We R Memory Keepers Trim & Score Board Review

I just wanted to do a quick post on the We R Memory Keepers Trim & Score Board. I was super excited to the get the board, since I wouldn't have to exchange my trimmer for my score board when doing a project.  I've had it for a couple of months now, and although I love the concept of it, I'm not head over heals in love with the tool. I'm actually stuck at the like stage.  Here are a few of the issues I have:

1.  I don't know if its me (it very well could be), but it does not appear to cut straight.  I have to pull the blade down really slow, but it still seems to be come out crooked mostly and the ends of the paper.
2.  When I press down on the blade to cut paper, it seems as if the blade is cutting into the plastic board.
3.  The magnets have some hold, but its not really strong and really doesn't help when using smaller pieces of paper.
4.  It folds in half.  The problem with it folding in half is that it make the 5 1/2" score line hard to keep straight.  You need to go super slow.

Now don't get me wrong, there are things about this board that I like and here they are:

1.  The blade for the trimmer is really sharp and cuts cleanly.
2.  The score lines come out nice and crisp (except for the 5 1/2" line).
3.  The bone folder has its own storage spot so it's always with the board.
4.  The measurements are clear and easy to see and read.
5.  It folds half, this actually falls in both categories.  I love that it is easy to store and take with you to crops.

Note: there are levers on the bottom that secure the board in the unfolded position.  Although it lays flat, there is a little bit of bowing on the surface when you press down.  The board does seem sturdy enough that I don't believe that it will break.

I'm going to keep trying to use this board, because it just may be a comfort level and use issue that has me not head over heels in love.  But I'm still primarily using my old Fiskars paper trimmer.

What do you think of the We R Memory Keeper Trim & Score Board?

HAPPY CRAFTING

LEGAGLBEAGLEPANDA CREATIONS

2nd Wednesday : Happily Ever After & Dreams Come True Cartridge

Hey Crafters!

Yes, it is time for our feature Cricut Cartridge Post.  This month you are getting a 2 for 1 or you can see it as catch-up since we did not do one for last month.  One of the reasons I did these two cartridges at the same time is that they have the same layouts regarding the images.  Between the two cartridges they cover eight of the Disney Movies particularly the leads/princesses. CLICK HERE to see the video of the booklet review and the projects.

Now the first thing you should know is that the individual cuts that make up the images can be small.  These are not cartridges that you can make cuts at two or three inches.  Remember that the cut size on Cricut cartridges has to do with the height of the piece, and if you make the person that small, imagine how small the eyes or lips would be.  So don't forget when you are cutting out the characters, to at least start at four inches if not bigger.  This will ensure cleaner cuts.  Now the booklet recommends that you use the Cricut Expression, however I have used my Cricut Create.  By far the new Cricut Explore cuts these intricate and tiny shapes the best.

The other tricky part of putting these cuts together is the glue.  I used my Xyron 1.5", 5" and a 2-way glue pen.  Since some of the edges are so thin, be careful when apply and placing the cuts down.  I wasn't careful enough on my Seven Dwarf cards and got some scrunched up ends.

Now I did two different projects one involves cards (of course) using the Seven Dwarfs, and the other is a layout for a friend using some of the princesses.

Bashful

Happy

           

Sneezy

Doc

             

Grumpy

Sleepy

Dopey

Here's the layout:

I used so many piece of scraps and random papers from so many paper packs.  It took a while to finish the images since they did have so many small pieces.  I tried to keep track of the paper so I could tell you but, I think I threw the list away since it was on a piece of scrap paper.  However, I do know that I used some of the following paper companies:  DCWV, Core'dination, Recollections, Colorbok and Studio Calico.  I used stamps from different companies such as:  Hot of the Presses, Rubbernecker, Close to My Heart, Fiskars, TPC, and Studio G.  I don't remember who made the cloud embossing folder, and there were also random embellishments.  I know that the washi tape going around Doc's card is from We R Memory Keepers, and the pearls on Bashful's card is from Want 2 Scrap.  Anything else is anyone's guess.

Thanks for stopping by and .  . .

HAPPY CRAFTING!!

LEGALBEAGLEPANDA

Cricut Wednesday & Silhouette Thursday -- All at once

Hello fellow Crafter's!

Yes, Cricut Wednesday & the Silhouette Thursday video and blog post are being posted on the same day. 

 Let's start with the Silhouette.

Did you all see that Silhouette has come out with a new version and boy or boy does it have a different look. I went to the Silhouette Plus Forum and saw people talking about having the ability to run the newer version and still retain your older (legacy) version on your machine.  However, there appears to be a kink and it will not let you run designer edition on both versions at the same time.  Some have found a way to work around it and others have just removed the new version.  If you haven't checked out the forum you should, sign-up is free and you will get a lot of tips from the people on the board.

