Reflections file (Watch for it in Paperthreads in a few months!)

So I always think about family more at the holidays. I just wanted to share with you another file of mine from the KNK Christmas CD. Do you mean you haven't received yours yet? It should be coming from Accugraphics soon...

Oh yeah, the blog party? It's not here today, My DH could tell you who's having it..."all you ever talk about is ***!"

KNK Christmas CD

Hopefully by now many of you (KNK owners) have received your Christmas present (CD) from Accugraphics...I really hope you enjoy the files all the designers shared. I wanted to share a picture of one of my files from the CD...it will be added to Paperthreads in GSD, AI, and AIv8 format soon!

Enjoy the holidays with family and friends! Did you find the Paperthreads Blog Party for today?

Christmas Joys

Looking for the Blog party? Sorry, it's not here...you can check out my links to the right or click on the blog party picture to go to the Paperthreads links. I just wanted to share one of the pics from "early Christmas" with my parents. Needless to say, my DS wanted to cheese it up a little that evening.

Too cold to go outside? Come to our BLOG party!

We're having our first ever Paperthreads 12 Days After Christmas Blog Party! Here's how it's going to work: Every day for the 12 days after Christmas Day the Paperthreads Designers will be giving great deals on some of our favorite files and collections. Some for the holidays, some for the new year, and some just for the fun of it! You just need to be in the right place at the right time...so check out each of the designers' blogs each day to see if they're offering the deal of the day! Totally lost? You can find links all the Paperthreads Designers' Blogs by clicking on the picture above. We know that the really good deals start after Christmas and want to share the savings with you. It's also our way of saying "Thanks!" for supporting the Paperthreads community!
So come on by, warm up by the virtual fire, and share in the post-holiday glow!

Mini Tutorial for "Skew" in Inkscape

So I had a question regarding the font I used for my Monogram Tutorial for Inkscape in the December Paperthreads Newsletter. I wanted to try and answer it here and give a little tutorial as well. The font I used was "Renaissance". I simply typed the letter "A". Then while your letter is selected go to OBJECT>TRANSFORM (or use SHIFT+CTRL+M) then go to the "Skew" tab. In this case I chose a skew of 30 degrees. This makes the letter stand more upright instead of being "italic" or slanted. Choose Apply and close the pop-up window. Don't forget to then go to PATH>OBJECT TO PATH to get your outline. I also then chose to "thicken" the font by going to PATH>OFFSET.

December Newsletter has arrived at Paperthreads

Just a quick note to let you know that the new December Newsletter is available at Paperthreads. There's lots of cool articles, holiday decor ideas for your cutter, an Inkscape tutorial for Monograms, a video of a fantastic new product, and so much more...So take a look HERE and sign up if you haven't already.

My new (BIG!) KNK has arrived!

So I got my KNK today...boy is it HUGE! It's capable of cutting 24 inch wide material and is 33 inches wide itself. I just thought I'd post a pic to compare my old blue Wishblade to my new mammoth. I have nicknamed them "Bittty" and "the Beast"!

After Thanksgiving SALE!

Hi there! Just wanted to remind you there's a great big sale going on this weekend at Paperthreads! Stop by my section of the store and take a look, lots of the other designer's are putting their files on sale too! So stop by and check it out.

New file at Paperthreads - "Thanks" in any language

Just a quick pic of my latest file at Paperthreads. It has "Thanks" or "Thank you!" in 14 different languages. The entire file is sized to cut beautifully in one 4.5 inch by 6.5 inch piece. Thanks for looking!

See this thread at Paperthreads for a neat surprise.

Don't forget the huge SALE going on this weekend in the designer's sections!

Christmas pictures...upcoming football game...AKA...I'm exhausted!

I'm sorry I haven't blogged for awhile. Things have started ramping up for the holidays. But FIRST there is the Ohio State vs Michigan game this weekend. (GO BUCKEYES!) We're having friends over to watch the game and share a meal (deep fried turkey, yum!).

