Constantly Stamping

Video Tutorial - Loading your MDS Card Stock and DSP into your Silhouette Studio Software

I am back with another video tutorial today. For those of you who have no interest in the digital aspects of paper crafting, I know this must be a little boring. But for many of you, learning how to utilize MDS in conjunction with your Silhouette Cameo will open an entirely new world of possibilities. I know some of you are craving more because you should see the emails that are coming in. Not everyone has a Silhouette...some of you have other brands of cutters. But I would almost bet that you can take the things I am teaching you and make it work for you too. So I will keep the video tutorials coming at least until I have covered the basics. I will try to weave a few stamping projects into my blog posts so that the rest of you have some eye candy to keep you satisified.

I am trying to keep my videos as fast-paced as possible. Unfortunately running the Silhouette Software and the screen capture software at the same time really slows things down. I have edited out some of the dead spaces in order to keep things interesting. I have also been struggling with my seasonal allergies, so if I sound a little stuffed, that's why.

In today's video I will show you how to import your MDS card stock and dsp into the Silhouette Studio software. This will come in handy when you want to utilize the print and cut feature of your Silhouette Cameo. Oh, and BTW, I am definitely not an expert on this. I am just a crafty gal who has taught herself some of this cool stuff and I thought I would share it all with a few thousand of my closest friends. And of course, I would love to be your Stampin' Up! demonstrator if you don't already work with someone...just sayin'!

Video Tutorial - How to create cut files for your Silhouette Cameo using the punches from the MDS software

I promised that I would have more video tutorials about how I used MDS2 files to create cut files for my Silhouette Cameo. I have had a difficult time running the Silhouette Studio software and the recording software at the same time so it has been a little more difficult that I had hoped. I managed to put together this short video about how to use the .svg punch files to make cut files, but I am working on more videos on how to use the .svg stamp brushes in MDS2 to make cut files as well as how to utilize the print and cut features of the Silhouette. So bear with me because there are definitely more tutorials coming soon.

Today's video uses punches from the MDS and MDS2 software to create cut files using the Silhouette Studio Designer Edition Software.

SVG Files for MDS2

WOW...I have received several emails asking me about my electronic cutter and how I created the vinyl cut files that I used on the projects in yesterdays blog post. So I have decided to put together a series of videos to try and answer your questions. It will probably take me a few days to work through it all, but I thought I would start with the very basic thing you need to know...What is an .svg file and why it matters.

An .svg stands for Scalable Vector Graphic. The reason it matters is that you can re-size it larger or smaller and it maintains its integrity and doesn't pixelate. I have been told by SU that all of the new stamp brushes for MDS2 will be .svg files. This is important to know because you won't be able to use the new files with the old MDS software. That means you will need to upgrade to MDS2 or MDS2+ to use the new downloads. This file format also makes it easier to create cut files for your e-cutter. I don't know about all e-cutters or software, but I do know for the Silhouette Cameo that you will need to upgrade to the Designer Edition of the Silhouette software in order to recognize the .svg files.

The first video I have made is to show you how to determine if the file you want to purchase for My Digital Studio or other software you are using is in the .svg format. I will have more videos coming soon, but this should help a little.

It's Here! MDS2 has Finally Arrived!

If you are a big fan of digital papercrafting then the day you have been waiting for is finally here. The MDS2 plus software is available. If you have never tried My Digital Studio, or want to try it out before you buy, you can try it FREE for thirty days. Just go to my online store to find out more. The code for the free 30-day trial is #130910....but let me warn you...You're Gonna LOVE IT! So don't say I didn't tell you so.

MDS 2 Free Trial: – Full access to the software at NO COST for 30 days. (Item #130910)

MDS 2 Full Software: $39.95 US (Item #130644) Compatible with Mac and Windows

MDS 2+ Full Software plus over $500 of digital content: $79.95 US (Item #130646)

MDS 2 Upgrade: Full Software for those who already own the original MDS software. $19.95 (Item #130650)

August Special Offer: 31% OFF Select Digital Content!

