Gypsy update 0191/0193

First of all I was an update tester and all this finding is in the tested version so do not know if how many were fixed. so..I will come back and update when I return..


Update new features version 1.4 build 0191/0192 (test build)
actual build (0191/0193) (according to makeupgirl 217 as I do not have that update and am in India lol)
Note 0191 is the content portion of the update and 0192 or 0193 portion is the font update. from now on you will have the double build I think..)
and my OS as I have mentioned before is poor old windows XP.
G sync itself is awesome. It has a new troubleshoot in the help and it has new features which asks you to backup files. But before doing this transfer all your gypsy files already on the computer to a new location and rename  the main folder (I named mine under my documents as gypsy previous files)  and keep the original file empty so just in case.
Also some files may have problems being backed up especially files which have spaces and numbers at the same time in them. Just check the G and then rename such files before backing up or even after - when the error throws up don’t panic. Note the name of the file and keep changing . Then run G sync again. choose both option at first - firmware and content.
I  think now we can selectively choose if we want the update - ie with new features that is firmware
or just the new cartridge installations or font installation as called in CDS and in Gypsy called as content installation 
I am not sure about this but if yes… yip yip hooray
Wait for the G sync to tell you when it is done. The G will show “busy syncing” even when update is complete. 
Mine switched off the G once and then asked to continue with the G sync and then second time - G sync said update is complete but G still had “busy syncing” on it until I closed the G sync. an when you close the G sync - cool feature it say “cleaning up resources” and only then frees up the G sync.
I think not freeing the G  by G sync is good so that means the G sync gets full attention and so hopefully lesser errors while updating.
Also if you are doing something G politely asks you to save and then only then does the busy signal flash on


when you click the help and about it tells you  
present versions
 G sync version 1.3.3782.2135
There is now a firmware version and content version in Gypsy
so  Gypsy Firmware version - 0191
Gypsy content version - 0192
also tells you the serial number of  your G and mine is - ha ha got you.
Only those in bold is new addition and rest of the details in about was already there in place before


Cool features


G sync

1. From now (until the next update) on each time you connect the G and run G sync you will get the message “busy syncing” until you close the G sync.
2. Updates has content and firmware updates - which I have to check next time ..
3. G sync in the help drop down has 2 new  labels - show backup location which takes you to the location on your computer where it has backed up and in windows (mine is XP- it brought up  pop up and it was under under My Documents\GypsySync\Backup
4. When selecting save file we get a new option of choosing save selected file as. Still empty there so save just as. Also if there is duplicate file it asks you do you want to replace.
   .

Gypsy

1. Help menu on the Gypsy is clear and awesome. So first check that out
2. Layer/page button at the top - Can now rename and also so easier to delete by holding  the stylus over the button - it drops down for deleting and renaming. The arrows on the side work after they get filled up ie  after layer 5. And yes layer or page can now be deleted even when it has images on it. Just tap on the layer you need to delete and then hold stylus on the layer you want deleted and wait for the dropdown menu and press delete
3. Layer template can also be now hidden by holding on the eye. If you cannot get to it please recalibrate your G.
4. Hide and contour in the advance menu - the button next to the copy which looks like 2 arrows or 2 sides of a square. When you open it up you get another screen with the image and choosing previous and next will select the part of the image which needs to be hidden (will appear red in the image on the left) and tapping hide will hide that feature
5. The keypad layout now has the creative features named and holding stylus on it pops up a little zoomed up version. But some cartridges have it named wrong like GW and GF so check with the book before dumping them
6. The mat is numbered and when you zoom you can see the quarter inch marks too. So you can now place the cursor on the mark and then use the arrows to move down so you will get the to the quarter inch.
7. The size of the image can be changed even beyond the mat size after adding it on. No need to now cheat the G by first setting the cursor to high numbers and then adding as we did earlier. It can be reduced too
8. flipped welding ok - tested
9. pages dumping and cutting as when happened during 155 -  tested and no problem - does not dump.
10. if you had photoapp before then it is still the same - no changes
11.   welding  maybe a tad but faster when you copy it more than 10 times but you get to know it is welding by the preview giving you bars immediately on the lower part of the mat screen. So no worrying it is hanging . Complicated image cartridges like Mother's day also a tad faster . Wherein it earlier took about 30 mins it took me just 10 mins for welding but when cutting once it previewed it cut immediately
12. Vellum cuts without problem when speed is set to min and blade depth 3 and pressure med to low. For the first time since i got the G I cut vellum without tearing.So cutting speed is certainly slower . Image as it is is slower than welded image. When image is welded - the preview is slow but cutting faster. But improvement - yeah!
13. Hide and contour also gets coped with the hide and contour hidden even across pages which is a great advantage
14. Keyword search is faster. even words like flower which took lots of time is now faster
15. edited to add - the layers can be reordered . Hold the stylus on the ayer and when it turns green you can pull it to where you want to go at the top.

