.  I have been working on mine today.  The swap includes both paper cupcakes and actual cupcake recipes (with recipe cards).  Fortunately, my sister sent us some of the same type of cupcake that I am including for my recipe, so I was able to use her cupcakes for my photo shoot.  They were definitely "ready for their close-up" but they didn't last long - so yummy!  (I had to bribe my son and husband to wait until I took the photos before eating them).

I have had a very busy day so I will wait until tomorrow to show you what I made.  In the meanwhile, I thought you might enjoy the recipe - so here it is:

Black Bottom Cupcakes

8 oz. cream cheese (softened)
1 egg
1/3 cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt

Combine above and beat well, add 1 cup of chocolate chips, stir in and set aside.

Sift together: 

1 cup sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
1 1/2 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda

Combine: 

1 cup water
1/3 cup oil
1 tablespoon vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla

Add to dry mixture.  Beat until well combined.

Fill cupcake papers 1/3 full with chocolate batter. Add a heaping spoonful of the cream cheese mixture to the center of each cupcake. 

Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.

I think there are many variations of this recipe in different parts of the country - and they are probably called by different names too.  Have you had these before?

You may notice the "props" in the photo - in addition to fabric and paper, I also love linens and dishes.  There is just no curing a collector!

Something new - more digital fun!

I got an email tonight about an interesting new website.  Die Cuts With a View (DCWV) is launching a new digital scrapbook site.  I took a look around and saw that you can buy many of the paper stacks that you may already have in digital versions.  There were also some new stacks I hadn't seen before.  There are lots of possibilities here!

The new site is called 300dpi,  here is a LINK.   In case you are not familiar with the term, dpi is a measure of resolution or "dots per inch"  - 300 is considered high and is the accepted standard for digital scrapping.  Images at 300 dpi are sharp and clear.  For comparison the typical resolution for images on the web is 72 dpi.

I bought the "Animal Crackers" digital kit and did the quick little collage at the top of this post.  Just think of the ways you can combine the actual papers and the digital versions in a scrapbook.

The paper is even "glittered" - just like the actual stacks.  The kit included a stitched lower case alphabet, 17 papers and 19 elements for $6.95.

I hope some of you are getting interested in the digital scrapping - I find it to be so much fun to use "paper" in my computer and create all sorts of things without making any mess (and no scraps!).  If you have questions about digital projects let me know and I will try to help.  I definitely recommend the Creative Memories StoryBook Creator Plus 3.0 program - it is extremely user friendly and you can work with both the CM content and all sorts of other digi kits that you purchase elsewhere (or get as a freebie).  Here is a LINK to my CM website for more information.

I have a fun Cricut project to share - probably tomorrow...  I just need to add a few finishing touches...