My Ice Cream Truck Was stolen on Christmas Night

To all my wonderful readers, please visit my facebook page and share. My ice cream truck was stolen from my driveway on Christmas evening.

I am trying to get a news agency to do a story on it to no avail. We need your prayers.

Here is a facebook page I have created. This is where all the updates will go


http://www.facebook.com/findstolenbluejeansicecreamtruck

A little happy bell Make the Cut File Free

I think this is it for now, I better get some housework and cooking done! LOL. But here is another little cutie for your Christmas enjoyment!

As always just click on the link and you will get the complete set in a zipped file.

I am on a roll, Rudolph the red nose reindeer cutting file for MTC, Make the Cut!

Well, today I am just in the mood to create files. Here is another little cutie, Ruldolph with a nice shiny blue collar.

I had to fix his eyes, they were just pin points in the coloring image I scanned in, I think he looks much better now. What do you think? Enjoy, remember to show your love if you find good use for my files. Merry Christmas! Just click on the image to download a zipped folder with all the types of images in it.

Another snowman cutting file, ice skating dude!

Here is another free make-the-cut cutting file, this is an ice skating snowman.

Just click on the link and it will take you to the download file. Enjoy!

Free Harry Potter Snowman Cutting File

I call this my Harry Potter cutting file because I made the colors on the scarf the Griffindore colors. That was the group that Harry and his friends belonged in. My daughter and youngest son are huge Harry Potter fans.

Here is an image of the file. Click on the image and you can download a complete set of files, Ai/Gs, pdf, png, svg, and mtc. Enjoy.

Would love to see what you do with these files, feel free to comment.

Regards,
Laurie

PS. After I uploaded the files I realized he has a band on his hat. So I edited the mtc file with a version with the band to match his scarf on his hat. I didn't edit all the other exports in the zipped file. That is an easy fix for anyone familiar with cutting files.

Here is the new image and clicking it will give you just the mtc file.

Conducting Node Surgery with Make the Cut Software, Version 4

Here is another one.

A version 4 youtube tutorial of Make the Cut Software

Many at the forum have been searching for tutorials, but many of the ones on Youtube.com are for the older versions. So I decided as I find the newer version ones, I am going to embed them here.



If you have one that is 4.0 or newer please let me know.

Laurie

Organizing with the Cricut, Look What I did Tonight!

I am about to get into some serious sewing in the next few weeks. Besides Christmas I plan on sewing a bunch of items to put up on etsy to earn money to pay for my Zing.

Well the first thing I had to do before I can do any SERIOUS sewing, is to get a little more organized in the sewing space I have.

I have tons of those white pull out plastic bins, you see below, (I get them dirt cheap at yard sales  in the summer when I am selling ice cream in my ice cream truck. :).

They look a little yellowish in these pics, it is because of the indoor lighting, crappy picture. Even though they are semi see through, it is still hard for me to remember what I have put in them all.

So ooooo.... or should I say sew....... tonight I cut out chalkboard labels with bracketed edges. Now I can write in chalk on them what they contain, and can even change it easily as the drawers contents change.

The brackets are cut out of chalkboard contact paper. Don't ask me where I got it, I bought it quite some time ago, and can't remember where I picked it up. LOL>

Oh and as always I cut, designed and resized my brackets to fill a whole 12x12 mat, and used the small ones for smaller drawers and the big ones for the larger ones.

The bracket files are available in the gallery of the MTC software. Just search under bracket, not brackets. When I did the plural version it came up empty.

Never knew I could have fun organizing.

Til later,
Laurie

PS. Thanks, so much to the donations, I use them for my creative endeavors, that way I don't have to take funds from supporting the kids for my fun habits. :o)
You have know idea how much those donations are appreciated.

New Cut File, Elf Reading, Need some input;;;;;

I have created a new cut file for Make the Cut Software, and I plan on making a card for my bookworm daughter. Can anyone help me out with some verses for Christmas.

Enjoy the free file here is the link for the mtc file.

Here is the print preview

Here is the link for a zipped file with all the other types, pdf, svg, png and AS/Ai

Look forward to your comments. Oh and thanks to those of you who showed me love through the donate button, you have no idea how much it is appreciated.

Laurie

Christmas Stocking Make the Cut Files, Converted to PDF SVG too

Well, no one seems to be taking my donate buttons seriously. I like to share my files freely, but I might start doing what other bloggers in the cut world seem to do, only offer them for free for a limited time such as a week.

Having lived on a fixed budget for years, I really don't want to do this, I would rather have those that appreciate them share what they can, and still have them free for those who really can't afford to donate.

