The new Cricut message board is open for business!

Here's the link to the new message board: http://main.cricut.com/forum/

Use your EMAIL ADDRESS to login - not your username.

The password is the same as the one you are using on the old board.

The new board is faster than a speeding bullet. It has a totally different look but I find it super easy to get around. Hope you do too!

You can still post on the old board for now. On October 1st the old board will be locked and will then be Read Only. (So all your old posts will still be there for a while). No word as to when/if they'll remove the old board.

Don't forget to bookmark the new address.

See you at the new board!

Narelle

Cricut message board is on the move!

UPDATE: The new message board is  open for business. Here's the link: http://community.provocraft.com/

PC have advised that the new message board will be available by the end of this week! Fingers crossed that it goes ahead as planned and without any problems. Thanks PC for all the hard work you do!

The current message board will still be around for a while but all new threads will need to be created on the new board. Threads on the old message board can still be posted to for now.

September Hello Thursday carts have been announced

It's Hello Thursday again and PC have released 3 new cartridges and retired two more.

The two carts being retired are Stone Script and Indie Art. Get yours while you still can!

The three new carts are Birthday Bash, Nifty Fifties and Shall we Dance.

Click here for the Design Studio Font Pack update:  http://www.cricut.com/CDS/Update.aspx

Birthday Bash and Nifty Fifties will be available in October. Shall we Dance is available to Cricut Circle members only. Membership closes today (9/17) at midnight MST so email me if you still want an invite.

(Members who join this quarter will still receive the French Manor cart. Shall we Dance is the cart for the next quarter.)


Here's the sample sheets from the three new carts. Enjoy!

Birthday Bash

Nifty Fifties

Shall we Dance?

The Cricut Circle - extended due to technical difficulties

Message from PC:

Due to some Circle Members having system issues with the friend referral system we have decided to extend the contest until Friday September 17, 2010 until 12:00am MST.   There will not be any further extensions after this, so make sure you have all of your interested referrals sign up. 

So if you want to join... hurry!

In preparation for the launch of the Cricut Imagine Provocraft have opened the Cricut Circle for new members. To join you need a referral from an existing Circle member. If you know a Circle member ask her for an invitation.

If you don't know a circle member and have been thinking about joining send me an email (girlfromoz2009@hotmail.com) and I'll send you the invitation.



I should say that having new members join from my invitation DOES benefit me. Here's how:

• Every person that I refer and signs up to join the Circle by Sept 13th 2010 prior to the launch of the Cricut Imagine will be able to participate in this Cricut Imagine offer.
• Every person that signs up from my recommendation will earn me an extra 100 reward points per signed up friend to be rewarded by Oct. 1st in my rewards account.
• For the first full year membership that signs up from my recommendation I will receive a free Gypsy from the Cricut Circle.
• For the top 10 Cricut Circle members that sign up the most members PC will be giving me a free 2011 Cricut Circle membership.
• Of the top 10 Cricut Circle members the top two Cricut Circle members that have the most friends sign up will also enjoy a spot on the 2011 Cricut Cruise along with a guest of their choice.

If you have a friend who is in the Circle you may want to join with a referral from them so that they get these benefits. But if you don't know anyone in the Circle and would like to join please let me know.

To avoid any problems with signing up the email address I send the invitation to should match your cricut.com message board email address.

So what do you get for your circle membership and how much does it cost?

A full years membership costs $275. For that you get:

• Four exclusive cartridges a year, one each quarter (starting with French Manor), ONLY available to The Cricut Circle members
• Special buying privileges like rebates, monthly coupons, and opportunities to buy other exclusive products for your Cricut, from friends and partners of Provo Craft
• Extra reward points and special cricut.com discounts
• A members-only bracelet with an exclusive Cricut Circle charm
• A special Cricut Circle Community will come together through an exclusive Cricut Circle forum on cricut.com
• Inspiration and education from exclusive Cricut Circle webinars, swarms, meet-ups, and events
• A fun Cricut Circle blog and a monthly project-inspired online magazine to fill your mind with ideas galore

There is also a quarterly membership option.
 