Needs improvement

1. Is the creative feature keypad mixes in GW and GF? So check with the booklet for the rest of the layout’s too. edited Animal kingdom also has an errror and tie the knot is also a problem I believe according to Beth 
2. still welding problems with solids etc but now you can hide
3. base camp still  a problem
4. can selectively copy just one image when grouped in same page (by just selecting one till it turns purple) but across pages you get the whole group

according to beth - makeupgirl - in her words one more glitch
"If you add layers let's say 5 then delete 3 then add another layer it will add the new third layer as layer 6 not layer 3."

CDS to Gypsy conversion

when choosing save selected file there is an option for save selected file as but as of now empty. Hopefully we will have a future conversion in the gypsy itself .  Cds update 1.0.40422.0. When files need replacing we get warning on both sides ie while converting CDS on the computer and while saving from the G sync

1. Layer at last not dumped when opening the gypsy file in CDS
2. Hide and contour and also skewing/slanting on the gypsy end is seen in CDS when you open the gypsy file and it also takes while converting  cut file to gypsy file along with the page name. 
3. Vice versa hide and contour from CDS also translated. In both cases you can bring back the contour 
4. Still can’t convert cut files from gypsy though option can come soon and same way cannot open cut files in the Gypsy sync
5. You can now convert file with just choosing filename in CDS (ie from File menu when you press save as in the pop up window which comes in windows) and just choose file option as gypsy and it will still convert. You need not save as filename.gypsy
6. well greatest news the zero width from CDS opens fine in gypsy. Only when you goto grab the tiny thing does it goto the icon ie application launcher screen… So happy score mark from CDS…

Ok here are a few images and test cuts

Hide and contour

1st cut from home accents - hidden the seeds

2nd cut copied and further played with till some shows. yes the hidden features copy

3rd cut - just the whole image

this cut is of vellum and also the weld of mother's day cartridge which before took 25 mins and now only 10 and can I say vellum and gypsy in the same sentence - yeah!!! speed low, blade depth 3, and pressure med

The video


part 1





part 2







As I already have photo application during the christmas update that video is already there and nothing has changed
the link - http://www.thebugbytes.com/2010/01/episode-16-cricut-gypsy-basics-photo.html

Coupon organizer

Hello everyone! This is TraciVee here from http://neverfullpricescrapbooking.blogspot.com/ . If you are a follower of mine, you might already know that I'm a penny pinching, coupon clipping, money saver. I thought it would be prudent to include my passion for saving money into my project. And so the idea of creating a cute coupon organizer was born....

Here is the 'recipe' :

2 pieces of Tim Holtz grungeboard

1 1/4 in Zutter o-wire

brown acrylic and metallic acrylic paint

10 5/8 in long piece of white elastic

Brenda Walton Brookfield Scrap Pad to go

two large eyelets

9 Prima-type flowers (mine were Paper Studio)

3 brads

adhesive

chalk ink

I first used my Gypsy to cut the rectangles used for the pages. I think I just used a rectangle shape from Plantin Schoolbook but resized it to 10 3/4 in by 8 in. Cut out as many of these as you wish. I like to have a lot of categories to sort my coupons into, so I cut out 10 of these, which will give me 20 pockets!

Here are all the pages after I cut them out. I really like this stack...it's full of homey earth tones-my favorite!





Next, you score each page halfway down the long way.....




...and about 3 5/8 in into the short way.





Then you fold each along the score lines as shown. You're gonna fold the short side up and then fold along the long side so that when you are finished your pockets are on the outside.

Here are all my folders all ready to go....

Next, I punched them all with my Bind it All...what a job that was!