Well the video for this month talks about some of the other window you will find in the Silhouette Studio Software V2.  The video contains a brief overview of what I currently understand of the Move, Rotate, Scale, Shear, Align and Replicate windows.  It may serve as a refresher for some and new information for others. Either way I hope it's helpful.
I've read that Silhouette is working on doing some fixes to the new version, and are hoping to have the new and improved V3 out soon.  For those of you who have downloaded and started using V3 let me know what you think.

Now for the Cricut Feature Cartridge.  This month the Cartridge is All Sports.  When I originally got this cartridge I thought it would be good for doing memory books of all those sporting events my nephews attended.  But instead I did some sports inspired cards.  Click Here to check out the video showing a brief overview of the content of the cartridge, and some of the cards I made.  All of the cuts were made with the new Cricut Explore.  Hopefully this coming weekend I will have a little bit more time to play with the new machine and it's software. If I really get to play then be on the look-out for a more detailed review of what I think of the machine. 

HAPPY CRAFTING

LEGALBEAGLEPANDA

Silhouette Thursday #6: Looking at the option in the Modify Window

This month I decided to do a video on the Modify Window, specifically the first box that includes, weld, intersect, crop, subtract, subtract all and divide. The video runs through just the basics of what I know of the buttons and how they function. 

Happy Crafting,

LegalBeaglePanda

Cricut Explorer: First Cuts

Whoo Hooo! My Cricut Explorer arrived today!

The machine is a hefty thing, but it cuts so quietly, and it doesn't make the table shake when it cuts.  I just had to take it for a brief spin, to see how easy it was to set-up.  And it was super easy.  Trying to figure out how to access the free subscription and Anna Griffin stuff was another thing all by itself.  Nothing from the paperwork inside tells you how to access those things.  However, I went to the Cricut Facebook page and scrolled through some comments and found the answer.  Just in case you stopped here, let me tell you that you need to go to circut.com/setup, in order to get the perks promised from HSN at launch.

Now I did cut a few things

This butterfly is barely over two inches and the of the cuts are smooth.

Now this cut I will try again, because I think it was my pulling it off the mat to quickly that made the edges curl and look ragged at the fine points.

The little tiny cut at the base of the tip, did not cut cleanly, but overall I think it's a good cut.

Now of course since I found how to unlock the Anna Griffin content I decided to make the card that appears as one of the make it now projects.  I also used one of  the stamps from the Anna Griffin Chalkboard Stamp set.

I'm really disappointed that I didn't get the tool set with the score tool.  I ordered before the presentation, and didn't realize that the tool set was coming with a different tool  from what was being sold in stores.  So for the card cut above, I had to disengage the score tool function.

I can already tell that using Design Space is going to take a lot of playing around with to get use to.  Well, that's all for now.

HAPPY CRAFTING

LEGALBEAGLEPANDA

TALKED MYSELF INTO THE GETTING THE CRICUT EXPOLRER

What's up my fellow craft people?  If you checked in on the blog for the 2nd Wednesday featuring Cricut Cartridges you have noticed that I missed this month as well.  But in my defense I was clearing a spot for my new machine. 

Yes, Yes I talked myself into buying the Cricut Explorer.  It should be here tomorrow, and I can't wait. Now, if you read my last post you are probably wondering why I bought the machine.  Well here are a few reasons why I'm willing to try it out:

*I like the cut and write/score without having to change out blades or adjust settings.  This new machine has a place to house the blade, and another place to house the pen or scoring tool.

*I have the Cricut cartridges that I want (will buy the new ones I like) and most of my cartridges are already linked to CCR.  So I can buy an individual item if it appeals to me and not have to pay for the subscription. Plus I heard that the subscription can be bought on a month to month basis.  To me this means if I am doing a project that will require the use of cartridges I don't have, for that month I will pay for the subscription.

*Finally, they will allow you to cut and upload your .svg files for free.  I have a lot of .svg files since buying my Cameo, and its good to know I can use those same files on my Cricut Explorer with no problem.

I'm still a little bit worried about the cloud based system, but I figured I would get the machine, and see how it goes.  If after working with the cloud based system for a week or two I see reoccurring problems emerge, I'll just send the machine back.

I will keep you guys posted on how the machine works, troubles or joys and I will let you know how it compares to the Silhouette Cameo.  

Now the 2nd Wednesday review of a Cricut cartridge will definitely be back by April.  I will try my best to do one for March, but I know by April I will back in full swing.

HAPPY CRAFTING

LEGALBEAGLEPANDA CREATIONS 

Silhouette Thursday #5: Rhinestone: using them in the Silhouette Design Studio

It's that time again.  Silhouette Thursday.  This month I wanted to try my hand at how rhinestones patterns can be made and used in the Silhouette software.  I put in a little bit of both regarding the Studio edition and the Studio Designer Edition.  I will probably have another video up showing the project that I'm making using rhinestones later this month.
Click Here to see the video.

HAPPY CRAFTING

LEGALBEAGLEPANDA