Cutting Stamped Images using Silhouette PixScan Mat

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I'm always looking for ways to make crafting a little easier on my hands.   I haven't been doing much crafting for the past month or so but am hoping to do more now that I have the new We R Memories Keepers Precision Press and a Silhouette Portrait with PixScan Mat.

I love using my Cricut with the co-ordinating CTMH Stamp Sets and Cartridges but really struggle with the acrylic blocks and fussy cutting.

I'll be posting about the Precision Press soon but did post my FB Live Video on YouTube.  I tried to cover as much as possible about it (don't mind the flipping around at the beginning, I almost lost my wifi connection as I started recording) and tried out a few different types of stamps to see how it worked.

I used the Press to stamp out a bunch of images last weekend to test with the Silhouette Portrait and PixScan mat.  I decided to buy the smaller Portrait instead of a Cameo since I already had a larger machine.  I also upgraded the Silhouette Studio software to the Designer Edition since I have so many SVG files already.

I'd watched a bunch of YouTube videos while I was waiting for my machine to arrive so the software wasn't too difficult to figure out.  I'm used to the Cricut adjusting the settings for blade, speed and pressure so it will take some playing around with the Silhouette to get the best cuts.  But overall the cuts were pretty good once I adjusted my blade.

 After I uploaded my photo of the PixScan Mat and imported it into the software I selected Trace and highlighted the stamped images.

Then I turned off the high pass filter and bumped up the threshold until I had a nice solid line around the outside of each stamped image.

Here it shows the red outline which is the cut line after tracing.  

Then I created a border around them using the offset feature set at .04 so it would look similar to using metal dies with stamped images

Then I selected release compound path so I could see both the offset and original trace lines.

Then I removed the inner cut lines and deleted them so I was left with the stamped image with a border around it. 

Then I grouped the images so I wouldn't accidentally move any of the cut lines before sending to my Silhouette.

Here's a close up of my screen before cutting....

...and my stamped images after cutting. 

Love how it turned out and am looking forward to cutting more stamped images without scissors! 

I've bumped my blade up a notch since cutting these and didn't get any fuzzy edges on the other projects that I'm making for the holidays.   I think I may even end up using this little machine more than I first thought.  It is so convenient to have it sit under my desk in my office and then I can leave my Cricut in my craftroom with the bulk of my stamps and supplies.

Mojo Monday 457 with a Twist

Another card using the CTMH Calypso WYW items for Mojo Monday.

 I started off following the sketch as is, but once I had everything cut I ended up flipping it sideways and it all came together quickly after that.   The layered triangles were my inspiration for using my CTMH One in a Melon Stamp set, they reminded me of pineapple crowns.

I love this Calypso paper pack, I wish it wasn't retiring at the end of August.  I already have an extra pack in my stash but might order another since I'm having so much fun making cards with it.  I still need to scrap my Florida trip and the pineapple cardstock has Flamingos on the back of it.  

Once again I used one of the journaling cards that come in the kit as a background for my card.  The light green watercolour wash is so soft and pretty - and it was a great backdrop for the strip of pineapple washi tape that I used across the bottom edge.  

Close To My Heart Products Used:

 Workshops Your Way™ Calypso Scrapbooking Kit 

One in a Melon Stamp Set

Artistry Cricut Collection

White Shimmer Trim

 Bitty Sparkles

White Daisy Cardstock

5 1/2" × 4 1/4" White Cards & Envelopes

Canary Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad

Honey Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad

Sweet Leaf Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad

Pear Exclusive Inks™ Stamp Pad

In Canada? You can purchase CTMH products on my website:

http://nancyhelmer.ctmh.com

Or start your own CTMH business for just $95. 

Early Bird Bonus products from the new Idea Book 

available for Consultants who join by July 31st.

 Receive regular updates of upcoming Classes & Workshops 

by signing up for my Monthly Newsletter.  Link in right-hand column.  

Last Two Days Of CTMH Seasonal Expressions I Catalogue

Certain items in the first CTMH Seasonal Expressions catalogue are retiring on March 31, 2015.

Last chance to place your order before they are gone for good!
 Don't miss out - order yours at http://nancyhelmer.ctmh before 11 pm MT tomorrow.

All orders placed through the Greta's Craft Fair link on my CTMH website will be eligible to win March Mystery Hostess Rewards and I am donating 15% of sales to help Greta a 5 year old with a rare form of Cancer.

