Cricut Design Studio News
Linda at Just-a-Scrappin always keeps us up to date. Click here to read her post on all of the ‘whisperings’ about the next update, and even a whole new software package. Thanks for all the great info Linda!
Video: CDS December Update
Here is the latest video for Cricut Design Studio. It covers the four steps to get the December 2008 update up and running. You’ll need to:
- Delete the metadata file in your cricut folder.
- Uninstall the old version of CDS.
- Download/Install the update.
- Update your firmware from within CDS.
Don’t worry….it’s all right here. You’ll be up and running in no time.
New (December) Update Now Available
Just when you got caught up on the last one…here’s the latest update. Some of the cartridges this adds are the Hello Kitty, Pooh, Blackletter, Sesame Street and more. The exciting change is that with this version you can hide piece of an image if you don’t want it to cut! Just follow the link and select the green download button after the first paragraph. (Click HERE for update)
Visit the Just A Scrappin Blog for instructions and great reminders if you are downloading it before I get the video out. Click here for the blog.
I am working on the video for how to uninstall your old program, install the update, and update your firmware. Hopefully I can finish it by the end of the weekend. Then I’ll start one to show the changes. They surprisingly take quite a long time to edit, but I’ll get them up asap.
Thanks for all the wonderful comments. I sure do appreciate them.
Video: Aug 08 Update
In the August 2008 update a couple things changed. Cricut added up and down nudge keys, and you can now weld in a frame without “burping” the image”. This video shows the changes as well as how to weld in a frame and copy a “group” or selection. Please let me know if this is helpful. I will continue to make them as long as people are interested.
It’s Time…
Just a quick post to let you know that I haven’t disappeared…John and I are getting married October 25th and, well, time has caught up with us! I have been trying to get my mile long to-do list finished and enjoy this time with my new family.
John and I are going to LA on November 10th. We have four days of honeymooning and then three days at a super-intense business conference by Ali Alexander. I already have some big plans for when we get back, but I am expecting to come home with lots of new ideas and a plan to expand what has been started by the Learning The Cricut DS manual.
On a side note, when I get back I will be creating an update video to show the grouping feature. The August DS update added more nudge keys and a few other changes I will be walking through. The manual will be updated and the video will automatically be sent out to all of you who have purchased the manual.
John and I will also be creating my new studio/corner. I am so excited! We plan to get cabinets from Lowe’s and get my space just as I need it. After we are done I plan on doing some videos actually using the Cricut. Lots of great things to come. In the mean time, I need to focus on trying to fit into my wedding dress!
If you’d like to see the hardcover guestbook I designed using Heritage Makers you can see it on my personal blog at www.BrandiKayDesigns.com. It will take a few seconds to load. You can also see what Oprah had to say!
Oh…and check out the new YouTube videos before you go. Click on the Paper Doll tutorials.
Do You Squidoo?
If you haven’t seen Squidoo yet, you should take some time to check it out. People make “lenses” on things they know about and update it often. So…my first lense is on the Design Studio. Click here to check it out.
We can finally GROUP in CDS!!! (and forget the burping!)
Many of you know that in the Design Studio one of the biggest frustrations was not being able to select more than one image at a time and manipulate them together. It looks like this is something they have changed in their 8-08 update. Hopefully in the future there will be a simple group/ungroup button, but for now Diane has put together a great tutorial on her blog, Capadia Designs.
The most recent update has also seemed to take away the need for “burping” images. Welding inside of a frame is now a straighforward process. Diane also shows an example in her tutorial above.
P.S. Putting these tutorials together is not a quick process. Please make sure you leave a comment on other people’s blogs and let them know how much we appreciate their time and effort. Plus, a nice word will probably brighten their day!
CDS Update, New Cartridges, & a Michaels Coupon
Cricut has just released the latest update for Design Studio. With each update they add newly released cartridges. This update will add Graphically Speaking and the Storybook cartridges.
IMPORTANT: How to Update CDS
- With your DS not open, uninstall your current version of CDS. The easist way is to go to the Start Menu and select programs. Find Design Stusio and select it. You can uninstall it from there. (Don’t worry…you won’t lose any of your registration information).
- Go to the update page and select the most recent update. Download it and run it from an administrator account.
- Viola! You are updated and can start playing with the latest releases!
