I keep finding hidden gems in the Inspiration Studio Software that make my creative process so much easier! It isn't that I can't do the same thing in another way. But when I discovered this shortcut, I certainly did a little happy dance! It's what I love about our software, it isn't too hard for a beginner but it continues to grow with me as my skills become more advanced.
We will be Fitting Text to Path this week, both for use with the Pen Tool and for cutting out fun. For those that have the Pro 2010 software, we will also be Fitting Object to Path. In the Monday 5am CST class, I will also show you had to change the strip on your machine and do basic maintainence for your machine. Be sure and join us for class on Sunday at 7pm CST, Monday 5am CST or Monday 1pm CST. Check out the Time Zone Conversion Chart, if you aren't sure what time that translates to you. To join, simply go to Klo's Classroom and Enter Classroom. You will join as a guest.
About two weeks ago someone in the forums asked about a cutting file for how to make a "magic slider" card. I had no idea what they meant so I went to my good ol' standby, Google, and started looking. Wow! How cool are these cards? As you pull on the slider your stamped design magically fills with color! Of course there is a trick to it is quite clever! This idea works with any stamp design so you can adapt this idea for a card for just about any occasion. Both the quote and the flower stamp are stamps from Verve©. Aren't they lovely? I thought this card would be perfect for Mother's day or as a "just because" card.
Congratulations to 2EAGLES for being the Challenge Winner for April. She did this really need spinner card. She will get to choose from the prizes listed here on the Challenge Page. Thank you so much to every one that participated, there are going to be some very happy mom's on Mother's Day. If you haven't had a chance to see the great projects that others have done, be sure and go to the Challenge folder and check it out.
Blades have a way of acting like a good haircut does - one day your hair is perfect, then you wake up the next day and think "Wow! I need a hair cut!". Blades can feel like they go bad just as suddenly and it can be an easy to forget how long you have actually used a blade.
Have you noticed the little button all the way at the bottom on the left side of the Inspiration Studio Workspace? It has a little padlock on it and if you hover over it with your mouse, it says Group with Transparency. Do you know what that means and if you do, are you just a bit stumped on how to use it?
An adorable Eiffel tower box that you can fill with Parisian treats (or Hershey's kisses).
Just a reminder that there are no classes this week. I will be teaching at the Pazzles Retreat in Texas. Why not watch some videos or catch up on some classes?
It can sometimes be hard to determine what pressure settings to use. Often times our mats have the tell tale signs of trial and error while we work on getting the perfect combination of blade length and pressure. I will admit that I hang on to my mats for a very long time. Here at Pazzles we, just like you, try to make our mats last as long as possible. The result is some very well loved mats!
Did you know that I started out by selling rubber stamps at home parties? I really did love collecting all of the stamps and every color of ink. In fact I still have them, although I rarely use them anymore. I think that hand cutting around stamped images just seemed a bit of a betrayal to Pazzles, so I stored them away. I will admit that I have ventured back into stamping some since Pazzles introduced their stamping kit. It is really nice to have specifically the stamp that I need. However.....there is still the fact that you need to cut around the stamped image. Ahh! But there is a solution to that dilemma.....
Crack open the egg to open a cute little spring chick in this happy Easter card!
There will not be a class on Easter Sunday. Monday we will have a Q & A Class. So if you have been working on or learning some new things, or just have some basic questions, this will be a fabulous time to come and learn. If you have specific questions on a file you are working on, email it to klo@pazzles.com at least 4 hours before class. This will be a great class for everyone. I hope to see you there on either Monday at 5:00am CST or 1:00pm CST. Please check the Time Conversion Chart for your time zone. To join us, simply go to Klo's Classroom and then Enter Classroom, you will sign in as a guest.
I have a certain set up here at work where I keep my Inspiration and all of my paper supplies I need to test cut my creations. I love how convenient it is to create something on my computer and then simply turn on my Inspiration and cut my project. With all the paper right here at my finger tips I hardly have a reason to leave my desk. However, one little problem I have is forgetting to turn my Inspiration off at the end of the day.
Spring time gives me a multitude of reasons for crafting: Easter, May Day, Mother's Day and, in my family, lots and lots of birthdays. Choosing just the right present for the recipient is important but I also like to make the packaging for the present as special as the treat inside of it. It is at times like these that I turn to my Inspiration cutter to make my crafting ideas come to life.
Wow!! The Dallas retreat is less than 2 weeks away!! Are you ready? There are a few spots left for the Dallas retreat so if you were thinking of signing up you should act fast. We will need to pack and ship supplies soon so will close registration in a few days. The hotel is a beautiful facility and we are sure to be pampered while there. If you have not gotten your room yet be sure to call in right away. You don't want to arrive on the day of the retreat and not have a place to stay. Even if you live close by, you might want to stay at the hotel so that you can fully enjoy the companionship and fun with the other ladies attending.
I know that Mother's Day is a little over a month away, but how many of us wait until the very last minute to make our Mother's Day Cards or gifts? Well, this month's challenge will hopefully help you stay a step ahead. The challenge is to create a special card, box or other item for the 'mother' in your life. This could be your mother, a special neighbor, aunt, dad, etc. This is the person that has been a mother for you.
The Anaheim retreat is over and let me tell you..... it was a wonderful experience! I wish we could have these things on a monthly basis. I get to know all of the amazing ladies and make new friends and am so sad when it is over. Thank you, thank you, dear ladies for allowing me the privilege of getting to know you. If any of you have pictures to share you can post them in the forums under the Pazzles Retreat folder.
Here in the U.S.A. spring is definitely in the air! As we all start spending more time outside with our friends (and taking pictures of course!) this layout is the perfect addition to those photos you take on a fun day spent with friends.
This is not an April Fool's, there really is no class this week. I am going to still be in Anaheim at the Pazzles Retreat. Take this time to actually spend time learning and/or creating during the normal class hour. See you next week.
I have been receiving so many questions in regards to the Pro software. I’m very happy that you’re all so excited by the benefits of upgrading to this version and hope it has you all creating wonderful projects and fancy rhinestone images.
Congratulations to roundabout54 for being this months Challenge Winner. Roundabout54 made these beautiful masquerade masks, aren't they fabulous? She gets to choose from the prizes listed on the Challenge Page.
Add a new twist to egg decorating this year by making vinyl stickers for the eggs that are a kind of mask that would prevent color from getting on the area of the egg underneath it.
We are going to be working with What You See is What You Get (WYSiWYG) this week. Have you ever had problems welding items together and have pieces disappear or you want to create pieces that you can get to 'look' right, but they don't cut how you want? This is a great class to help you through that. This is great for both the beginner and the advanced Pazzles user. Join us in Klo's Classroom on Sunday at 7pm CST, Monday at 5am CST or Monday at 1pm CST. Check out the time conversion chart for your area. (remember, we are in Daylight Savings now). Just Enter the Classroom and sign in as a guest.
I have a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that Easter is almost here! Over here in the west side of the country we've been having chillier weather than normal . In fact we had a heavy snow fall just a few days ago! You can imagine that the weather is making it even harder to put my mind in spring mode! I think however, that this project did the trick for me. This project is so simple and I just love how it turned out.