Confessions of a self-proclaimed font freak...

Though I don't have the privilege of owning it yet...I know MANY of you are using SCAL (sure cuts a lot) with your Cricut machine. That's not a bad thing...if my machine was out of warranty and my pocketbook would allow me to use SCAL too, I would but I have some VERY important news regarding fonts...

I am a bonafide font freak...it's honestly a rare occasion I meet a font I don't love...my "go to" font folder has over 13k fonts in it and I have thousands more that are getting lonely waiting for me to get the time to unzip them and add them to the master folder. This master folder USED to be the default windows font folder til something scary happened...

After pasting about oh I dunno a good extra thousand fonts in the folder if not more, my computer began to operate at snurtle speed (that's a cross between snail and turtle speed). In fact, it took twenty minutes for my computer to load enough so that I could see my desktop...and to get email or a browser required additional increments of 20 to 30 minutes....OH NO what did I do....

It took me FOUR DAYS (about 8 hours each day) to get my fonts back to normal...i.e. the standard windows default fonts...then my good buddy Jules informed me of a MUCH better way...I've done it this way now for over a year with GLOWING results and no more 4 day fixes. Take it from someone who knows...installing additional fonts to your default font folder can and will make you a very unhappy camper later...

Everything inside your "windows" folder (or whatever it's called for Mac users) has to load before your computer will run...it's your operating system folder. The more fonts you add (or anything else for that matter), the slower your computer will get....I had just over 1k in there and it took 20 minutes...can you imagine how long it'd take if I put all of them I have in there...oy ve!!!

Anyway...it's MUCH better for you to create another folder in your MyDocs file...DO NOT Name it just "fonts" (in any form...no Fonts, FONTS, FoNtS, well you get the point), or your operating system will get confused. I have two folders...one is zipped fonts and one is premium font folder. Whenever I download a font as a zip, it goes to the zipped fonts folder...then when I unzip it I cut and paste JUST the font to the premium font folder and then after it pastes successfully I delete the UNZIPPED folder keeping only the zipped folder and the new font in my font file. Periodically I put all the zips onto CD and delete them from the computer to make room for more!

If you double click the font and open it you can use it in almost any program (publisher, word, PhotoShop, paint, etc) until you close the font. That's how I USUALLY do it if I know what font it is I want for certain...when I am doing a Disney page for instance, I know waltograph would be great so I just go to the premium font folder and double click waltograph...now I can use it all I want until I close the file.

The other option I HIGHLY recommend is to get a free font viewer...think of it as a preview on a cartridge...the only difference is while it's open and running you can use any of the fonts you direct it to. I use Font Xplorer by moon sofware...you can download it free at http://www.moonsoftware.com/fxplorer.asp but there are others as well. Just google "free font viewer".

My "default folder" in Font Xplorer is set to my premium font folder...once it loads I have 13k fonts available (or however many I put in the folder) for use at my discretion and they are NOT installed to my computer. Font Xplorer also lets you install a "shortcut" to your font in the default windows folder...this doesn't take up hardly any space at ALL and is helpful when it's a font you use over and over and over...by installing the short cut only, you can still use it, even if you close the font itself or Font Xplorer and don't have to worry about it bogging down your system.

Ideally you shouldn't have anymore than 350-400 fonts in your default folder and I know there are like at least about 325 or so that are considered the "default" ones so you don't have room to add a whole lot more. In addition to the tips I got from Jules, I got my font knowledge here, Ellie even has a list of the default fonts for various operating systems just in case you deleted some you shouldn't have or whatever. You can EVEN find some cool fonts on her site as well!

Alterations

This is a two in one cork and magnetic dry erase board I altered for our gospel activities. My kids were actually fighting over who was gonna teach the FHE lesson or say the prayer and this has proven to be a nice alternative. The things I've blurred out are name titles for my kids (they look just like Mommy)...created with a layered jasmine cut and mounted on blue cardstock then laminated and circle magnets glued to back.

Each child has a specific shape...I ended up having to redo this board in all vinyl cuz my letters didn't stick very well with glue. The pink stars also didn't work so great so I laminated the cardstock before cutting it (cut using deep cut blade and multiple cuts) and each child has a different color but they are all circles.

This was a message board idea. I forget who posted it originally but I saw it in the chirp and had to make one myself. We put the month's menu on top and the grocery list and or coupons on the bottom and I've made some additional magnets.