We went today to get family pictures done for the holidays. It's the first family photo we've had taken since our DD was born (and she's nearly 1 1/2 already!) Where does the time go? I'm so pleased with how the kids pics came out I just had to share this composite pic of my DS and DD.

But wait, got a suprise for you! Michelle (Paperthreads) is trying to share some holiday cheer a little early. She's got 10 craftrobos in stock and is giving a special Christmas discount ($10 off the price - so it's only $271 INCLUDING shipping, and a few extra files - the Funky frames 1, 2, and 3, and the Twelve days of Christmas collection). Check out Michelle's blog HERE for the coupon code. But HURRY! There's only 10 available. Just tell her "Jen sent you!" :)

Some layouts of my DD!

I just wanted to share the last layouts I completed in my DD's album. The first is of her eating her first Birthday cake. The second is of her cheesy smiles! It just reminded me so much of Macaroni & Cheese, I even fond the right Font...Please forgive me, on this pic I have "Daughter". On my Layout I have her first name, but I try to protect her privacy. I hope you understand.

One Day Sale

Yeah, that's right, a SALE! So come check out my new cards...

Our Deere Ones!

I just wanted to share a pic of the layout I just completed...Yes, that's right, I actually scrapped tonight! The kids were having such a good time in the yard with the tractor Grammy and Grampy got them and I had to get some pics. Well only one 2 page layout done tonight for my DD album, but I plan to do a very similar layout for my DS album too so it should go much faster.

Tiger Mascot is in at Paperthreads

I've got a cool tiger (suitable for mascot use) available at the store. It's in decal/single color format...or in a paperpiecing style. These would go grrrr - eat with the Letter Jacket for all your school pages!

9/11/2001 - We will never forget

HERE is a term restricted file to honor those who died in the September 11th terrorist activities.
It is for your personal use only! I would love to have pics to share with others though...so please send me any photos you can.

FINALLLY!

Many, many, many thanks to Shirley Clark for converting my files to KNK. I finally have ALL of my files at Paperthreads available in KNK format! That's right, no conversions necessary, just open and cut! This is perfect for all you newer users. So if you hadn't bought before because of the hassle of conversion - now is the time to buy! Also if you have purchased one of my files send Paperthreads or me an email and I can get the KNK version of the purchased file to you!

Avast! me hearties...

We've got an awesome game of BINGO planned this month at Paperthreads. There's already a lot of loot up for grabs and sure to be some stormy seas too. Come join in the fun:

While ye play be sure to check out my section at the store...I've got plenty o' pirate files to fill your treasure chest!

Letter Jacket Alphabet is HERE!

Okay! So this one is for Shae (who has been patiently waiting!). I have an Alphabet set designed to look like High School Varsity Letters. They would look great on school or sports pages, for titles, monograms, and vinyl CAR DECALS! They are now available in the store! You coan get them in two halves (A-M, with numbers 1-5, and 4 symbols like parentheses and asteriks; and N-Z, with numbers 6-0, and 4 more symbols like brackets and quotation marks) or as one complete set.

School days, school days...

I personally think it's more like school daze! So here's a cool little print and cut for all your school photos. It's got a welded title and a "piece of homework" printed on cardstock and then cut out to look like the notebook paper edge that is so hot right now. Come on over to Paperthreads and get this one for yourself!

(Oh yeah, and I figured out why I don't do print and cuts for sale normally...they are a pain in the patootie to convert to all the formats - KNK, AIv8, AI, and GSD.)

My Life's been Racing By!

So sorry for the lag between posts! Life has gone and gotten in the way of scrapbooking and my designing and cutting! Just wanted to share this file that recently got uploaded to Paperthreads...

We've been hard at work converting over all the files to be available in KNK format too - MANY, MANY thanks to Shirley Clark for converting my files! :)

Soon every file on Paperthreads will be available in AI, AIv8, GSD, and KNK (some in WinPC too!) Until my old files are all repackaged though I will be slow to add new ones though! :(

Sorry Shae, the varsity files are coming, I'm just reworking them and planning to add some sports figures to the package.

