Creative Juices - Craft Robo Is Out Of It's Box for Good?!

So I am still playing around with my craft robo having had it safely in a box for many many months... I have found myself drawn to it each day! (My dad will be pleased x)

I am now comfortable with how to wield words and how to make the most of the software that I have already and the new Robo master software that I managed to download...gets me thinking about all the graphics that I have made and how fab it would be to create shaped cards or mats for my graphics... Well as I like to make any patterns through a combination of drawing sketches, cutting paper and card and then creating the lines on the screen I have had fun making mock ups of shape cards then making graphics to fit! Back to front I know but I am challenging my creative juices - ok back to front...mad hatter approach (can you hear the sirens ?) So nearly five hours later I have a shaped card with graphics..that I created in inkscape (opensource and very good for windows and mac), printed via craft robo software so that it could then cut out the outline shape of the card - very clever!

Here's a screen shot of the art work/cut lines..I may just share this online for those with a computerized cutter system...shout up if you would like the file. I will also put a picture of the finished card when it is finished as now I can decorate and glitter!

Although the optical eye of the craft robo is some what of a mystery sometimes it works...and sometimes..it doesn't! (I just keep setting it up and eventually it asks can it cut it out now??!!! Not sure what to do when I am bored of trying to get it to see the registration marks though! lol) I thought this would make a nice card for a dad or keen gardener..with the tag on the front saying 'To' and the back saying 'From' now I need to design an envelope as just smaller than A5...aww more work..enough for one night though. Scrapbooking club tomorrow and I have a nice treat lined up for them soooo need to get some sleep :)

Creative Juices - Craft Robo

I have had my craft robo for quite some time now and I have to thank my father for it as he purchased it - demonstrating his faith in my creative juices! Well I may have taken my time but it was worth waiting for I have designed from scratch about 7 files now that I would describe as being suitable for scrapbooking although could be resized. OH just thought, for those who don't know what a craft robo is....let me explain! It is a computerised cutter system which you operate from your computer, you can either purchase designs or use the software provided to create your own. The machine (which kind of looks like a printer) then cuts the shapes out for you. WOW clever I hear you say....now yes it is. However time to play is very important!

I am now quite confident with the machine and it's software - that I feel I can concentrate on my designing side further to create new die cuts to work along side my cutting papers etc.

So here is a preview of what I have been up too - I am hoping my friend (J) will be very kind and play around with all my new designs and things so I can have some examples made by someone else...as it is nice to see how they are used in the 'real world' as my crazy one...is well crazy! Concluding that I love my craft robo I just wish I had spent more time with it earlier :)

Favourite Tool - Fiskar Shape Cutter/Express

Today I thought I would share a little about a personal cutter system that is quite flexible and one that has grown with me over the last five or more years. (Confession I don't know how long I have had this tool - I received one to try from the local craft store where I demonstrate as soon as it became available to the UK soooo it could be longer...memory failing me today) However the shape of the tool has changed slightly and I have a wide range of templates to use with it, I was very lucky and was able to use the tool quickly with success although I know some find it hard to master - my advice PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE! If you email me I will of course see if I can offer any suggestions :)

So what does this tool look like? Have a nose around here within the Fiskars website to see the tool and the templates that are currently available in this country.

Here is an example of a Father's Day card I have made by combining different templates to make a new die cut shape!

So here are the template numbers used to create this card:
Fiskars Bear Doll 4880
Fiskars Portrait Doll 4881
Fiskars Tags-1 4857
Fiskars Dimonds-1 4854

If you wish to make your own you will need to cut one bear shape and face (4880) and trim off the legs so that you can reposition them to create a sitting bear. Using the double round tag and the smallest circle (4857) you can create the darker parts of the new bear - the small circle was cut in half to make the inner parts of the ears. Finally the hands, middle piece of the banner and bow (for kite) were used to create the finishing touches using template 4881. I created a page of greetings using word and used the template to cut the banner and added chalk/ink to detail the die further. The picture here will guide you as to the placements - the kite was created using template 4854 a funky fiber was used to link the kite to the bear and was placed on the card using foam pads. If you look carefully you will see that the nose and edges were decorated using glaze pens and a doodle effect on the edges for highlights...I hope you enjoyed seeing what can be achieved using the templates! Of course this bear is just the right size for scrapbooking and could have any greeting/message attached. The card made here was A5 in size and is off to Barbados for my father......opps should I have shared that?!