 

CAS MDS Hybrid Wedding Card

Life has been coming at me hard and fast the past few weeks. We had a lot of hail damage back in March, so I have been busy dealing with the insurance company trying to work out all the details of the repairs. This is also achievement test week and the last week of tutorial at our son's homeschool group, so needless to say, I have been a bit distracted from my blogging. I needed a quick card for a wedding, so today's card is clean and simple. I created the card front using the flower image from the recently released "Earth Laughs" MDS digital download and the "Happy Greeting" digital stamp brush set. I printed it out on Whisper White card stock and then colored it with Daffodil Delight & Lucky Limeaid markers. To create a glow around the image, I sponged Tea Stain distress ink from the Distressing Essential Kit around the edges. I trimmed it down and added it to a Daffodil Delight card base. That's all here is to it. I may go back later and add a little bling, but for now this is a great, simple card that I can put in the mail without any worries.

Happy Valentine's Day!

I can't believe my husband and I have been married almost twenty-two years. Happy Valentine's Day, honey!

Love is in the air and today seems like the perfect time to share another free digital Bible verse with you. Hope you are enjoying them. If you have a favorite Bible verse or inspiration quote that you would like to see be made into a digital file, leave me a comment and maybe I will design it next.

 

 

MDS Sunset Serenade Card

I thought I would take a little break from leadership samples to share with you a little project that I did a while back. This is just a simple notecard that I created in MDS using the Sunset Serenade download. Not much to tell about it really...it's just a fun, simple little note that I put together just in case I need it.

I have been playing around with the new Simply Scored insert that I was lucky enough to win at Leadership. I created a fun envelope to go along with the card using some coordinating DSP. I will be back soon with some helpful hints on making envelopes with the insert along with measurements for some different size envelopes.

Another Digital Bible Verse Freebie!

I don't know how life is at your house, but at our house we sometimes need a little reminder about our "attitude". Today I have another free digital Bible verse for you. Just scroll down to the bottom of this post for the link. I have had this verse ready to go, but I wanted to make an inspirational piece to use it on. So yesterday I sat down with My Digital Studio and created this framed art to put on my desk at home.

I design my .png digital images so that you can use them large (like you see here) or small for a scrapbook page or even a card without image distortion. To use the files all you need to do is create a new folder in the stamp folder of your MDS software. Then you can use them just like any other digital stamp brush set. I named my folder "Bible Verses" so that I know where to find them.

For this project I purchased an inexpensive 8"x10" frame. I removed the glass so that I could add embellishments to the finished piece. Be careful not to cut yourself when removing the glass. Here is how I created the artwork in My Digital Studio.

In My Digital Studio I created a 8.5"x11" (landscape) scrapbook page and added the Tickets & Tags DSP #2 for the background. (Tickets & Tags Kit #127431). I added a square punch, enlongated it, and filled it with Tickets & Tags DSP #1. Then I added a drop shadow. Next I added the Decorative Label Punch, enlarged it and filled it with Whisper White. I added a Baja Breeze outline to the punch (size 6) and also added a drop shadow. For just a subtle hint of color I added the flourish from the Bliss Stamp Brush Set in Baja Breeze and changed the opacity to 20%. Then I pulled in the Bible verse artwork and left it Basic Black. For just a little bit of interest I added a little bird from the Bliss set. Now it is ready to print. I printed my digital masterpiece on HP Premium Presentation Paper on my HP Photosmart C5180 color printer and trimmed it down to fit inside the frame. I added a few flowers that I created by hand and some pearls for a finishing touch.

If you don't have My Digital Studio, you now can get a free 30-day trial version of My Digital Studio Express. Just click on the shop 24/7 button in the upper right corner of my blog and select "Digital Designing" from the menu. At the very top you of the list  you will find more information on how to download your free trial software. 

Here is the link to today's free digital Bible Verse download. Enjoy.