Using your computer for craft

[Rosalie]

Does anyone else have a computer fetish?
I love mine. It needs an upgrade because of all the stuff I have collected.

I use it in all my crafty endeavours. I use my clip art program, Sierra Print Artist all the time. If I need a picture or border its there for cardmaking or printing posters.
Lately, I've been playing around with Abode Photoshop. For a friends party, I put his face onto a statue of Hercules that I got on the internet, and printed out life sized posters.
If I want a picture, a quote, a recipe, information on how to make something, I just boot up and there it is. And there YOU are. I love my computer.
I even use it when I'm doing my portraits.

Now, I know that you all use yours but what crafty stuff do you use it for?

[Rosalie]

Oops, I forgot to mention the programs I have for cross stitching and one for digital scrapbooking...I thought that one would help me organize my digital photos and it would if I just had the time!

[MarthaB]

:) oh rosalie, I would love to learn how to do these things on the computer, I have a cross stitch program, it's a copy I got from a friend, psss don't tell anyone, haha, but I don't know how to use it properly. we just bought a lexmark all in one, it's got a printer, copier, scanner, fax, photo editing, etc, it is amazing, we just got it last saturday, so I've got a lot to learn, but I don't need to go out to get copies of stuff, I can do it all right at home, it minimizes an enlarges stuff, anyway we got it from k-mart, for $159.00 and we saved 70.00 I thought it was a good buy, it comes with a colour cartridge, we had to buy the black one seperately, and it came with some photo paper, anyway I really would like to learn more about computer programs rosalie, so if you can tell me more I am all ears, ..martha

[Rosalie]

Martha, we have a Epson scanner/printer/copier. These machines are wonderful. I often have to copy pages and pages (sometimes whole books ) of sheet music.
I used to do it with our old scanner. It took ages. Now with the stand alone copier it is so quick. This is hush hush too... copyright stuff. But we can't afford to buy it cause music is so expensive.
Most of my computer programs have been given to me as well. Without the instruction manuals its fly by the seat of your pants stuff. Makes for a lot of swearing..

[MarthaB]

yeah I know what you mean, anyway this printer I think prints out 20 black and white pages per minute, and about 14 coloured pages per minute, to me that's pretty fast, I used to go to sleep with the old printer, arrgg it took so bl***y long, I try not to use a lot of colour because the ink is dearer than the black and white ink.
Last night I printed out some pages and I was just amazed how quick it went, by the way I am having so much fun here on this board, I really should go and do some work, looks like your ironing is still waiting too, ooh bugger it ,I stay on a bit longer, untill my son gets back from school at 1, and then his royal highness takes over the computer...martha

[Rosalie]

I found a really cheap place to buy printer cartriges on the internet. Its www.wholesaletoners.com.au
They are less than half the price I pay at Officeworks and they deliver next day from Currumbin. Check out their site, it says they carry Lexmark. The cartridges are G&G but I haven't had any problems with them so far.

Yeah, I have such patient ironing, it will wait for me.
hillz is home from school sick and CJ doesn't have uni till 4pm. They just poked their heads in, rolled their eyes and asked how much longer will I be here. I made a noise like the dog and they retreated. CJ's making lunch for his sister and I hear 'Pirates of the Carribean' begin. If we don't eat dinner tonight, I could be here till bedtime. LOVE IT. I am a sad sad sad case!!!

[traceann]

Oh yes, love to use my computer for my hobbies/crafts, heck some of my hobbies are only done with a computer (a lot of my photos get edited here, etc.). Don't know what I'd do without it. It's the reason I wanted one and that we ended up getting the one I wanted, specifically for pictures, scrapping etc.!!! I too have an all-in-one printer, ours is a Dell. Love the thing!!!!

Hugs!

[VickiB]

I love photoshop and use it quite a bit while creating a painting. Heck, I can almost paint better in photoshop than in 'real life'! I also use it a lot to manipulate or fix photos. The photo of me standing on top of the mountain on my website originally had my black lab sitting at my feet. Against the light background he came out looking like a big black blob. With the help of the computer, he's magically gone!

Did you see the image that Sandy's son did with photoshop titled 'iplaycello'? It's linked to on her album thread. Very cool!

Vicki

[Rosalie]

Ha Ha I just notice how I spelt "Adobe". Just because I love using it doesnt mean I can spell it!
I was "given" my copy so I don't have any manuels. It has pretty much been trial and error (mostly error) in learning to use it. I did buy a generic manuel on photoshop type programs and it has helped me a lot. Don't know about you but usually when I working on something I need and answer NOW and hate wading through a book four inches thick to get the answer. Guess its the scorpio in me.