Take care

Narelle (GirlfromOZ)

Speeding up Design Studio load time

This tutorial has been moved to my new blog - here:

http://thenon-craftycrafter.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/cricut-design-studio-speeding-up-ds.html

Please come follow me over there! ♥

The Cricut Circle - extended due to technical difficulties

Message from PC:

Due to some Circle Members having system issues with the friend referral system we have decided to extend the contest until Friday September 17, 2010 until 12:00am MST.   There will not be any further extensions after this, so make sure you have all of your interested referrals sign up. 



In preparation for the launch of the Cricut Imagine Provocraft have opened the Cricut Circle for new members. To join you need a referral from an existing Circle member. (Yes, I'm a member).

If you have been thinking about joining send me an email (girlfromoz2009@hotmail.com) and I'll send you the invitation.

I should say that having new members join from my invitation DOES benefit me. Here's how:

• Every person that I refer and signs up to join the Circle by Sept 13th 2010 prior to the launch of the Cricut Imagine will be able to participate in this Cricut Imagine offer.
• Every person that signs up from my recommendation will earn me an extra 100 reward points per signed up friend to be rewarded by Oct. 1st in my rewards account.
• For the first full year membership that signs up from my recommendation I will receive a free Gypsy from the Cricut Circle.
• For the top 10 Cricut Circle members that sign up the most members PC will be giving me a free 2011 Cricut Circle membership.
• Of the top 10 Cricut Circle members the top two Cricut Circle members that have the most friends sign up will also enjoy a spot on the 2011 Cricut Cruise along with a guest of their choice.

If you have a friend who is in the Circle you may want to join with a referral from them so that they get these benefits. But if you don't know anyone in the Circle and would like to join please let me know.

To avoid any problems with signing up the email address I send the invitation to should match your cricut.com message board email address.

So what do you get for your circle membership and how much does it cost?

A full years membership costs $275. For that you get:

• Four exclusive cartridges a year, one each quarter (starting with French Manor), ONLY available to The Cricut Circle members
• Special buying privileges like rebates, monthly coupons, and opportunities to buy other exclusive products for your Cricut, from friends and partners of Provo Craft
• Extra reward points and special cricut.com discounts
• A members-only bracelet with an exclusive Cricut Circle charm
• A special Cricut Circle Community will come together through an exclusive Cricut Circle forum on cricut.com
• Inspiration and education from exclusive Cricut Circle webinars, swarms, meet-ups, and events
• A fun Cricut Circle blog and a monthly project-inspired online magazine to fill your mind with ideas galore

There is also a quarterly membership option.
 
Take care

Narelle (GirlfromOZ)

Two more carts retiring

This month's Hello Thursday email announced that the Soccer and Zooballoo cartridges are retiring.

Check here for the full list of retired/retiring carts: Retiring carts list

New carts added to Design Studio

New carts have been added to the Design Studio Font Pack. CDS Update

Boys will be boys

 

CM Cheerful Season

CM Reminisce Accents

Christmas Cards

 

 

Christmas Village

Martha Stewart All Occasions

Martha Stewart Elegant

Martha Stewart Seasonal

Thanksgiving

Tea bag holder to share

Here's another file I did this week.

Jennifer from the cricut message board was looking for a DS/gypsy cut file for this:

http://mytimemadeeasy.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=144

Here's what I came up with. I think it's pretty close...

Click on the links below to download the files.

Tea bag holder cut file for Design Studio
Tea bag holder .gypsy file

Pennant Garland cut file

I haven't shared a cut file for ages! So I thought it was time I did something about it...

Celeste from the Cricut.com message board was looking for a DS cut file for the pennant garland she found at this blog: http://www.oncewed.com

It's a great design. Thanks Anna  from Once Wed for sharing the directions and template!

I love a challenge (and I was avoiding the ironing....) so I jumped right in.

Here's what I came up with. It uses George & Basic Shapes and fits on the 12x12 mat.

I've added the red lines to indicate where to fold.

Here's the DS file: Pennant DS file
Here's the Gypsy file: Pennant Gypsy file

Enjoy! I'd love to see pics if you use the file.