My daughter's first birthday party

So I had to share this pic of my layout for my DD first birthday...it is actually the first page that I completed for her album! )Please excuse the privacy "blurring" on some items. Lots of work ahead I am afraid...will I ever catch up with them?

I've gotta say though it is FUN scrapping with pink, and flowers, and butterflies!

Freebie! to share

So just to thank you for all the purchases at Jen Adkins Designs and Paperthreads...I wanted to share this freebie cutter file with you! I created it for the state swap earlier this year so check your computer you may already have it.

We lived in Alaska for the last 4 years as many of you know and absolutely loved it! The scenery was gorgeous and hey..., there was salmon!

I have some new Alaskan files coming soon to the store and hope there are many of you who have had the privilege of seeing Alaska (through the military as we did, or on a cruise or wildlife trip) who could use these. I've got a great one for wildlife...see "On the lookout for eagles" here, or a great diecut of Alaska with details of its flag and a separate title.

Just click the link here: (GSD) or (Adobe Illustrator) version to download the file.

So tell me what you want...what you really, really want!

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So what "custom" figures would you choose? I am always looking for what you REALLY want. Just post a comment here and I will start making up the ideas and adding individual figures to my files at Paperthreads as they are completed.

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Stick figures on my car

Okay so I just had to share this pic... ...I wanted to make sure to test cut the figures on decal material too before they sold...my actual automobile/outdoor vinyl is on order but I did test cut these in white contact/shelf paper with the blue cap and default setting for pressure (there is a drop down media type of window cling film on the WB). Before attaching them to the car window make sure to clean well with window cleaner and/or rubbing alcohol then let dry! Oh yeah, one other tip! DO use some sort of transfer tape...I thought I'd try it without for the first figure but the others went on so much easier with it. I have links to vinyl supplies and a tutorial for weeding vinyl decals and applying them in my favorite places.

New stuff coming to Paperthreads - stick figures!

Watch for my newest file - stick figures suitable for cutting in vinyl and mounting on your car windows...see a few of my favorite places in my links for vinyl supplies and a "tutorial" for weeding and application.

On the Lookout for Eagles! (and bears, moose, caribou, whales, salmon, and dall sheep!)

So I've got a great collection of titles coming up for all your wildlife pics. So watch out you Alaskan cruisers, you're gonna want some of these! I am finally sitting down and starting to scrap some of my own pictures from our four years in Eagle River, Alaska with the Air Force. And of course...what did we have in Eagle River??? Eagles, of course. Take a look at this sample page I did.

New file to watch for next week

I've got a new file waiting to be uploaded into the store at Paperthreads this week. I can't wait to use it on my pages with my DS and DD. My boy is VERY much into spiders right now, but my girl would rather chase butterflies! They would be perfect on two facing 12 by 12 pages.

New file soon at Paperthreads!

I just couldn't wait to share this paper piecing title and diecut I've got coming soon at Paperthreads. I have shown it as "All American Boy" but I also have the file "All American Girl" available.

Of course I also wanted to share a little tip for constructing the piecing - Jules tuned me in to a great product - Quickie Glue - by Sakura. I love it! It writes just like a pen on the delicate pieces and doesn't destroy the paper, leave glue boogers, or drip all over! I certainly recommend anyone buying this file also get the glue pen ( I found mine at Michael's crafts but you can buy them online at the link too.)

Summer time!

I have a great new title (paper piecing) soon to be uploaded in the Paperthreads store! Celebrate all the joys of summer...

July is almost here...but Christmas???

Christmas in July? That seems to be the last thing I want to think about...but here is a border and title soon to be uploaded to Paperthreads.

New border for 4th of July

I've got a great new border available at Paperthreads. It looks incredible and is quite detailed. I think it would look great for many "kids pages". Take a look!

Something totally different - Tattoo art!