[MarthaB]

he he rosalie, abode, adobe, to be honest I did not see the mistake, if you say it really fast, it sounds the same :biglaugh: ...martha

[MarthaB]

:) Hi, I want to make some fonts, do I need to have computer software for this? sorry it may sound like a silly question, but I don't know too much about that sort of stuff. martha

[Rosalie]

Do you want to make up your own fonts or just find some different ones?

In microsoft word you can use various fonts. If you want you can click on the word art button which looks like a crooked A.This will bring up a gallery box. Click on the one you want and it will bring up a box where you can type in what you want. You can then resize.
Play around with the WordArt menu box and you can change colour or fill. Or you can just use the font bar and sizeing on the menu bar at the top.

I have a wonderful program called Sierra Print Artist that has even more fonts and ways of manipulating them. It has over 250,0000 clip art and templates for just about everything from cards, boxes, posters and calenders to party stationary and hats.

[pingpong]

I've also started using my computer to make greeting cards, etc. I found some royalty-free clip art at one of the national electronics stores. I also work about 2 blocks from a locally-owned chain of craft stores, and they have a huge selection of paper and card stock. I'm embarrassed to say how much of that stuff I've bought. I've also been experimenting with printing on vellum and figuring out ways to combine it with some of my decorative papers. I'd love to get good enough to sell this stuff some day - in my dotage, to supplement my pension, or now, to support this new habit. I probably should find a new way to drive to and from work!

[MarthaB]

Hi, how do you use the computer for making your cards? do I need special soft ware for this?? I make cards as well, and I would love to know how to do this, ps, make sure you do not sent any websites to this thread, we are not allowed to this, but they can be sent by private message, martha

[Rosalie]

Hi there Pingpong. great to see another crafter. In what way do you use your computer?
I have a program with many card templates but I also use it to print images or words or frames and borders to cut out and go onto my cards. This program also has sayings to put on the inside.
I have also printed the same picture out 3 or 4 time and made a paper tole image to put on.

Martha you have to get into this. You can scan in photos of the birthday boy/girl etc. For my younger brother I got lots of pictures of Fords off the internet, cut and pasted them into my Print Artist program (or you can use Word) sized them down, printed,cut them out and arranged them onto his card.
Having a lot of different stamps gets very expensive, so I don't bother anymore.

The only drawback is not being able to emboss as the ink is too dry when it comes out of the printer. Does anyone know a way around this?

[traceann]

Hey Pingpong, I want to say nice to see you on the craft board as well!! I love making greeting cards on my computer, I haven't done it in ages though! Thanks for reminding me of that addiction I have as well...just what I need...lol!!! ;) I use The Print Shop for my stuff, it's one of my favorite programs for that. I started with version 5 WAY back when, and now I just purchased version 20 a couple months ago...good stuff!!

Good question Rosalie. What about setting a different print setting in your printer's properties right before you print, I know there are different paper-usage choices, like transparencies etc, that lay on the ink heavier I think...maybe that might stay wet enough...

I love embossing! Once again, thanks for reminding me of another addiction...ugh. I have the heat tool and everything...just need some new embossing ink. I used to have a ball point embossing pen as well, you write what you want, sprinkle on your powder, heat and you are good to go. Very cool.

Oh boy, like I don't have enough going on or I should say, like I don't have enough I am trying to get working on, lol. That's another thing I love about scrapbooking, it combines rubber stamping if like as well....

Hugs!

[MarthaB]

:) Ooohhh, I am so frustrated, because I want to learn but don't know where to start, I feel like a big dope, :headbang: anyway I will figure it out, I don't give up that easy, nope I will not give up haha, martha

[traceann]

Oh girly you sound like me. I remember when I got my first scanner one year for Christmas. I was soooo excited, I set to working on getting it up and running pronto. Well, I had nothing but problems, I worked on it for EIGHT (yes 8) hours straight, bound and determined to get it working and installed. Come to find out the darn thing was defective!!! ARGH!! Then replacement we got installed in like 5 minutes...lol. But I too do not give up!!! LMAO!!!

Hugs!

[MarthaB]

:) Hi, is anybody here interested in origami ( paperfolding) I have a great site, it's in japanese, but it is quite easy to work out, and they even show you in slow motion kinda way how to do it, if you would like the site just pm me, and I will sent it to you, martha

[Rosalie]

Martha you are a genius! The only person I know how would perservere with japanese instructions. LOL

Just kidding, I'd love to have a look at that site. Can you pm me the details.

