Eclectic Diversions: 2013

Saturday, August 17, 2013

How do I know what svg and digital files I have?

I have to say that after working with the Silhouette Studio Designer Edition (SSDE) and my SVG and Print files- If I did not already have it so that I can use SVG files with my Cameo- I'd buy it just for the indexing, storing, and viewing features it offers

Now I will admit that a lot of my cut files, digital paper and embellishment I have never used - that is not to say I won't- and it is not to say I don't need more - After all it isn't hard to justify getting another paper collection or SVG collection when:

You are like a Magpie -prints and colors are your shiny objects.
You love thinking of all the possibilities you can master with SVGs and digital paper.
You are weak! weak! weak! weak! when it comes to:

SVGCUTS.com and the whole shopping- creating - personal interactive experience with Mary and Leo
SVGATTIC.com and the unique files that Jessica creates- not to mention her great sales and customer service.
MissKateCutables.com and the freebie of the Day (not to mention all the other great files).
JessicaSprague.com - One Buck Wednesday and the often 25% off sales on Echo Park and Carta Bella sets.

With all that said, the next quandary is How to keep up with all of it!

Like a lot of folks I created:

An Excel Spread sheet that list all the files I have so I can sort , rearrange and manipulate file information
A Desk TOP folder for PDFs and such.
Binders on top of Binders with printed copies of the files and project pictures- nicely indexed and placed in sheet protectors

But none of these things works for me - the spread sheet needs constant updating, I never am on my desktop, and the Binders are cumbersome.

The other day I was on one of the many Face Book pages I like and saw a post about importing files into Silhouette Studio Designer Edition. Now I have SSDE that I got from SVGtools.com and use it everyday (yeah I cut or play with paper everyday). Since I do a lot of Print to Cut- I was knowledgeable about the import into My library and in the drag and drop method you can do to bypass the tedious import process SSDE goes through if you follow their directions.

WHAT I was not very aware of was importing SVG files instead of opening them one by one.

Yeah I know slow on the uptake here- but what can I say- all I could think of was getting the file on the mat and cutting!

Any way- What a time saver it turns out to be by importing the SVG files into SSDE! I can drag and drop the whole collection into SSDE and see the various elements before I load to the mat and start cutting.

My only concern was/is, How much can I import before I bomb the application? Not knowing how SSDE stores the imported files (it does make a difference in how much memory is used and such) I decided to test importing a SVG collection and several printable files.

So far I have 886 files (dig paper, Studio cut files, SVG cut files, jpegs and PNGs) total in SSDE and it does not seem to be slow and the only time it bombed was when I could not make up my mind on a back ground for a card- but that happens anyway- sometimes to many choices is not good -lol.

To find which files I was going to import I did a Windows Explorer search for "Printables" on the folder I use to keep my SVGCuts files. The search results produced a list of files and locations that I then used to make "new" folders in SSDE. I opened the file in Explorer than dragged/dropped the contents into the "new" SSDE folder. It so easy to use that list to create "folders" in SSDE to match the collection then drag and drop the files the only thing I could see that this method lost was descriptions and key words the SSDE import process lets you add.

Once all files where located dragged and dropped in SSDE - I opened a few to see the resulting index/list. I am so loving this. I just hope I can add more files without bombing SSDE.

This may or may not be a working solution for many BUT it sure works for me. I can search, see and use all in one application and with only a few clicks.

Hope this is helpful to you- Thanks for stopping by

Thursday, February 28, 2013

A can full of Inspiration

I am not a photographer and no matter how much I want to take good pictures it never happens.
For my entry into the Spring Challenge project for SVG Cuts I chose the Watering Can Photo Album found in the Garden Nouveau SVG Kit.

In past challenges I tried to use as many elements of the allowed kits as I could. This time I only used one file out of one kit. It wasn't because the kits were not inspiring but the paper I used for the album screamed KISS. And sometimes simple is far more of a challenge than being overly creative.

Did I mention that picture taking is not my forte? So why would I be drawn to a photo album? Well I really didn't see it as a photo album. I saw it as a Smash Book - If you don't know what a Smash book is you can find several different kinds on the net- I know KC & Company has a whole line of items that you can use to make one and keep it organized and useful.

My version of a Smash Book includes a page devoted to a single word that I decided I needed to focus on in my day to day life. So far my words are :

Inspire is the first word I chose and it is also the title of Smash Book. the quote I found to best sum up what I feel about Inspire is also the last quote in my book since Inspire can be something that inspires me or something that I might do to inspire someone else.

Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'!
Audrey Hepburn

Pray is another word for my book . I really do not need to explain why this is an important word but it is something I do so very often. Its quote is:

"Most men pray for power, the strength to do things. Few people pray for love, the quality to be someone."
Robert Foster

Love is another word that I felt needed daily focus - there is never too much love in life. The quote I really liked for love is:

I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Soar is more of feeling than a word to me - because when all things come together the feeling is like flying above all the bad. Its quote is:
If I have freedom in my love, And in my soul am free, - Angels alone that soar above, Enjoy such liberty.

Richard Lovelace

Smile is not only a word but an action that I want to do more of. Mother Teresa said it best:

“Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.”
― Mother Teresa

Bloom, what better word to describe what can only happen to your soul when you are inspired, talk to God, feel love, soar with the Eagles and give the gift of a smile.

People deal too much with the negative, with what is wrong. Why not try and see positive things, to just touch those things and make them bloom?
Nhat Hanh

I hope my little Smash Book will inspire you to be creative and looked to things that will make life more beautiful and full filling.

The paper collection is "Everyday Moments" by Recollections contained one of my favorite color schemes - Blue and Yellow.

Monday, January 14, 2013

It's all in the Cards

Hello everyone. It's been a while since I posted but I have been busy making cards. I am not sure just what got into me since I almost never make cards but it has been kind of fun.

Of course my favorite source for the card base is SVGCuts. I either used the blank card base minus the cutouts from the Everyday Card kit or one of the many other bases such as the Fun House Card in the Summer Street Carnival Kit and the Every Day Winter Cards that includes a wonderful Snow Globe Shaker card.

For some of the cards I downloaded files from Bird's Cards. I especially like the "Bendy" cards from this site and boy are there some really pretty backgrounds.

One of the biggest surprises I found was files from Miss Kate Cuttables. Not only are these files printable but they also come in SVG format. They are easy to import, easy to scale, and easy to put together.

I have post some pictures of the various cards. The layout is a little disjointed since I haven't figured out how to place them side by side. But they viewable just the same. - Thanks for looking and have a great day!

SVGCuts.Com Cards