Christmas Count Down Santa -
Add a cotton ball each day, building Santa's beard and hat.
Zucchini in Peanut Sauce
Chicken over Zucchini in Peanut Sauce
(I'm currently in love with mid century modern glassware and dishes...)
This is never a pretty dish - that brown sauce is not overly appetizing in appearance.
But this is one of our favorite summer meals. Even my husband, very much a meat and potatoes man, surprisingly looks forward to zucchini season when I make this. I've been making this for a few years, slowly tweaking the recipe. This year I sautéed the zucchini noodles rather than boiling them, and I like that so much better!
How To Merge SVG Files Into ONE File For Upload
In Cricuts Design Space, you can only upload one file at a time. That can be time consuming for some projects - including the Dreaming Tree projects. There are ways to combine svgs into one file, so that it is only one upload. Some options work better than others, some are free, some are not. Here are three that worked for me:
===========
SVG Merge Software
==============
This is the option Dreaming Tree recommends
I believe that is also because it was created by Leo, from Dreaming Tree. :-)
It is NOT free. But you CAN try it out for free, in demo mode.
In July it was on sale for $15.
This is software, and will only work on computers - not on your phone.
It's quick and easy to use - just add your files, then at the bottom choose "Export All"
Name the file, and choose where it is saved.
=============
FREE Website
https://products.aspose.app/words/merger/svg
=============
=============
This is a free website, and I've had good luck with it for most files. There are a few I have tried that just didn't work. Quick and easy - and there's an app for this site in google play, so you may be able to use this on mobile devices too.
Choose your files, then click Merge.
===========
Free Inkscape Software
============
This was so tedious and time consuming that I find it faster to just upload the files to Design Space one at a time - but that's typical for me and inkspace. I do know it's a GREAT free program. It just doesn't work well with my brain. :-)
To Set Inkscape Workspace As 12x12
File/Document Properties
Display Units - Choose Inches
Page Size - Custom / Units changed to Inches / set to 12x12
File/Save Template / Name Template as 12x12 Mat - Set As Default
Then try to use the "drag and drop" method to add your svgs to the mat.
Option Two in Inkscape:
If you use "Open" instead of Import, Inkscape will open all of the files in separate windows.
So you create your master workspace, 12x12.
Open all of the files, all in seperate windows. Minimize each of the windows, except the master workspace.
Open the minimized windows one at a time, and copy them into the master work space.
Once you have copied them all to your master workspace, "Save As"
I don't see how any of this was any faster than just uploading the files one at a time to DS - but I could be wrong. :-)
====================
Find An Index Of Cricut How Tos & Free SVGS
Where To Find Free Shadow Box Frame SVGS
Where To Find Free SVGS For Making 3D Paper Light Box, Or Shadow Box, Frames
What To Download With A CF Free Trial -
Creative Fabrica is offering a FREE TRIAL of their Subscription Program.
You can download 9 items completely free. After that, the price is $9 a month for unlimited downloads.
You can download 9 items completely free. After that, the price is $9 a month for unlimited downloads.
Find the deal here:
But where to start? What should you download as your 9 free items? Here are some of my recommendations:
Christmas In July Week Two - Getting Ready For Christmas Card Making
Christmas In July Week Two
Getting Ready For The Christmas Card Making & Addressing
I keep a basket just for Christmas Cards. In the back is a printed version of our card list, all of the printed Avery labels to address this years cards, return address labels, card saying inserts, and completed cards. Read more about all of those things, here:
Find my Christmas Card Planning Sheet here:
And there's an index to all of my Christmas in July printable planning sheets, here:
This is taken from one of my Christmas In July Planner printables - find the entire page here:
On My Christmas In July To Do List This Week:
- Look at my Christmas Card svgs—which did I not get to make last year that I’d like to try this year?
- What were my favorite cards to make last year? Check those designers websites and see what else they have I may love.
- Do I have enough envelopes? Mailing labels? When do I want to buy stamps? Put it on the calendar as a reminder.
- Revise my Christmas Card list—update addresses, as needed, add and delete, how many cards do I need this year? How many can be hand delivered?
- Where will I be storing finished cards?
- Get started on the card “saying inserts”.
- What is my target date for mailing my cards this year?
- Am I doing a newsletter this year? If so, start making notes. Keep those notes with the finished cards.
Christmas newsletters went out of fashion back when facebook became more popular - but for years, I wrote one each year strictly for my Grandmother. Then I made a copy and kept it in our Christmas binder, so our newsletters are a snapshot of our years, always including photos... My grandmother has passed away, and I can't imagine I'll be mailing a newsletter this year, but I think I will continue writing one, for our Christmas binder. My grandkids may enjoy them some day. :-)
===================
HOW TO ADDRESS CHRISTMAS CARDS WITH CRICUT
===================
How to Use Cricut To Address An Envelope
(And a list of FREE fonts that work well with the pens)
FREE fonts that work great (no bubbling) with the pens in Cricut
These were all tested with super fine tip pens - like a simple Bic pen. See the samples here, along with links on where to download the fonts. There are two pages - 48 fonts - tested and listed here:
Our Christmas card list is pretty long, and I am not an extremely patient person - so rather than address all of our envelopes with pens in Cricut, I use Avery Labels and Mail Merge. Once I've printed my labels, they work as a sort of "to do list" - I now know I need a card for each of those labels. :-)
Here's a step by step for using Avery Labels and Mail Merge - including links to the free templates to make it even easier
I gave up on using home made envelopes awhile back - too many of my cards were returned as "undeliverable" by our post office. Instead, I purchase these. They are not the most inexpensive, but they are so pretty! A pack of 50 costs around $14. They come in a multitude of colors - from dark blue and dark green, to Ivory and White, with either silver, or gold, accents.
Find them here: https://amzn.to/3rjxjV5
============================
I make saying inserts, for the inside of my Christmas cards. I like to have a variety cut ahead, that I can just quickly glue on the inside of my cards when finished. Here's how I make them in Design Space, using Print Then Cut
===================
CHRISTMAS CARD SVGS & INSPIRATION
===================
A Look at some of the Christmas Cards I made in 2021
See a photo album of Christmas Cards I made in 2022, plus tips & tricks, here:
Where To Find Free SVGS For Making Christmas Cards
Here's a step by step for making printable, customized, "Mix & Match" Family Illustrations
=======================
The Christmas In July Index:
Making "Saying Inserts" For Christmas Cards
Christmas Card Inserts
On my desk this afternoon - inserts for some of my Christmas cards. These get glued into the inside of my cards.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)