Changing your Windows screen settings

If you are having trouble viewing the entire Design Studio screen you may need to change your screen settings.

Design Studio works best with a DPI (Dots per inch) setting of 96 (small) and a screen resolution of 1024 x 768 or larger.

Here's how you go about changing those settings....

If after you have changed these setting you find that the text on your screen is too small see the easy instructions at the end of this tutorial on how to enlarge the text.

Windows 7 (Windows Vista & XP instructions follow)

DPI -


Save and close any files you have open on your computer, as you will need to log off after you have made your DPI changes. Anything you haven't saved may be lost. 

• Right click on your desktop and select Screen Resolution

• Left click on "Make text and other items bigger or smaller"

• Click the "Smaller (100%) default" button

• Click the Apply button

You will then see this message box -

• Click the "Log off now" button

After Windows closes any background programs and logs you off you will need to log back in.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SCREEN RESOLUTION

• Right click on your desktop and again select Screen Resolution 

Design Studio requires a screen resolution no smaller than 1024 x 768. The bigger your monitor the higher you can set your screen resolution. The higher your screen resolution, the clearer the images and text will appear on your monitor, although they will be smaller. I have a 17" monitor and use a screen resolution of 1600 x 900 and that is what Windows 7 recommends for my screen (which is indicated beside the setting.)

Again, if you find your text too hard to see at the new resolution you can enlarge it. See end of tutorial.

You should see "recommended" beside the resolution setting that Windows 7 recommends for your size screen. If you want to change that setting, here's what you need to do:

• Click on the down arrow in the Resolution box. You will see a drop down box.

• Move the slider down (or up) to the resolution you want 

• Press Apply
• To keep the selected resolution click the "Keep changes" button

• If you want to change the resolution again, click the Revert button and change your setting again
• Press OK

Changing the screen resolution does not require you to restart or log off. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now that you have changed your DPI & Screen Resolution so that DS will display correctly, you may find that some text is hard to read,  e.g. websites, Word, Excel...

You don't have to go back and change your screen settings, just enlarge the text on the screen:

Hold down the Ctrl key and press the + key. (Go on, do it now..... )    :)

The text just got bigger didn't it? Now do the Ctrl + again. It's bigger again, right?

You can keep enlarging the text till you're happy with the size.

To reduce the size of the text use Ctrl and the - key.

If you have a mouse with a wheel on top you can move that back and forth while holding down the Ctrl key to do the same thing.

This is also handy if you're having trouble seeing small photos on the message board.

It doesn't work in all programs, e.g. it doesn't work in Design Studio.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here's how you change the screen resolution on Windows XP:

• Right click on your desktop and select Properties
• In the Display Properties dialog box click the Settings tab
• Drag the screen resolution slider so that it shows 1024 x 768 pixels
• Click Apply
• Click Yes if asked if you like the new resolution
• Click OK

To change the DPI:

• Again right click on your Desktop and select Properties
• Click the Settings tab
• Click the Advanced button
• Select Normal Size (96 DPI) from the drop down DPI setting box.
• Click OK

You may need to retart your computer for this change to be applied.

Blog Update

Yes, I HAVE changed the design of the blog AGAIN! :)

But this time, I'm actually happy with it.

I've got some tutorials in mind, so I better get busy.

Installing DS on your new computer

So, you've bought a new computer and you want to install your copy of Design Studio on to it? Or you reformatted your computer and need to reinstall DS?

Here's what you need to do:

• DON'T install DS from the original cd. It is the original version from 2007 and isn't compatible with Windows Vista 64 bit or Windows 7 and chances are your new computer is running one of those. 

It also doesn't contain any of the new program updates and you'd need to update it anyway. But don't throw it away as you need the serial number from the cd envelope!

• Disable your computer's Firewall and virus software
  

• Download the program update from here.

For more information regarding downloading Design Studio updates see this post: Downloading and installing DS updates

• After you have downloaded the Program update you need to install it.

• Once DS has installed it will take you to the activation screen.

Some DS users have been able to use the serial number from the original DS disk to activate.