Next, prepare your naked Grungeboard. I cut two pieces at 7 3/4 in by 4 1/8 in. Then I rounded the corners for a more finished look. Next, line up the Grungeboard with one of your coupon folders and punch holes.

Next, I painted my Grungeboard with dark brown acrylic paint.

After that dried, I lightly brushed some copper metallic acrylic paint on top, but wiped it off right away with a paper towel. Some of the copper stays on, but the dark brown still comes through. This technique kind of gives it a rustic kind of look. Very cute!

*Sorry but this photo is not terribly true to life in its color...but you get the idea....*

Next, I used my Gypsy to create the labels for my coupon folders. Cut as many shapes as you need. I cut 20 in cream colored card stock and then cut out another 20 out of coordinating paper in shadow feature.

After cutting them all out, I inked them using chalk ink and an ink blending tool.

Here are the shadows....

Now, I wanted a more finished look so I used my computer to print out my labels. You can just write them in if you don't feel all this is worth it. :)

What I did was print out my labels....

Then I used repositionable adhesive to stick them to the piece of paper that I printed them out on...I used Okie's method of doing this. She has a great video tutorial on how to do this- http://okieladybugsscrapnmore.blogspot.com/search/label/Video%20Tutorial%20-%20Printing%20on%20Cardstock%20shape

After I got them printed out, I adhered them onto the folders and put the whole thing together. Hello Mr. Bind It All!!!

Okay, so after all that I knew I'd need some type of closure so that my coupons don't fly out all over the place. What I did was punch a couple of holes and used an eyelet to hold my elastic in place. Be really careful when placing the elastic when you set your eyelet so that it won't come undone.

I looked high and low for colored elastic, with no luck! ... so I broke down and bought white thinking I could just color it with a marker...and that is just what I ended up having to do!

At this point, I just prettied-up the cover. I punch three holes and added my flowers with a couple of brads. Nice 'n' easy.....

I set my coupon organizer up for the way I shop...I always go around my Super WalMart the same way....Health and Beauty first...then my cleaners...then condiments...and so on and so on...I'm kinda ritualistic when I go grocery shopping, LOL.

I used that idea to order my coupon labels. Toiletries, Cleaners, Condiments, Canned Goods, Pasta/Rice/Boxed Dinners, Baking, Snacks, Beverages, Breakfast &Cereal, Paper & Plastics, Dairy, Frozen Items, Bread/Bakery Items, and Produce.

And-what would you know!- right after I finished binding my coupon organizer they went and remodeled my Super WalMart and now my book is all out of order!!! Doesn't that figure??? lol Oh well....

Oh...and last but not least...my FAVORITE coupon category...

Crafty Coupons---NEVER leave home with out them! :)

I hope you all enjoyed my project. Thanks so much for looking. If you have questions or anything, feel free to stop by my blog and I'll be sure to answer you! Have a great day!

Meet the Gator

Our community has a very honored resident in its midst who took up residence during IKE.
And I wanted t catch a glimpse for long. In my mind catching a glimpse turned into a weird faith? belief that only when I see would I be be able to go to India. The mind sure catches hold of strange clutches doesn't it. So finally this weekend I did get a glimpse - photo too and guess what? I can now make it. So bye for a while.
Meet my lucky charm lol and some more photos

Victorian Note Card Purse

Hi My name is Randi aka Coralz from the cricut mb. My day to be guest designer is here, I am so excited to share with you my project. I have had my Gypsy and my Cricut since the day they were each first released and I love everything about them. I love teaching and sharing my projects I have made with my Gypsy, I hope you enjoy this one. Pop over to my blog http://www.craftycricutcreations.blogspot.com/ to see more.

My assignment for this was to use page 30 from the Forever Young Cartridge. If you have re numbered your books that would be button number 7. Using my 12x12 mat, I chose 5.60 as my cursor size and then I rotated it to fit. I then used the girl from button 7 at 4 inches and welded her to the flap.
On mat number 2 I layed out all my pieces. I cut in brown the girl topper, the monogram C (from elegant cakes cart) and the shilouette image for my note card fronts. I also layed out some flowers. I wanted to create a distressed flower similar to the ones made with the Tim Holtz tattered flower die. You need 2 lg 1 med and 1 small to get this look. I just use random flowers from this cartridge. Mine measurements are 2 at 3.10, 1 at 2 and 1 at 1inch. I used a 10mm pearl for the flower center.