[traceann]

You're right Rosalie, that's funny come to think of it, going ahead with Japanese instructions!! LMAO!!!!

[MarthaB]

:) tracey, this is such a cute site, you can choose all sort of themes from halloween to christmas, and a whole lot more, I think these would be perfect to teach young kids,( eye and hand co-ordination,) if you want to have a look at that site just let me know and I will sent it to you,
martha

[pingpong]

For my cards, etc I just use Word. I don't have any software such as Print Shop (I'd love to know which one is worth buying, and I can tell Santa!) Basically I add my clip art to a Word document and adjust the size and color contrast. Then I print the picture on some nice card stock. I also have been using 2 clips at a time: for example, I print a b&w clip of an old car or an old train on some lightly colored card stock. Then I print a clip I have of a "flapper" (roaring 20s woman) on vellum and cut her out. Next, I use spray adhesive to place the flapper on the card next to the car or train. I've also printed clips on vellum and used eyelets to attach them onto colored paper stock. I'm still trying to find a way to invisibly attach vellum to paper - some clips, like the flapper, aren't a problem, since the colors are so intense the adhesive doesn't show through. However, other clips have clear spots, so the adhesive is easy to see. I'm still working on this.

I also make envelopes for the cards using white card stock. I didn't know what to do about an envelope closure until I found 2-sided scotch tape that has a removable strip on one side. That way, the user can take off the strip and seal the envelope.

My job has a great deal of down time, so I use that time to brainstorm. I haven't been doing this for very long, but I've made a lot of progress.

One advantage I have with using the computer is that my older brother is the original computer nerd. :bow: He started college at 16 and spent half of his time in the computer department - this was in the early 60's, when computers were still very rare and exotic. (The rest of the time he spent at the campus radio station, so he's great help with AV equipment!) He gave me one of his "old" computers, which is way better than the one I had before. When he was helping me install it, I said, "Great! Now I'm finally in the 21st century!" He replied, "Well, not really...." :bonk: I guess I have a long way to go!

[MarthaB]

this is so funny, because I am looking for programs such as printshop at the moment, I just spotted your post, and I had to reply, how about using double sided tape, that may not show through, also I make my own envelopes ( Rosalie gave me the idea on how to do that) and I found a recipe on the net for glue, it's cheap and easy to make, all you need is 6 tablespoons of white vinegar, (4) 0.1 oz packets unflavoured gelatin, and 1 tablespoon vanilla extract ( or any flavor you like)
directions;
Bring vinegar to boil in a small pan.
Add gelatin and stir until dissolved.
Add extract and stir until mixed.
Brush on thin layer onto back of envelope flap... let dry.
moisten to apply.
Store excess glue in a sealed container and melt again for future use by putting in a pan of warm water.
how easy is that?
I am on the lookout for a sierra print artist program, Rosalie loves it, check it out on the net, just google the word, and you can read all about it,
martha

[MarthaB]

:) Hello my crafty friends, I went out today, and got myself a print master platinum version 16, it's got heaps of templates, fonts, 100's of greeting cards, I could make labels, banners and posters, 3d craft projects, certificates, graphics,calendars, party invitations,letterheads,envelopes, business cards and with the photo workshop I can crop the photo's, adjust photo's from colour to black and white, the list goes on and on, all I have to do now is learn how to do it all, but I am ready to get started, I'm so exited, anyway I will let you all know how I went,
martha

[MarthaB]

:) Rosalie I tried to get the sierra print artist software, but no one has it, so I decided to get this in Harvey Norman.
martha

[Rosalie]

:woohoo:
Martha you won't know what you ever did before you got your print program (or should it be programme- I never know).

It is such great fun and you'll spend hours playing around with it.
At the moment, I'm making cards for my five year old twin nephews.
One has a water scene with cut out fish saying "Best Fishes Redmond" and the other a grass background with a frog holding balloons that say "Hoppy Birthday David". They both have popups inside. All done with the clipart program. I like to use the thick double-sided tape so some of the pictures stand out.
With thsese programs you can manipulate the images and wording with fantastic effects.
Can't wait to hear what you get up to with it.

[traceann]

Oh yes, I agree with Rosalie, I am lost without my Print Shop....when we got the computer for here at home, I had to immediately buy it for myself, cause I know I need it! I use it as a "work up board" for my scrapbook pages -- I can lay it all out on the page in the program, rearrange as needed (no muss no fuss) then when I have it the way I would like it, I can begin the hard copy! Very cool!

I know you can buy adhesives that attach vellum without show through, I will see what I can dig up.....I just sent you a PM with a link to some double-sided vellum tape! ;)

Hugs!