So I wanted to try something totally outside of my usual creative comfort zone. I think some of the tattoo art on Miami Ink is pretty cool and wanted to try my own hand at it. This file would be really neat on some teenager's pages. The file will soon be up on Paperthreads

Krop for Kids was great!

I went to a Krop for Kids this weekend to benefit one of the NICU programs in town. I was actually able to get some stuff done! (I finished 5 there and another 2 when I got home this evening...pretty good numbers overall for me. I just wanted to share some pics of the pages. The file collection is available in the Paperthreads store.

Upcoming files at Paperthreads

I have been working on this set of sports related titles for some time...who ever knew it was so hard to be creative and come up with cute phrases related to the sporting event at hand. Here is the first file (soon to be uploaded to the store). Watch my blog for more files in the works!

Christmas in July

Christmas in July is coming to the Paperthreads store. I will be selling this page border and photo mat as well as the snowflake diecuts and a "Let it Snow" title. Watch for them to be coming soon!

Other crafting media

So before I even got into scrapbooking and WAY before the wishblade bug bit...I sewed. This was my first attempt at a quilt. I used a fusible liner that had outlines of blocks on it. You just fused all the blocks to the liner and then sewed along the lines and voila! I did make the pattern for this quilt from one of my favorite pictures of Denali (AKA Mt McKinley) with the fireweed. I think this style of painting with patterned fabrics is called Watercolor quilting.

90 degree days

So here is the picture from sprinkler time...it has been a VERY busy week. The kids are loving the weather...I miss days that peaked in the upper 70's and had 20 hours of daylight.

Sprinkler time!

We had beautiful weather today. My DS got a water table for his birthday and can stand there for hours splashing and driving the boat around it. We got the sprinkler hooked up today too. I can't wait to get the bikes out and go around with them in the bike trailer. I will try and put up a picture later...blogger is having difficulties right now.

Happy Birthday(s)!

So I wasn't sure I'd make it through the birthday weekend! I came down with a stomach bug on Thursday evening and collapsed into bed after getting home from work. Friday my stomach was better but overall I was stiff, sore, and tired. Oh well, it all got done and the family and kids had a great time. The only casualty of having 17 people in the house for presents was my big toe. I think it's broken, but there's not too much to do about that, except limp! LOL! I have pictures of my daughter and son at the birthday party and my daughter with the dress from grandma.

My little sprouts are getting bigger!

So things have been very busy recently. My son turned 3 yesterday and my daughter turned 1 today! My son is so excited because EVERYONE is coming to visit. When we lived in Alaska the grandparents, uncles, and aunt couldn't visit often (and for us to get on a plane for 13 hours with two little kids - Uggh!) This file (available at Paperthreads) would be perfect for growing kids or gardening too.

A laugh to share!

I was reminded of this picture by a conversation recently that quickly degenerated into stories about "funny/weird" names. We took this picture on a drive from Nenanna to Fairbanks Alaska. It's a little motel located halfway between the two cities. (Don't click on the larger version if your "sensibilities" are easily offended!) This is Alaskan Bush humor here!

The Importance of Family

Nothing is more important than my family. I created this file which includes a photo mat with decorative corners, a large tree, and a nameplate as well as two formal script titles. I've shown it above with a picture of my grandfather who flew with the Army Air Corp. It is available in my section of Paperthreads store.

Fairy Tales

Once Upon a Time: Many of my favorite evenings at home begin with these words to the kids. I have designed a Fairy Tale collection of titles, castles, and heraldic emblems perfect for scrapping about these stories, visits to Disney, and Halloween costumes. See all the files at Paperthreads - Jen Adkins Designs.

My Men At Work! - a construction collection

We have been doing so many projects since we moved into our house nearly a year ago and I have lots of pictures of my son and DH at work. I created this collection just for these - each diecut has a situation associated with it. I hope you enjoy them. Look for them in the Paperthreads store soon!

My latest files at Paperthreads!

Pirates of the Carribean 3 is out and pirate stuff is hot, hot, hot! I've finally got my files uploaded at Paperthreads and available for sale. They would look great cut in vinyl for room decorations too.