New Cartridges
Here are some screenshots of upcoming releases (end of September/beginnng of October).
Calligraphy Collection
Potpourri Basket
Home Decor
40% of Entire Purchase Coupon at Michaels
Here is a link to a post that has a coupon for 40% off your entire purchase at Michaels through the end of August. It was actually meant to be good for one item, but they made a mistake. From what I’ve read, they have been honoring them because it was their mistake. Worth a try. Happy Shopping!
Cricut Design Studio: Welding Basics
One of the most basic things you will want to do with the Cricut Design Studio is to weld letters together to form one word. There are two ways to weld letters together. The first is to work with the word as one image that can be manipulated all together. The second way is to bring in each letter as an individual image that can be manipulated by itself.
As you type the letters in your word, you will notice that they show up on the cutting mat one right after another. When you select the group of letters by clicking on one of the lines, any changes such as size will be applied to all the letters at the same time. Another method is to type one letter and then hit enter before typing another. This makes each letter separate so that you can manipulate each letter individually.
To weld a word when the letters are all one group, follow these steps:
- Click the word with the mouse so it is selected.
- Kerning is the space between letters. Set this at -.005 or leave at zero. Hit apply.
- The letters will move together, some may be touching while others may not. Select each individual letter in the word . It will become a dashed line when that particular letter is selected. Move it using the nudge arrows until each letter is slightly overlapping.
- Select the whole word again and check the welding box under shape properties.
- The word will have dark lines showing where the cutting will be, while a lighter line will represent where it has been welded together.
There are times that you will need to work with each letter or image individually. This is particularly useful when you may want one letter one size and another letter a different size. To weld letters that are individual, follow these steps:
- Select the first letter you will want to use. Make sure you hit enter to deselect the letter before adding a new one.
- Select the second letter you will be using. Notice that when you select each letter, it is it’s own individual letter. It can be manipulated in any way and not effect the other letters.
- Continue adding letters making sure to hit enter after each one.
- In this welding method the kerning feature is not used. Simply select a letter, manipulate it to the size and look desired and check the weld box.
- Select the next letter and manipulate it as desired. Move it to where it overlaps the first letter. The amount of overlapping is your discretion according to your design. Check the welding box.
- Continue until all letters have been manipulated and the welding box is checked for each.
- Preview the word. The letters that have had the welding box checked will appear as a dark line that will be cut with the lighter lines showing where they are welded. If any letter is a solid filled letter instead, the welding box was not selected for that particular letter. Simply go back and select the letter again and check the welding box.Welding is one of the most basic and most used functions in Cricut Design Studio. Follow the steps above and you will be on your way to using the Cricut in a whole new way. If you are more of a visual learner, many step by step guides to welding including screenshots are available online.
Cricut Design Studio- The Cricut User’s Must-Have Tool
Many crafting enthusiasts have fallen in love with their personal electronic die-cut machine, the Cricut. A new addition to the already popular product is the development of a software program created just for Cricut users.
Cricut Design Studio is a computer software program created by Provocraft, the designers of the Cricut machine. While the machine itself allows the user to cut various shapes and fonts in a rage of sizes, the Cricut Design Studio takes it to a whole new level. Simply connect the Cricut to the computer via a USB port, install the software, and unleash a whole new dimension of crafting.
The main benefit of the Cricut Design Studio is the ability for users to weld, or connect letters together to form a single cutting. Gone are the days of gluing each letter one at a time. Now letters, phrases, and shapes can be welded together before cutting making it faster and easier than ever to add cuttings to projects.
Another benefit of the Cricut Design Studio is that the shapes and letters can be manipulated extensively before cutting. Users are no longer limited to only adjusting the size, but can now change the shape properties to better support their overall design. Each image can be stretched, slanted and flipped to get the exact look the crafter is needing.
While the Cricut Design Studio has benefit after benefit, my personal favorite is the ability to incorporate images from various cartridges into one design. The user can now design with all the cartridge options at once instead of being limited to cutting with one cartridge at a time.
Advanced and ultra-creative users have created awe inspiring projects by combining several different cartridges into one incredible cutting.
The Cricut Design Studio is, in my opinion, a necessity for every Cricut owner. While there is a learning curve to it, once it is understood the creative options are absolutely unlimited. The Cricut and the Design Studio have become a must-have resource for every scrapbooker and card maker today.