Saying this, before I share these latest two files, I want to share where my children and I are at, at the current time. I drive an ice cream truck in the summer, so winters are always tough for us. Last summer my truck wasn't actually fully or finally fixed to run regularly until after the first of August.

I bought a van in Nov of 2010 for $2500. We just made the last payment this month. That helps free up $300 a month. So this winter won't be as tough as last year. But, we never got completely caught up from last winter.

Anyway, here we are, the third week in November, no gas in the vehicle, no milk, eggs, or cheese, no turkey for Thanksgiving, and all the kids electronics, (wii, dsi, fit board, and all their games) are still in the pawn shop, and have been for more than a year. We have had to renew them rather then lose them, because when they expired, we couldn't afford to get them out.

I did go to the food bank today, and even though we didn't get turkey, cheese or milk, (we did get eggs) and they did give me a place where I could get a turkey tommorrow. The only problem their is I don't have enough gas to even get there tommorrow.

So if any of you who enjoy my files can even spare a few bucks to donate to my paypal account I will be forever grateful. I really enjoy creating with MTC, but don't feel talented enough or experienced enough to put up stuff on Etsy yet.

With that all said, here are two adorable coloring book files I converted to MTC.

Here is a cutout card I designed. I haven't tried cutting it out yet, but it is all on separate colored layers with a black shadow layer for the stocking and a card the fits on a 8.5 x 11 inch cardstock.

Please do post anything you make with my files I would love to hear comments and see your creations

The first one, I actually reversed so it would sit on the card better. I will put a picture of the card up once I have it cut. Just click on the image to download the files.

The second one is just the image for now.

I know people are downloading and using my files. Enjoy, and Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

Laurie

PS I will be adding conversions to PDF SCUT SVG and JPG later tonight. I have to scrounge up enough change to be able to pic my 17 year old from daughter in the next hour.

My 10 Year Old Made His First Cricut Card

I actually got to spend the majority of the day in the sunshine. That was cool.

When I got home my 10 year old Levi had missed me, and wanted to create something with the Cricut. So I let him go through my images and pic one, (I encouraged him to pic something easy, LOL).

He picked the splashing duck. Below are some of the pictures we got during the process. He and I are both real proud of his masterpiece. He made it into a card and is going to send it to his Aunt in Montana.

                                                          Working on putting it all together.

                   The end product and the happy smile that goes along with it, (isn't he a sweety!)

Here is a picture he took with my phone with one hand while holding his card in the other hand. Good photographer, huh. :)

And here is what it says on the inside. We tried to cut out the words but we are still having a lot of problems with the cricut tearing the little tiny cuts, I think my mat might need to get restickied.

Here is one where he is getting a taste of weeding. LOL>

Thanks for coming by, I am sure Levi will enjoy any and all comments left on this post. He had a blast spending time cricutting with Momma tonight. :o)

Laurie and Levi

Here's one more, this one was simple compared to recent cut files I have worked on.

Here is a little chic I found in a generic coloring book. Simple and easy. It should make it simple and easy to cut as well.

I call her cute chick with pink bow.

 

You can download her here.

Enjoy!     Laurie

 

Another Easter or Spring File, Cute Precious Moments Bunny with flowers.

I am excited. I found a full box of color books I had packed away from when the kids were little. I now get the fun of weeding through them to find the cutest ones to cut.

Oh and I did something on this one I should have done on the rest. As I go to cut the other ones that have already been listed, i will do this and re upload them. I didn't join the layers as one before I uploaded. I did do this on this one, so it should be all ready for cutting.

Thanks for all the feedback and comments, I enjoy them as much as I do creating the files.

Laurie

You can download it here.
Again, if you want to share these with someone else please send them here, and I would love to see what you create with them.

Another Precious Moments Boy Dancing to his Ipod

This one was a real challenge. I think I might of messed up with the eyes, you might have to draw them in. I will update this once I get it cut and know what is going on.

Also, I think I made a piece of his shirt his skin, but my son is bugging me for the computer, I will fix it later.

While I am off the computer I am going to get set up for cutting, so I will be sharing pics of the cutouts soon.

Here he is:

You can download the Make the Cut File Here:

Enjoy, as always leave comments, and share pics of your creations with me. Send others here to get the file rather than give these files out yourself. Greatly appreciated. I love all the great feedback. It warms my heart!

Laurie

I did it again. An adorable Make the Cut Precious Moments bashful boy.

I am getting a little braver. This is my second attempt at a precious moments file. My first one got messed up, I may redo it, I'll probably have to start it from scratch.