However, if after using that serial number you get an error message saying that your serial number has been installed on another computer you will need to contact Provocraft customer service.  They will release the number from your other computer so you can use it on your new computer.
You may need proof of purchase.

Contact details for Provocraft are:

Cricut Support hours
Monday - Friday 7:00am - 6:00pm (MST)
Phone: 801-932-1144
Toll free: (in the US) 877-7CRICUT

If you reside in Australia and purchased your copy of Design Studio from an Australian authorised Cricut retailer you can contact our local distributor (details below) who will issue you with your new number. You will DEFINITELY need your proof of purchase, so hang on to your receipt/tax invoice.

Australian distributor details:

Print Blocks - Brisbane
Send an email to cricut.service@printblocks.com.au (let them know you need a new serial number)

You will need to supply them with the following information:

Your name
Your address
Your phone number
Where purchased (Authorised Australian Cricut retailer)
Date purchased
Serial number of the Design Studio cd.

Attach a scanned copy of your original tax invoice to the email.

If your copy of DS didn't come from an Australian authorised Cricut retailer you will need to phone the US number above.

Create A Critter shaped cards

Creating a shaped card is easy. Here's one using the Create-A-Critter cartridge. I can't wait till mine arrives so I can actually cut it out!

Copy = Ctrl C or Edit, Copy or the DS copy button

Paste = Ctrl V or Edit, Paste or the DS paste button

Decide what size you want your card to be and set that size on the Default Size slider under the DS keypad.

Place your image on the mat

With the image still selected copy it to the clipboard


Paste the copied image onto the mat. It will cover the original image.

 
Using the right arrow on your keypad (or the horizontal move handle - middle left) move the pasted image over to the right.

Select the image on the left, then select Flip from the Properties box

  

 
Move the left image over to the right so that the two images are just overlapping. Make sure you overlap them enough that the join won't be too flimsy when the card is folded.

Select each object in turn and click Welding in the Properties box.

Here's what the welded card look like when previewed from a new page.

Note that the feature lines in the tail are missing. That happens when objects are welded together.

Now that you have the base of your card, you can create the layers.

Create-A-Critter has 3 layers. Here's what my mat looks like with all the layers added ready to cut. The layers are in colour because they haven't had Welding selected, which means that the feature lines will cut.

Now all I need is for the cartridge to arrive! :)

Have a great day!

 

Uploading a picture as an avatar

Do you have a picture on your computer that you want to use as your avatar on the Cricut.com message board?

Here's how you do it using Photobucket. (www.photobucket.com):

(Thank you to Scrapalette for the easy directions)

1.    Open your photobucket account
2.    Click on the My Home link at the top of the screen

3.    Select the album to where you want to upload the photo

4.    Click the "more options" link

5.    Select Medium (320 x 240) * (see note below)

* Note: If the picture you are uploading is a very high resolution image, MEDIUM may still be too big. You may need to use either SMALL or TINY. (I had to use Tiny....) Come back to here if you get an error saying the file is too big at point no. 22.

6.    Click Save

7.    Click the green Upload Images and Videos button

8.    Navigate to the directory that contains the photo you want to upload

9.    Select the photo and press Open

10.  When the photo has finished uploading press the blue Save button

Underneath your photo you will see this box:

11.  Click inside the box next to Direct Link. The text should be hi-lighted.

12.  Use Ctrl C to copy the text to the clipboard (or right click and select Copy)

13.  Go to the cricut.com message board

14.  From the menu select My Profile

15.  Scroll down till you see this:

16.  Make sure "Upload my picture" is selected

17.  Click on Upload my picture (will replace the existing one)

18.  Click inside the file name box (or click the Browse button)

19.  Click inside the File Name box at the bottom of the screen

20.  Use Ctrl V (or right click, select Paste) to paste the image details.

21.  Press the Open button

22. Press OK. (If you get a "File too large" error, go back to point # 5 above.)

23.  Press OK.

Now you should see this:

Note: If you want to use the same photo as your Profile photo just click the 'Use your avatar as profile photo"



24.  Go to the bottom of the screen and press the Apply button.

Now go check one of your posts and you should see your new avatar!!