March Creative Team Blog Hop and Giveaway!

Welcome to the March Creative Team Blog Hop!  
We have wonderful things in store for you today. 

I thought I'd start with a tip for Silhouette users...

Have you ever wondered how to cut textured card stock like Bazzill? 

Well...you're not alone...I've had to experiment with settings until I figured a few things out.  

First off...one magical setting for Bazzill does not fit all. 

Your cut settings should be determined by your paper thickness and the detail within your design.  

For very simple designs...I'm finding that you can get a beautiful cut with your blade set on a depth of 4, speed of 3 and thickness set at 33.  

However, if you cut a detailed design such as the FREE SVG butterfly card that I'm giving away this month (details below), you should bump up your settings to a blade depth of 5, speed down to 2 and thickness at 33. Then you will also want to click on the "double cut setting" on the right of your cut settings screen.  

Silhouette Customer Service has recommended blade depth settings between 4-6 for Bazzill card stock. They also agree, that one setting, does not fit all situations. 

So...how do you know whether to cut lighter or heavier...here's a few trouble shooting signs to watch for.  

Problem: Paper cutting most of the design, but not quite all the way through...

Suggestion: make sure you have your "double cut" box checked (for detailed designs), or set your blade depth down one more level (for simpler designs.)

Problem: Paper cutting the design, but the corners of the design, where the blade turns, are "mucking up."

Suggestion: slow down your speed, change your blade depth to cut a little lighter (if it's on a 6 try a 4 or 5) Then make sure double cut is checked to ensure a complete cut through.  When your corners start messing up with the paper pushing up, that means that the blade is pushing too hard for the details in the design, it needs to have less pressure and cut those corners more slowly twice in order for it to go smoothly around the bends.

The Cameo machine is new to me too...and as I learn something...I'll try to pass it on.  I encourage you to do the same!

Happy Crafting!

Samantha

Wonderful Wednesday sale 

in the Jessica Sprague digi store!

Today only, you will find the two kits below for 50% off!

Ooh La La paper Kit

This collection contains 25 stylishly chic papers to treat your inner fanshionista!  Patterns from sexy shoes to dress forms will make you want to document your favorite girls night out, or a shopping trip with your daughter, or create a card for your best friend! This collection has fun printed patterns balanced with nice graphic papers and some subtle tone on tones to put it all together. The 25 papers will come in high res jpeg form.

Cuckoo 4U Mega Kit
This collection is gloriously HUGE and contains the Strawberry Love, True Blue, and Chocolate Melon color ways!

We also have an awesome giveaway this month!  

I'm giving away one Digital Gift Certificate for $10 to my store a lucky winner! 

To enter:

Simply leave a comment on my blog 

between 12:00am March 14th and 11:59 pm March 18th, 2012. 

Winner will be announced on my Facebook Page on Monday March 19th. 

Keep Reading...it gets better...

There's also lots of chances for additional entries!

1. Receive an additional entry for commenting on each of the other blogs in the blog hop.


2. Receive an additional entry when you follow my blog  (be sure to mention it in your comment...you qualify for this step if you are a new blog follower or if you already follow this blog.)


3. Receive an additional entry when you follow us on Facebook. This fun page is updated often with creative team projects and community projects from the pages readership. (be sure to mention that you are following us on Facebook in your comment...both new followers, and current followers qualify for this step.)

WOW, that is 13 chances to win!

...plus a special bonus if you complete step 4 below.

Here's a special prize...

that I will give to EVERYONE 

who completes step 4 between 3/14/12 through 3/18/12:

Step 4. Sign up for an e-mail subscription to my blog (see column to the right) and you will automatically receive a free SVG cutting file that you can download and use on your personal electronic cutter. It's the butterfly card pictured above. Please be sure to mention in your comment (on my blog), that you entered your e-mail in the subscribe box, so that I can retrieve your e-mail from the subscription list.  If you are already an email subscriber, just leave the first part of your email address in the comments section (I missed a few of you last month because I couldn't find you.)  This will allow me to find you in the subscription list so I can send out your SVG file!  The link to the SVG cutting file will be e-mailed early next week. 

Now for the hop!

This month, my creative team has been mixing and matching!  It is going to be fun seeing how each team member interpreted the challenge, so let's get on with it... 

Here's the list of participants:

Eva Dobilas 

Jimmi Mayo
Joscelyne Cutchens
Angi Barrs 

Jennifer Evans 

Jamie Cripps 

Karen Maldonado 

Guiseppa Gubler 

Cristal Hobbs 

AJ Otto 

Samantha Walker Facebook Page