More FREE stuff

Just a quick note before going beddy bye...check this out. HUNDREDS of dollars in FREE scrap stuff is being given away!

Have you been to the Cuddlebug Challenge Spot lately...

They are gearing up for CHA and rewarding readers...check it out by clicking HERE to go to their blog. I've also posted details below. Click on the picture for a bigger image.

More blog candy - thanks Sonia

Here is some June blog candy being given away over at Scraps 4 Fun! For details on how you can win this awesome candy, please click here to go directly to her Blog Candy post!

Hannah meets Accent Essentials

The pictures you can't see on this page are of my sister and I when I took her out to lunch for her birthday before moving 1200 miles away. The purple and green floral tags contain journaling but it wasn't enough space so I may add a hidden tag behind one of the pictures.

Notes:
Background paper: from a stack by K and Company.

Big Butterfly: cut from Hannah Montana and used the layering feature (don't remember the size) and emossed using UTEE.
Arrows and Flowers: From Accent Essentials. For the arrows I used the negative cut of one with the positive cut of the other. I don't remember the size sorry.
Lil Butterfly: Cut at an inch using Hannah Montana (this is one of my new favorite butterflies)
Skittles: These are the purple and green embellishments on the arrows and were hand colored by my CMB buddy CraftyMamma1 and she has more for sale so email her if you are interested.

More Fat Free Candy

Enfys is giving away some goodies too! What better price to pay for scrapping stuff than FREE! Click on her name to be taken to her blog and read details on how you can enter her blog candy give away!

Holy Hannah again

Seriously this might just be my favorite cartridge...DS isn't happy that I'm "still doing girlie pages" cuz he wants to join the girls and I in scrappin' but I am still giving this cartridge a good whirl. I think next to the Indie Art butterflies, these are my favorite. The book DD is holding is "Church History for Latter-Day Saint Families" and it's what we're currently reading for our family scripture study. I came out of my office to check on some REAL quiet kids (that's NEVER ordinarily a good thing)...all three were sleep, this one holding the book...you can bet I reached for the camera!

NOTES:

Page background: Green 12 x 12 card stock...brand unknown
Scriptures Title: "Rock Star" font feature on Daisy Paisley paper by the Paper Studio and accented with diamond stickles
(cut at 1.5 inches)
ROCK phrase: "Pop Princess" feature also on Paper Studio Daisy Paisley paper and ran through Cuttlebug using ummmmm Spots n Dots folder then accented with diamond stickles of course and clear skittles (can't WAIT for my colored ones to arrive) and foam dots for dimension
(cut at 3 inches)
Light Pink Butterflies: "Pop Princess" feature on these too, cut on some yucky unknown brand of paper
(cut at 2 inches)
Hearts: 2 cut on Paper Studio Daisy Paisley paper (pink and black) and two cut on generic black cardstock used negative image from one, positive from the other and put them together and then journaled inside them (journaling was removed for privacy)
(cut at 2.5 and 3.5 inches)

Fat free candy...you know you want some!

Um Buggin, another CMB buddy, is giving away YOUR CHOICE of $30 in FREE Stampin' Up stuff! You want some candy now don't ya....click on over to this post for your chance to win.

Holy Hannah Montana---NOT

I am COMPLETELY not a Hannah Montana fan. Nevermind the fact that I know ALL of her AND Miley Cyrus' songs BOTH, have likely seen EVERY episode of the show, and sat through both of the movies...Hannah is one of those things I'm stuck doing cuz my kids dig her...the last cartridge I bought for Big E was this one...WHY you ask, because I saw how totally NOT Hannah it actually is. For all those who don't think this is a cartridge you want or need...check this page out...the faces and journaling have been blurred to protect the innocent lol!

The guitar in the bottom right is what made me look at the CMB posts regarding the cartridge (thanks a LOT HappyHappyJoyJoy it's all YOUR fault). When I saw some of the NOT Hannah cuts you could do with this I was HOOKED! It's got a font, and creative features out the wazoo...not to mention my DD's absolutely DIED when I showed it to them...in their opinion it was the first last and only MUST HAVE NOW cartridge!



