First, I just wanted to say we had a wonderful weekend spending time with so many family members at our family reunion up on the family farm. Many items were removed from the old houses to disperse amongst all the family members. We got some really cool things and saw many cool things.
This, however, was the highlight of my findings:
That’s my mom with her daddy (my grandpa). This is one of the sweetest photos I’ve ever seen. Most photos I see are the kids, or group shots, or “so-n-so” standing in front of “this or that”. Not too many interaction/candid photos from back in 1938 (or 39?). Love this.
Anyway, lots of fun this weekend. Lots of memories. Good times.
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Now, to the This & That: School kit. Let’s break it on down.
How To Use The Kit
You can use this kit with many of the digital craft cutters out there, such as Silhouette, Pazzles and Cricut. Anything that can use an SVG/DXF/AIv8 file. If you are using Cricut, you’ll need to use something like older versions of Sure Cuts A Lot (SCAL) or Make The Cut (MTC). These programs allow you to use SVG files with your Cricut. However, Provo Craft has made it so these two programs cannot work with the Cricut, so if you didn’t get either program purchased earlier in the year (like April/May 2011), then you won’t be able to use it with Cricut.
And if you don’t have a digital craft cutter? No worries. You can create it digitally! There are PNG/JPG files in this kit as well. THIS POST has some great information on how to do that.
Distribution and Use of the File
I’ve have to use alternate file saving choices with my This & That kits due to my current method of distribution so I can still email the files once you’ve purchased the kit. You will receive one email with one attachment. It comes in a ZIP file, so use something like WinZip or StuffIt to extract/open the zipped file once you’ve saved it to your hard drive. If you are on a Mac, you can double-click the ZIP file and it will open automatically.
There are two specific directories containing all the files needed to create the TRAY project as shown using printouts for some pieces and your digital craft cutter for the other pieces. One directory is called “TRAY Print Files” and the other is called “TRAY Cut Files.”
I need to keep the file size down by NOT including the printable items as Print & Cuts for Silhouette. But most of the printables are straight cuts, so they should be easy to work with.
Here’s what you get:
- Two printable composite files in PNG format only. These composite filenames start with “tt” to indicate the “This & That” project.
- Two composite files of the cuttable shapes. These composite filenames also start with “tt”.
- Individual cuttable files named according to the descriptive style of shape for easier sorting. These files are made for all uses and are not sized and trimmed for the 7gypsies tray.
- The same cuttable shapes as PNG files (no JPGs) for all you digital crafters.
Due to file size issues, there are no individual files for the printable images (in the composite files), with the exception of the clock, ruler, report card, library card, and flashcards. I thought it might be nice to have them larger than the print file in case you wanted to use them on a larger scale. Use the Crop tool in your photo editing software with the composite printable files if you want to use them individually.
The two printable composite files look like this.
These files you print on your printer and trim using a paper trimmer or scissors as needed. Most of these are the background pieces for the slots of the 7gypsies tray.
Additionally, in the TRAY Print Files directory, there is the single clock image sized respectively for the kit. If, however, you need to confirm its size, it is 2.6”
The files are both under 8×10, so if you’d like to take them to a photo developer, you can do that. Make sure they do not size the image to fit in the 8×10 area–it needs to be left as is. If you need to confirm the size, the first file is 7.54″ wide and the second file is 7.51″ wide.
The two cuttable composite files like this, but not in color.
These are the files you’ll use with your cutter (Silhouette, Cricut, Wishblade, Pazzles, etc.) to cut your cardstock pieces and layer with the pieces above in your 7gypsies tray.
All these pieces–which are sized and trimmed for the tray–are separated into the appropriate cardstock colors. This is how you will see the two files when you pull them up into your cutting software (no color though). All you need to do is Ungroup/Break the image and/or move the unneeded shapes out of the cutting area and cut.
Some of the other software programs, like MTC or SCAL, may adjust the size of the image when importing. If this occurs, resize it proportionally. The first file has a width of 7.52″and the second file has a width of 7.58″.
Here’s a few more project tips (also refer to the previous post for ‘how to’ tips):
- Use a photo paper or presentation paper to print your printables at home. I like using Epson Ultra Premium Photo Paper (Matte or Lustre) or Epson Premium Presentation Paper (Matte). Or, take it to your local photo devleoper.
- The printable background pieces can only fit into the square for which it was designed.
- Double cut your images by copying and pasting the image on top of itself in your cutting software. That way you can be assured of a clean cut, especially on the small images. Another nifty trick is to use vinyl. It cuts nicely, plus you don’t need adhesive.
- If this is your first time working with a This & That kit, HERE is some information on the magnets I use so that I can easily swap out the pieces all year long.
Where to find the tray.
While there are many places you can purchase the tray, you can find it on the 7gypsies website HERE or on Two Peas In a Bucket HERE. I purchased mine from Archivers. Note: I’ve discovered that all printer tray’s are not created equally, so you may have to trim a fraction off here or there. I usually set the back piece in its square first just to see if I’ll need to trim anything off.
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Now if you wanted just the shapes? This is for you! :)
And by the way?
I can’t believe it’s August already!
![Weathered Door Alphabet [All]](http://www.kerribradford.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/weathered-door-all-160x160.jpg "Weathered Door Alphabet [All]")
You're right – that is an absolutely precious photo of your mom and her dad! And so unlike most photos from that day! I would guess that you look like your mom??? How cute!
Love this kit! Can't wait to get started on it, however I am currently experiencing computer issues… :(
Sorry to hear that Dawn. I completely understand the frustration having just gone through it myself. :) Here's hopin' you're up and runnin' smoothly soon!
[...] Nichol uses shapes from these kits: Picture That [Go Long] / School Years / This & That: School. [...]