Thanks, Guys! Part 1: A Quicker Way to Thicken and Weld

The next few posts here will all be updates to previous posts based on receiving new information from different guys reading my blog. Thus, this is called my Thanks, Guys Series.

On October 2, I presented a video on converting a single line stick figure into a cuttable object and on October 14, I presented a video on how to design your own spider web. In both of these videos I used Transform>Round Corner to convert single lines in a drawing to 2D images that can be welded and cut.

A guy at CADLink contacted Chad at Accugraphic to let him know that there was a faster way to achieve the same results I was showing in those two videos. You use the Line Style window to create a Thick Style attribute, apply a Make Path and then a Basic Weld.

Spider Web Part 2

Two things I forgot to include in the video: Go to View and make sure Show Line Style is checked. Now this isn’t critical to the success of the method but without Show Line Style turned on, when you leave the Line Style window, your images will appear as thin lines again and you will think you did something wrong. Of course, it’s kind of fun to actually leave Show Line Style turned off and then go ahead and perform the Make Path and Basic Weld and watch your single line image turn into a thick welded object right before your eyes!

The other thing I forgot to mention in the video is that you have a choice in how your lines appear. There won’t be a big difference in the appearance but definitely try clicking on the End Cap choices and also the Sharp vs Rounded vs Mitered choices to view the effects on your image. The following screen shot shows the location of these settings in the Line Style window:

So, this is definitely an excellent alternative to using Round Corner, especially when you have closed paths in your images. Check in soon for the next post in the “Thanks, Guys! Series. ”

Site That’s Scrap or Cutting Machine Related?

Do you have a blog or web site that’s scrap book or cutting machine related?

I am always looking for quality sites that help other with their cutting machine and scrapbook projects.
Do you have a questions that’s scrap or KNK related? Feel free to post in the comments section. My passion is to help you enjoy and get the most out of your cutter.
I am familiar with pretty much every cutter on the market and as the writer for KNK product manuals I can help.
Stop by my blog anytime with your questions!

It’s all about MAXX

Sorry I’ve not had a chance to post in over a week. Finishing up the user manual for MAXX, helping customers sell their used KNK’s to upgrade to MAXX, and testing new and different materials on MAXX has been keeping me busy from dawn until dusk, literally. Thus, my life has pretty much been all about the new MAXX machine. If you’ve not had a chance to see it, here’s a link: Scrapbook Die Cutter

This latest product in the Klic-N-Kut line of cutters offers almost twice as much cutting force as present in the current Klic-N-Kuts, including the Element. It also comes equipped with three pinch wheels and a laser alignment light for faster easier print and cuts. The new bladeholder seat will adjust to fit just about any pen, bladeholder, or embossing tool you wish to use. And the grit rollers are far more… well… grittier to hold the mat tight and prevent skewing. The first two models being released are the 15″ and the 24″, both due to ship in about 2 weeks.

If you have any questions about the new MAXX line of Klic-N-Kuts, please either post here or email me at sandy@iloveknk.com. Also, if you are interested in buying one of the used KNK’s from one of my customers, also contact me and I can provide information on those. I have all sizes available: 9″, 13″, 15″ and 24″.

Clear Rubber Stamps Cut on a KNK

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A BIG thanks to Bethany for sending me photos of both the stamps she has cut on her KNK Element (see below) and the resulting stamped images. I have tried a few myself, but it’s great to actually have someone who’s a true stamp expert make some and show me how it worked for her. I’m always amazed by the intricacy possible with this material. The clear rubber for cutting stamps can be purchased at http://www.scrapbookdiecutter.com/

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Now You See It, Now You Don’t!


The Sheet Layer Palette can be used to hide images by assigning images to layers. In the example I show in today’s free video, the images are assigned by color. But you can choose to move any image to any layer you want, according to what works best for your designing purposes. Consider this video to be a Part 1, as I didn’t cover every function and I will probably make a followup video once I get some questions and suggestion from all of you.