Here to create the note cards I used the oval also from page 30 button #7. I placed 2 on my mat at 3 1/2 inches. These fit into the gift bag nicely. I made sure they were side by side and that their Y axis were the same. Then I highlighted 1 and hit flip. After this I grouped them together and nudged them until they slightly overlapped. Once I previewed and saw the weld I highlighted the whole image and hit copy/paste (by the way I love that button) and duplicated it 3 more times rotating 2 of them until they all fit on the mat

I used 2 sheets of Cosmo Cricket "Something Special" 2 sided cardstock, 1 sheet of Bazzill Carob Brown and some plain white paper for the flowers, smooch spritz and lots of pearls to finish up this project. I hope you like it and I can not wait to see your version.

Copy and Paste

Copy and paste is a fantastic feature where we select image ie it is blue and then so where you want to paste the image - if same page then do not tap on the mat and if another page just navigate there either tap on the add page button (fr new page) or if you already have a page then that page number - then in advance menu go to the doublebox button next to the preview and tap on it your image is copied
On same page if item is in group then you can choose just one image (purple) and copy/paste just that image but across pages the whole group will be copied.
Note this one button does the job of both copying and pasting.

Koala Love - Create a Critter card and flower soft

Well I did go upto my studio and make one card. I made tons of flower soft. Flower soft looks so nice but is so expensive - just a little jar costs about 7 dollars. Well we can get the same effect by just buying styrofoam shapes like ball etc available so cheap at local craft store . So basically for a dollar or two you can make well about 40 jars I think depending on your inclination.
I had it at home as we use different shapes for modeling and drawing ie observing the shadow and light on the white shapes. You need white shapes so that you can color. Just rub them together and they powder up. I just added some ink. You can use alcohol ink or re-inker or copic filler anything even acrylic paint but the more liquid and less thicker - the better. Inker or alcohol ink bottles are best. I just took a plastic sheet - ziploc and then rubbed and added two or three drops of color and used a palette knife to mix. you can use chopstick or anything but the metal or plastic palette knife is best as you can crush lift scoop and mix easily with this as basically that's what this flexibe knife is meant for and well. I have tons of it.
This is the card

and the inside sentiment



The tree is from disney happily ever after. I cut two same size and one I added in the back and then placed the panel and marked the other tree so I could cut the portions protruding from the panel. I cut all the pieces - the sentiment , koala bear, tree all in biege or sandalwood color paper - a neutral color. Then used copic marker to color. The sentiment too was done using copic marker for the base and then stamped a flourish.
I then added green, pink and yellow flower soft substitute that I had made. The heart was first done with pink and I did not like it so I added directly some ink drops on the flower soft directly.
I first glued the lower uncut tree and then pop darted the panel (after inking the edges). I of course did not add flower soft to those portion which goes under the panel. Then I carefully placed the cut tree ( also colored and flower softed  - what a term !!!- well if adding glitter is glittered then adding flower soft is flower softed lol) aligning it. Then free handed the grass with glue and added flower soft and then added some flower shapes - one for the hair adornment and some for the grass.
The art glitter clear glue works so well. You can also use the foam glue...
Well.. That was about it. I added some to the balloon and felt the nose needed some too so added to it too.
So here is my first create a critter card - Koala Love