Meanwhile, here is an adorable little baseball capped boy. I would love if you would leave comments with a cute verse to use on a card with this little guy.

Laurie.

You can download the file here.

Another Easter Make The Cut File -Swimming Chics, Might not be for beginners

That sounds kind of funny coming from me, the not for beginners in my headline. I am talking about the actual cutting, because there are some really tiny pieces in this file. You might want to just draw them in. I will know more when I do some cutting on all these creations in the next few days.

The reason I say it is funny is because not so long ago, I was a beginner at putting these files together myself.

You can download this file here.

Enjoy and as always I would love for you to comment or share pics of your finished projects.

Laurie

Adorable Green Turtle Free Make the Cut File

Well, when I saw this one in a coloring book I just fell in love with it. I wasn't sure how easy it would be. To be honest, I have been collecting color books and files for a few weeks, and now that I have figured out the process of creating files, I can't seem to get enough of it. :o)  This would work well on a get well card, or a thinking of you for someone who is having a tough time. You can get it here.

You could use a verse something like, I know you have been moving slow lately, cheer up things are bound to get better.

I would love to see your creations. BTW, I should mention TOS. Terms of Service. Feel free to use these for your creations, but don't pass the files on, send them to my blog. If you create a card or something you want to sell, just link to me as where you got your original file. Thanks.

Laurie

Another Easter Make The Cut File -Bunny Smells Flower

Here is another one I found in a coloring book. This one was quite simple to do only took about 15 minutes. :o) I am definitely getting the hang of this.  Click here to get the file.  It would look good on a colored textured or embossed background.

EDITED. I am changing this file, but I am going to leave the first one alongside the second, so you know which one is newer. The one on top is the new one, the one on bottom the old. The difference besides the ears layer being in the right place, (so it actually shows, LOL). I have also joined all the layers to prepare them for cutting. I have also fixed a problem with the eye which eliminated one stupid cut you didn't really need. I learned this after cutting him. Here is a picture of the file cut out, it is only my second time actually cutting on the cricut, it isn't perfect but I don't think it is too bad for the second attempt.

 There are some jagged edges, especially in the small tiny areas, like between the toes and around the nose and eyes, but all in all it was a good learning experience for me.

I updated the link above, so all downloads of this file will have the newer version.


Laurie

Here is another update, April 11, 2011

A lady at the Make the Cut Forum used this file to create a plate with the bunny cut out of vinyl. Did'nt it turn out adorable.

Another Easter Make The Cut File -Going Shopping Chic

I am practicing to get my skills with this software right, and I finally think I have the hang of it.

I call this one, "Going Easter Shopping Chic"

You can download the file here.

Why I am starting this blog.

Recently I purchased a Cricut Expressions cutting machine. My initial purpose was to cut fabric with it. After purchasing it, I discovered two programs that allow me to make my own designs and cut them on the cricut.

They are Make the Cut, and Sure Cuts a Lot Software. Because of a lawsuit against Make the Cut, you can no longer get the version that allows you to cut with a Cricut, you need to buy a different cutter. The suit against Sure Cuts A Lot hasn't been settled yet, so if you have a cricut and you want to have this awesome freedom that I have, you need to purchase the software before the settlement is reached.

I actually tried out both their demos looking at Sure Cuts a Lot Software first. When I discovered Make the Cut, I was thrilled and actually purchased it before I had even really evaluated it much because I realized there was a lot more support, and the layout seemed more user friendly.

If you haven't purchased a cutting machine yet, don't buy the cricut, go to the Make the Cut, Forum and study all the reviews on all the other cutters that work with this software and choose one of them.

I personally don't have the finances to invest in another cutting machine currently, so I am happy using the current version without future updates. I will update this with my opinion on other cutters if and when I may choose to change that choice in the future. If you already have a Cricut, then go and get Sure Cuts a Lot Software before it doesn't work with the Cricut too.

In the meantime, I am having a ball learning how to create my own files from color book images, free svg files abundant on the web, and even my own and my kids drawings.

Not only will I be cutting fabric, vinyl, poster board and paper, I plan to make wordbooks, (I will do another post on wordbooks.) I will be putting up lots of free cutting file for Make the Cut,, as well as SVG. I will also show pictures of the things I create.

I would love to get to the point where I could sell some files, but I have a long ways to go until that happens since I am a beginner. So to begin I will be giving away free files but will put a donation Paypal box on my site, so if you feel grateful for my creations, reward me there. :o) It will be greatly appreciated, as I am a single mom with three young kids on a somewhat fixed income.

So please comment and follow, in the next few days I will be listing quite a few free files I have already finished.

Kindest regards,

Laurie