 Retiring Items:

Heartstrings WOTG Cardmaking Kit - $27.50

Heartstrings Paper Pack - $10.95

Heartstrings Complements - $5.50

Heartstrings Assortment - $6.50

Heartstrings Picture My Life - $9.75

Hopscotch WOTG Scrapbook Kit - $32.95

Hopscotch Paper Pack -$10.95

Hopscotch Complements - $5.50

Hopscotch Assortment - $6.50

Cut Above Valentine Treat Bag Kit  - $16.50

Cut Above Birthday Card Kit - $10.95

Lovestruck Mini Clothespins - $5.50

Happy Day Mini Clothespins - $5.50

Junebug Puffies - $5.50

Stuck On You Puffies - $5.50

You're the Bomb - Operation Smile Stamp Set - $15.25

Visit my Close To My Heart Website today to order these products before they are gone for good.

CTMH December 2014 Highlights

Close To My Heart December Highlights

1.  Cyber Monday Sale - 20% off all CTMH exclusive Cricut Collections, Monday December 1, 2014 only.


2. NEW!  Seasonal Expressions Idea Book -  only available from December 1 - March 31, 2015.  View it on my CTMH website or contact me for a copy.

3. Deal of the Decade!   With your qualifying purchase of $50 from both the Annual Inspirations & Seasonal Expressions Idea books you can order UNLIMITED C or D size stamp sets from the Annual Inspirations Idea Book for only $10 each.  Order also qualifies for $5 stamp of the month special.

4. December Stamp of the Month - Cutie Pie!  Each month you can purchase a new D-size stamp set, available for one month only, for just $5 — that’s over 70% off retail! When you place an order of $50 or more in Close To My Heart products, you qualify for this special Stamp of the Month pricing.

Order online at:
http://nancyhelmer.ctmh.com

Sign up for my Monthly Newsletter:
Link in right hand column below Blog Archive list.

All December orders placed through my Close To My Heart website qualify for my Mystery Hostess giveaway.   Just join my Deal of the Decade Gathering when placing your order.

CTMH Annual Inspirations is Here!

I received my order at the end of June with my new product from the CTMH Annual Inspirations catalogue.  I LOVE the new paper packs that they have now!  I ordered two of the Workshops on the Go Kits.  I can't wait to make them.  Waiting on my wrist to heal a bit more before I try any cutting.  Here's a bit of a preview - I took the pictures with my phone and the lighting wasn't great but I was too excited to wait and re-take them.

The Annual Inspirations is a full year catalogue and there will be two smaller seasonal catalogues available also this coming Winter and next Spring.  View a pdf copy here

New to CTMH are Shin-Han Touch Twin Art Markers. Alcohol based - great for blending. I will post some pictures soon. I can't do much with my left hand but I can still colour with my right!

New Stamp Set - Your Own Kind of Wonderful  D1627  $19.75 cdn.  I will be using this set with the Brushed Paper Pack. So pretty together.

I added some new ink pads to my collection -  new colours Glacier & Canary.  Check out the catalogue on my website to see proper colours.  

Workshops on the Go Seaside

G1089  $32.95 cdn 

Workshops on the Go Brushed

G1087  $32.95 cdn

August Stamp of the Month - What A Hoot

Available August 1-31, 2014

$5 with your $50 qualifying purchase or $19.75 cdn

I also added one more of the scrapbooking program books to my collection. This book Magic is full of instructions to create beautiful layouts with interactive features on every layout.  

9040  $16.50 cdn

Check out my Close To My Heart website for more fabulous items.  

CTMH Artiste Cricut Cartridge Swing Card

I had so much fun making this swing card with the CTMH Artiste Cricut cartridge - it cut it out so quick - I just added a matching label cut from the Art Philosophy cartridge, added some stamping and some embellishments and I was done.

Love this coordinating stamp set. Cup of Cheer (b1404). Coordinates with the CTMH Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge. I stamped the images with Chocolate pigment ink and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.

More information about CTMH products on my website: http://nancyhelmer.ctmh.com

CTMH Consultant Kit 2014

So my Close To My Heart Consultant Kit arrived on Thursday - pretty quick turnaround, I placed my order last Saturday.

Wonderful promotion for April - $99 Consultant Kit & a FREE Cricut Collection also valued at $99.
I received approximately $400 worth of product for the $99.

Here are some pictures of the products in my kit!

 In addition to all this great product I also received a FREE consultant website!  I was surprised and extremely pleased when I found out CTMH offered this to all their consultants.  Past direct sales companies that have been a consultant with had me paying $20+ per month for a website.

Check mine out  at  http://nancyhelmer.ctmh.com