Today finally I decided to use my photoapp

which has been sitting idle since the day of the Christmas update.
You all know I was supposed to be already in India by now but have nt yet made it there yet because of some complications.
Yesterday I wallowed in self pitying indulgence and refused to go out anywhere even for dinner as I did not want to meet anybody!!! I wanted to behave like a kid and not an adult and my family indulged me - ha ha and let me behave like a kid. So by evening I was better. Sometimes this helps more than chocolates. Next time I am also going to get some cheap crockery and assign a place where I can break it. That must help even more don't you think?.Hmmm. good idea..
well today i was in the mood for designing. Still indulgent (I will not apply the term lazy :) ) to go up and cut anything but felt I can design simple mindless designs where I just place the images on a mat and decided the cartridge which can be so honored would be create a critter.
Now I d have the peachy keen stamps and decided I am going to use that. Now all the layers - grrrr... . In this mood - thought in the brain - "gosh! what in heavens are they all?" . So I just added all of them in the mat. ok now for the color - hmmm I am going to cut all in white and decide what I am going to do with them. Maybe use the tons of distress inks I have or the even more watercolors I have. Ok but what colors where and what layers go on what top . S as I was sitting in front of the laptop or rather lying down with the laptop on me decided to check out the sampler sheets at the site - cricut - information - cartridge library. Nw in the database that comes up there are 3 rows - 1st row cartridge name - 2nd row sampler and 3rd booklet. Now clicking on the sampler got me jpg file so I decided to save it and load it in my photo app. well easy to refer while designing. But remember one thing if you have iphone do it with that as you can see the photos only as big as the screen even when full screen option is chosen. bt since my eyesight is ok I can manage to get the gist..
well so since I was downloading this I decided to get some tricky cartridges to me also like robotz etc. Now when you click view ie 2nd row in some of them they turn up as pdf files.
oh oh! can't be loaded . But then I had a bright idea!! The products section has the sampler as images!! And here is the real easy thing as clicking on the 1st row ie the cartridge name itself takes you to the product section, Clever of PC isn't it. They want us t buy the cartridge so they take us right to the product section.. well anyway I checked out images and downloaded some more and then uploaded all of them (not all cartridges but those I wanted) to my G and now I can create away. I have to make do with this till November when I can get my iphone..
So critter's here I come..

How to make aperture cards

This question came up recently in my mail so I am posting it here  too.
We all know welding inside solid shapes ie rectangle square etc gives us strange results . So we have to work around and weld inside frames to get this card.
Here are the screen shots of the G.
Select a suitable shape for an aperture a wide rectangle . Some cards even have aperture cards which will be ideal. But for now let's work with Gypsy font and wanderings
Here is a shape in GW I have used

Then select the word or letters kern and weld (make sure they are overlaped and kerning is an easy way to do. I most of the times kern by -0.2 and then fine tune). Here is the welded word

Mat view

Then select another rectangle for the big lower portion as I want a smaller aperture and not the huge one which I have. Unlink the chain , set the actual size on and adjust width and height to overlap

Place it all together adjusting to overlap

Then group

and weld

and if you want the left side of the card select another rectangle. check the height and width of the whole image (it will be of the rectangle as it is the biggest size and nothing is peeking or welded beyond. so set the height and width to that by again unlinking the chain and having actual dial size on) overlap and weld

Here is the final card

So this is one way to do it.  You can easily work with apertures you have in some other cartridges. as they are sort of frames too. With welding you have to try and adapt as I always say.

As I mentioned this is how you would do with GW or GF but  cartridges  like wild card have ready made shape like apertures card (button 4 and 5 and more too) so if you have these cartridges you can add the welded words or image directly

Before leaving - Cake 3

I had to finish all the cake supplies before leaving or that's what my sons convinced me I should do . Clever aren't they? They said I would be wasting all the fondant etc etc. So yep here is cake 3. It is 2 layer chocolate cake with fruit filling in the middle. I did not use fondant for covering. My kids prefer the frosting. So buttercream frosting once again. The fondant is in the cuts. Cartridge used for the scallop border - cake basics and the middle is from elegant cake. The small flowers are just Wilton shape cutter.
With the cake it is wise to leave the fondant on the mat to set for more than 15 - 2 mins till the top is dry to the feel. Should not look shiny.. Touch and feel and if it feels a bit dry (not cracked dry but a little dry) then it is ok to cut) I mixed a bit of cocoa powder to the fondant along with coloring.
 As long as you have patience, lots of icing and a lazy susan (this one is from ikea) it is very easy to apply icing . I kept the laddled the  icing for the crumb coating in a seperate container so that the crumbc do not get on the top layer. Then put lots and then keep cleaning the spatula and apply. To even out in the sides just keep the spatula flat on the cake and roll the susan slowly and it will level out . If there is a valley - just add more and then redo till you get a nice coat. Yep - lots of icing needed - make a batch of 6 cups for a 9 inch cake . You will use 3/4 amount atleast. And of course if you want to layer before adding filling pipe in a thick rim of icing in the cake and then add the filing. This way the top layer will settle in fine without sagging or squeezing out the filling .
Ok without much ado here is the cake. Simple again except for the border. I have to take a class after I come back.