The title above didn't quite come out how I saw it in my mind...this is one of those fortunate times when a "booboo" comes out BETTER than the original idea. I had planned on having the title layered like "Pop Star" is on the star but it didn't work out right when I went to layer the pieces and so the staggered-layered look was born. The glitter is diamond stickles and the PopStar star is adhered with foam dots for depth.



Sorry it's a lil blurry I know....this guitar is two different cuts glued together and stickled with diamond stickle...my favorite.

How I did it:

Page Size and Type: 12 x 12 Black cardstock from CM
Fancy Shmancy Guitar: White card stock (from Staples LOL) and Cranberry from CM
(cut at 2.75 inches)
Staggered Title: Staples White Card Stock, Cranberry and Black CM cardstock
(cuts: Cranberry 3.25, White 3, Black 2.75)
PopStar Star: Staples White Card Stock, Cranberry and Black CM Cardstock
(star cut at 1.75 with Cranberry and Black layers cut to match...it's an "extras" feature)
Actual Invite: The original invitation I did digitally using Corel's Paint Shop Pro and it was printed out postcard size, laminated, and an eyelet added to the center above the bar code where we put gold and black string. The guests showed up wearing them like REAL VIP/Backstage passes and a few parents thought I was taking the kids to a special show the Jonas Brothers were doing for my DD. If I had THAT kind of money we'd have rented a hotel suite and let the maid clean up after 13 kids 11 and under...but that experience, well, that's a story for a different blog LOL!
Stickers: I have a CM binder bursting full of stickers and BARELY ever use them but this was a nice alternative to making a bunch of teensy stars and adhering them one by one with NO Xyron to make it easy.

If this has enabled you like HappyHappyJoyJoy's layout enabled me and you don't mind waiting for it to be shipped, you can find a pretty good deal on this cartridge on E-Bay. Mine was less than half what this cartridge retails for at Michael's and Hobby Lobby type places.

A digital favorite

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (oftentimes nicknamed Mormons) and one of my all time favorite LDS artists is Liz Swindle. Other favorites include Greg Olsen and Simon Dewey but this particular post is about Liz. This picture appeared in the Ensign I think a year ago...if memory serves is was the special edition dedicated to Jesus Christ. Anyway, I made a tube (basically a digital stamp) out of her painting and turned it into this Mother's Day tag...it is likely my favorite digital creation thus far.

The text reads "Motherhood is near to divinity. It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind." Which is a relatively famous quote by a church leader who's name escapes me right now. Unfortunately, I can't find the original file in the correct size, instead just this thumbnail and it's a bit fuzzy, but I hope you enjoy it.

Digital Tag Creations

The title of this blog is Masked Marauder Creations...not everything I create can be done with Big E (aka Cricut Expression). Here are a few of my digital/tag creations...I will be making more and posting details on how you can order one (or 2, or 5 or 25) for yourself for a small fee. Enjoy!

I Won Blog Candy Woot Woot!

Over at the Paper Phenomenon, new Cricut Message Board (CMB hereafter) buddy Kathy Orta makes the most UHHHHHHHHHHH-MAZING paper hand bags that she uses as gift bags. Anyway she is always to kind as to share her pictures with us on the CMB and she loves to give away blog candy. This is a picture of her June 1st offering and I won it! YAY ME! She has more blog candy too so scoot on over to her blog and check it out and maybe YOU can win some too!

Skittles...taste the rainbow

Ok these skittles you don't REALLY want to taste. These are a new scrapbooking craze. Little acrylic embellishments great for adding some extra UMPH and dimension to your cards and pages. I purchased a bejillion clear ones at Micheal's for $5.99 but really want some colored ones. I've found two online vendors (email me if you want the websites for them) with reltively decent prices but my friend Crafy Mamma is selling colored ones as well. You can purchase 1200 for $12 with FREE shipping! WOW what a deal...email her today at craftymamma@hotmail.com to get yours! Here's a sample of what they look like and she has a new batch that she hand died with even darker and more vibrant colors! If you place an order, be sure to tell her I sent you!

Well here we are...

Welcome to my creative gallery! This site will showcase some of my many creations. Pretty much this is my "show-n-tell" blog. There will be scrapbooking layouts, cards, signature tags (made digitally), tips and tricks, links to other people's work I enjoy and more! Pretty much a catch-all for all things creative really. Thanks for stopping by, I'll have pictures to share eventually!