Tips and Tricks

Video tutorials, tips, and tricks for using Pazzles product!

Understanding Text

Don't worry! You don't have your days mixed up. We switched to a new version of our video editing software and we encountered some MAJOR changes that required writing new code on our website. Thanks to Dave and Cris, we our now up and running again! Please accept our apologies for the delay! You would think that text would not be so difficult to understand. After all we are living in a 'Techie' world and we use text everyday. In fact, I sometimes wonder if I still remember how to write in cursive! I love all of the interesting fonts that are available for my computer. I think I have collected more fonts than I will ever be able to use in my lifetime. Once you master the basics of the Inspiration software, you are ready to try some fun things with all those fabulous fonts you have collected. This is usually the first time you realize that text is its own creature.

How to Resize Images

Have you ever had trouble finding the right size element for a project? You can find the perfect tag, sticker, title or die cut but it is the wrong size. It reminds me of the story of Goldilocks and the 3 Bears. Everything is Too Big or Too Small and hardly ever can I find one that is Just Right.

Opening Files & Adding A ...

I couldn't come up with a clever title for this week's Tricky Tuesday tutorial. Yet, doing this one little process will make your life a lot easier AND...the little icons for your cutting files will be a lot prettier. If you ask me, that is VERY clever!

Select An Element

When you are a beginner with the Inspiration Studio Software it is hard to decide where you want to start. Do I make a title using my own font? Or do I try designing a scrapbook page using images from the image gallery? You have visions of beautiful projects like the ones you have seen in the Craft Room Image Library. And then..... you realize that you have to walk before you can run.

Adding Favorite Papers to the ...

I am willing to bet that you have favorite papers that you use over and over again. When I find a company that has designs that I love, I am a very loyal customer. If the papers cut really well on my Inspiration I will use those papers consistently. Have you ever wished you could save the pressure and blade length settings for those papers?

Make Your Own Box

One of the most requested video topics is based on a class that I teach at the Pazzles Retreats. I have come up with a fast way to make boxes that virtually eliminates line guides and rulers. After the ladies see how I do it at the retreats, they always ask if I will do a video lesson on my method. Since I have not wanted to reveal my "secrets" before I taught the class, I have waited until now to share it with all of you.

Party Cups

Custom Party Cups

Have you ever gone to the party store to buy paper goods for a party? I seem to want to take things up a notch especially for graduation and baby events. I have found myself wandering the aisles looking at all the great paper plates, napkins, cups and banners. I might even put them in my cart and then...I pull most of it back out again. It is so expensive! It also seems like I can never find the right colors of paper goods to match the graduation colors.

Covering Chipboard Shapes

Have you noticed all of the chipboard shapes available? There are letters and shapes both simple and more detailed. Do you ever find one particular shape that is just begging you to buy it and turn it into something wonderful? And have you ever bought one of those shapes and spent hours painting it, or hand tracing and cutting paper to go on it? I have to admit that in the past I have passed up those fun shapes because I did not want to spend a lot of time making the project. Plus, why buy a chipboard shape when I can cut chipboard on my Inspiration?

The “Must Know” Shortcut

We all love shortcuts, right? They simplify our lives and help us get things done faster. We all love finding the shortcut to the grocery store or a shortcut to cleaning the bathroom. There are dozens of shortcuts for the Inspiration Studio Software and there is a tutorial in the Craft Room video library of all the keyboard shortcuts. It also includes a PDF file of the shortcuts so that you can keep it handy and refer to it often. If there is ONE shortcut that deserves its own tutorial it is the Move Point shortcut.

Matching Pen and Fill Lines

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.

Group With Transparency

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?

Make Templates for Your Stamps

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.....

Change It Up: Reinventing Projects

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.

Custom Easter Eggs with Vinyl Resist

Vinyl Easter Egg Stickers

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.

Understanding Layers

Do you remember that book about the Berenstain Bears© that taught different positions? IN the box, IN FRONT of the box, BEHIND the box and so on? It was a great way to teach children the position words and their meaning. When it comes to creating designs in the Inspiration Studio you need to know what the position tools are and what they mean.

Using the Eraser Tools

Have you discovered the Eraser Tool bar? Are you using it or did you think to yourself, "hmm...interesting but I don't think I will use it much". I want to encourage you to think again because those 3 eraser tools can do some pretty amazing things.

Inspiration 12x12 Cutting Mat

Take Care of Your Mat ...

Proper care of your cutting mat will make it last longer. Did you know that treating your mat correctly starts from the moment you remove it from the package? There are several steps that you should do to ensure that your mat lasts longer and works better for you.

My Garden Scrapbook Layout

Using the Rotation Tools

If you have been using your Inspiration for a while, I want you to reminisce with me for a bit. Think back to those first few weeks after receiving your Inspiration. If you were like most of us, you approached learning the software with a great deal of excitement plus just a little bit of trepidation. First, you tried typing a word and changing the font; then you tried some of the pre-designed images from the image gallery. When you got comfortable with that, you decided to venture into some more daring applications. For instance, remember trying to figure out how to rotate a shape?

Dirty Cut Strip

How To Replace the Cutting ...

We all know that we should replace our cutting blades and mats but were you aware that you should replace the cutting strip when it is worn out? Have you seen an Inspiration that looks like this one? Maybe it is your own cutter that looks this way. If it does, you are definitely overdue for a new cutting strip.

Valentines Party Set with Subtract Weld

Valentine with Subtract Weld

Wow! The actual DAY, Valentine's Day, really snuck up on me! I have been making valentine themed projects for Pazzles for a month now but totally missed the fact that I needed to get things done for my Grandkids for today. As I was working on redoing the video tutorial for Subtract Weld, it occurred to me that it was the perfect technique to use to create a quick and easy table setting for Valentine's day.

Making Shaped Bags

Making dimensionals can be very intimidating but add the complexity of SHAPED dimensionals and FORGET IT! Well, at least that may be how you feel, but the truth is that you can make some stunning shaped dimensionals, like this acorn bag, without being a grand master in the Inspiration Studio software.

Making Shaped Cards

Often when I am talking to people on our designer chat or through email they are wanting to make a shaped card but don't know how. So I've had in mind for a while now to make a video on creating shaped cards. They are just so easy and so fun that I think even beginners will be able to master the few simple steps.

Pesky Title Problems

I love, love, love collecting fonts! In fact, I have so many fonts that I needed to take some of them off of my computer. :) Who wouldn't love to have a collection of fonts to choose from? Especially since we can use any True Type Font with our Inspiration cutter. I imagine most of you wanted to make words and titles almost from the moment you took your machine out of the box.

Ruffles and Pleats Cards

I love ruffles and pleats. They can soften a project that is too stark and add class to something that is too simple. Usually, I use fabric ruffled ribbons to add to my projects. But pretty as the ruffled and pleated fabric trims are, they can be a costly addition to my design. Recently I decided to try my hand at making my own ruffled and pleated ribbon out of paper.

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